Upcycling waste synthetic running tracks in reinforcement of styrene-butadiene rubber

Synthetic running track waste is a challenging problem for its large volume, non-degradability, and environment pollution. However, the recycling of waste synthetic running track is rarely noticed. In this work, an upcycling method is proposed to use the comminuted powder of waste synthetic running tracks (WSTP) as modifier for styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), which has proven to be efficient and profitable. Up to 90 phr of WSTP were blended with SBR. Unexpectedly, the tensile strength of SBR was increased from 0.78 MPa to 1.35 MPa at this time, which is 1.7 times. At the same time, the elongation at break was increased from 167% to 1270%, an increase of 7.6 times. Possible mechanisms were discussed in detail. Economic assessments indicated that similar to 1375.6 USD could be saved when using 1 ton of WSTP in SBR, and the total saving is approximately 10 billion USD, taking in to account that about 4.91 x 10(8) m(2), or 7.35 million tons of waste tracks will be recycled over the next 5 years. The recycling of waste synthetic running track is efficient, profitable and meaningful.