Professor of chemical engineering Costas Tzoganakis and University of Waterloo startup Tyromer Inc. are poised to change the way the world handles its scrap tires. Judging by their recent collection of awards, their innovative, sustainable technology is getting noticed.
Tyromer uses the only cost-effective and environmentally-friendly method of reversing the effect of vulcanization to convert scrap tires into a new, versatile, master-batch material. Known as Tire-Derived Polymer (TDP), it can be used to create new rubber goods, including tires. The conversion process, invented by Professor Tzoganakis, uses no devulcanization chemicals or chemical solvents, is more than 99% efficient and produces no waste by-products.
Until now, there were few uses for the more than one billion scrap tires produced each year. Nearly half of them were burned, creating air, water and soil pollution. Now, unwanted scrap tires can be recycled without creating pollution. The recycled material, TDP, reduces the need to make new synthetic rubber and create the greenhouse gases that accompany its production.
The creators of this exciting technology, which represents a turning point in the sustainability of the tire and rubber industry, received some inspiring recognition for their efforts:
- The Polymer Processing Society bestowed the 2018 James L. White Award to Professor Tzoganakis for his innovative rubber devulcanization work. The award aims to recognize originality, innovation and creativity in the science and technology of processing polymers and polymeric products.
- The Society of Plastics Engineers’ Extrusion Division presented the 2018 Heinz Hermann Twin-Screw Award to Professor Tzoganakis in recognition of his significant contributions to the advancement of twin-screw extrusion technology.
- The Edison Awards granted Tyromer a gold medal in their Energy & Sustainability (Resource Re-Use) category.
Congratulation to Professor Tzoganakis and Tyromer on the on-going success of your work to solve one of the big problems facing our planet.
Professor Costas Tzoganakis, speaking at the 34th International Conference of the Polymer Processing Society about how Tyromer’s rubber devulcanization process can revolutionize the tire industry.