downcycling

When downcycled, rubber is usually used as a filler in another material. Typically only the bulk properties of the material are used although sometimes additional performance characteristics are desirable.

The market for these materials is defined by the applications and these have been slow to develop. A number of applications have been identified for rubber crumb, such as bulking materials in asphalt road surfaces and other civil engineering applications although there are limits to the volume of rubber that can be included.

A number of applications have also been identified for material with reduced performance such as rubber playground surfaces, car mudflaps, mats and carpet backing material, usually bound with a urethane binder. The limited uptake of these materials reflects the effort required in developing these markets and applications.

In the UK, for example, the market for rubber crumb, the main material form for these applications, is stable with a number of companies failing due to lack of demand and increased competition.

Traditional downcycling is not to be confused with downcycled products made using HSM processed materials.