A Thermogravimetric Study of Waste Tire Powder

The pyrolysis process and the volatile component were analyzed by a TG/DTG method for a typical Chinese waste tire power of 60-200 mesh at different heating rate. The results showed that the main weight loss distribution can be divided into 3 phases during the pyrolysis. The first phase of weight loss corresponded to the thermal decomposition of the mixture of oils, moisture, plastifiers and other additives. The second phase was due to the decomposition of the natural rubber. The third phase was the decomposition of the polybutadene (BR) and polybutadene-styrene (SBR). The percentage of the weight loss increased with the heating rate which influenced the pyrolysis reaction. As the heating rate increased, the TG curve moved to the right, the beginning and ending temperature for the pyrolysis reaction both increased, which the final weight loss percentage did not change much. The DTG curve also moved to the right as the heating rate increased. The maximum rate of the weight loss increased and the two peaks of the DTG curve became to be one peak as the heating rate increased. The gas fraction is basically a mixture of hydrocarbons of low molecular weight (CH₄, C₂H₄, C₂H₆) and H₂, CO, which were all effective for NO_x reburning reduction. The result implied that waste tire powder could be an effective alternative fuel for NO_x reduction by reburning.