RUDN nanotechnologist creates asphalt modifier from old tires and rubber

Car tires can be recycled for secondary use. For example, the addition of crumb rubber increases the life of asphalt. Typically, tires are shredded to particles as small as a few millimeters. Further shredding is too energy-intensive. However, a new method has emerged — high-temperature shear shredding. It takes place with the help of a rotary disperser. The essence of its work is a strong compression
“Among all possible applications of crumb rubber from worn out tires, the most interesting one is the use in road pavement. Crumb rubber as a modifier of bitumen and asphalt concrete mixtures increases their service life and has great potential in the road industry. This combines the problems of recycling used tires and increasing the durability of roads. In this way it is possible to reduce the consumption of primary natural resources,” — Alexander Vecher, PhD in Biology, Deputy Director of the Nanotechnology Research Center at RUDN.
Nanotechnologists prepared rubber crumbs from car tires and then ground them into powder together with butadiene-styrene rubber on a rotary disperser. The powder was added to hot bitumen heated to a temperature of 120-180℃ and stirred for
RUDN nanotechnologists have studied rubber particles before and after their interaction with hot bitumen using scanning electron microscopy. Grinding together with butadiene-styrene rubber leads to the formation of outwardly homogeneous hybrid particles. After a minute of stirring in hot bitumen, the powder particles split into
“Considering that one minute of mixing time corresponds to the technology of obtaining various asphalt concrete mixtures, it can be recommended to use additive powders in a ‘dry’ way, i.e. to introduce them into the asphalt concrete mixture during its production. This will be more economical. In further research we will conduct rheological studies of bitumen with modifiers,” — Alexander Vecher.
The results were in the journal Polymers.
The RUDN University Science and Innovation Prize winners were honoured at the extended meeting of the Academic Council. In 2024 the terms of the traditional RUDN University Prize were changed: for the first time the competition was announced in two categories: leading scientists and young scientists.
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Today, diagnosis and treatment planning with orthodontists takes several days. Also, complications can arise during treatment that slow down the patient's recovery process. For example, improper orthodontic treatment planning can lead to temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
The RUDN University Science and Innovation Prize winners were honoured at the extended meeting of the Academic Council. In 2024 the terms of the traditional RUDN University Prize were changed: for the first time the competition was announced in two categories: leading scientists and young scientists.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), electricity consumption in Africa has increased by more than 100% over the past two years (2020-2022). However, 74.9% of this energy is still produced by burning organic fuels — natural gas, coal and oil. At the same time, the level of electrification on the continent remains extremely low — only 24%, while in other developing countries it reaches 40%. Even in grid-connected areas, electricity supply is often unreliable: industrial enterprises lose energy on an average of 56 days a year.
Today, diagnosis and treatment planning with orthodontists takes several days. Also, complications can arise during treatment that slow down the patient's recovery process. For example, improper orthodontic treatment planning can lead to temporomandibular joint dysfunction.