For industrial applications, such as tires, rubber is generally cross-linked using sulfur or peroxide, inherently limiting its recyclability. To achieve a fully circular economy within tires, it is vital to minimize any performance loss during recycling. Depending on the cure system, a range of different sulfur bonds will be present; disulfide bonds in particular show a dynamic nature, allowing them to be exploited for recyclability. In this work, a range of different chemistries are examined to enhance the recyclability of rubber composite compounds. One such example is disulfide metathesis inhibitors, as well as their potential synergistic effects.

• How we can exploit naturally occurring disulfide bonds in sulfur systems for recycling
• How the disulfide metathesis can be controlled using inhibitors to increase recycling efficiency
• How the presence of fillers impacts the effectiveness of the disulfide metathesis inhibitors
• What impact the type of rubber has on recyclability
• How the method of rubber breakdown impacts the recycling efficiencies