Tires are crucial in transporting both people and goods. We meet them every day at work and in private life. They are first and foremost an essential safety feature of the vehicle. They hold the vehicle on the road and allow steering response and comfort and are the only link between our vehicle and the road. They provide grip for braking and acceleration. Maintain steering and directional control. They support the weight of the vehicle. Act as a shock absorber for vibrations from the road. The tire market is technologically very advanced. These constant developments are driven by the increasingly ambitious regulatory agenda and the increasing requirements of customers (whether automotive industry or consumers). Fuel economy and raw materials conservation are amongst the focus points of such innovations, that are geared towards safer and more environmentally mobility options. The industry proactively identifies and addresses the potential human health and environmental impacts associated with the tires life cycle to contribute to a more sustainable future.
In my dissertation, I focused on the life cycle of a tire. The raw materials we need and the tire production process are presented. A method of vulcanization is described, which is a process of improving the physical-chemistry properties of the tire. The process of recycling and devulcanization is also presented, with which we try to restore the properties of unvulcanized rubber compound and therefore reduce the amount of waste and contribute to the sustainability of the economy and the reuse of materials. With the LCA method I presented the overall impact on the environment.
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