SRI’s proprietary machine effectively devulcanizes 40 mesh tire crumb in a mechano chemical process. The system allows for a batch size in excess of 250kg with a very low energy footprint, low heat signature and a process time of under 20 minutes per batch. Having achieved this milestone, production will begin shortly in both Malaysia and the USA with the equipment being shipped this month.

RRI inspecting inspecting light truck tire

SRI is pleased to announce 2,500km mark of the RRI on the road validation trials of our light truck tires  has been passed successfully. The RRI results confirm no appreciable difference in abrasion resistance and performance to date. SRI will be clearing the 5,000km mark in the coming week. This is a significant performance marker for new tires. SRI now expects to quickly progress through the protocol so that we may carry out the required tests with European Light truck compounds.

Dr. Alias Othman the Director of the Technology and Engineering and Puan. Che Su Head of the Advance Technology unit were on hand to witness the historic event and take a close look at the tires and measurements taken.

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This chart involves a full battery of tests where control sample production tire and SRI Compound production tire were independently subjected to the full ASTM standard tests (Standard Test reference is on the chart) for Light Truck tires. All the information on the chart is important. The SRI Compound Tire is a composite compound using the manufacturers Light Truck compound with a substitution of 20% with our SRI Compound.

In this case it means that tread compound has 14% of recycled content and the sidewall of the tire has a little more than 14% recycled content. Virgin compound modified to allow for customization added to the activated compound will make the final custom compound proportion 20%. Here the tensile, elongation at break and Abrasion resistance (the lower the value the better) of the all the samples are tested following the protocols of the prescribed standard by the Rubber Research Institute’s (http://www.lgm.gov.my/) Tire Lab of the Malaysian Rubber Board.

On review of the results it will show that in spite of the inclusion or substitution of 20% (in this case 14% recycled material content) without custom compound that we were able to ensure no loss in properties, in fact we were able to prove that we could even exceed the original specifications in certain cases. Also the fact that we have done it in the sidewall and tread compounds makes it all the more impressive.

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This (above) chart is a comparison of the manufacturers Light Truck Tire Compound and a composite compound which is the same compound with 20% substituted with the  SRI Custom Compound (14% recycled rubber content). These compounds, the control and the composite were then tested for tensile and elongation at break to show that there is no appreciable loss or change in properties.

In the case of Batches 6 & 7 we increased the recycled content a little but please note that the variance is considered near test error difference. Regardless we feel that all the results are impressive and make our point without exception.

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The plunger test effectively measures the amount of force required to make the tire that has been normally inflated to fail or burst when it is applied to a specified area of the side wall using a regulation test plunger. The minimum specification to pass the test is that the point of failure or bursting must be achieved due to force in excess of 6,759kg.cm or 5,700 in.lb.

The control or manufacturers original OEM compound tire was measured to require a force of 7,029kg.cm to make the plunger break through.

The  SRI custom compound tires not only passed the minimum specification but it managed to comfortably exceed the control at 7,798kg.cm and 8,800 kg.cm.

This test is of specific significance as the  SRI activated compound was not only incorporated into the tread compound but it was also introduced into the sidewall compound. This test is not only measuring the overall resistance of the tire to measured trauma but it is a test that points clearly to the performance level of the side wall compound. The  SRI compound in the current format was intended to be equal to the control specification; this was achieved and exceeded which leaves additional room for further cost reduction based on the sidewall formulation.

All these test results were the result of independent testing and evaluation by the Rubber Research Institute of the Malaysian Rubber Board.

Based on these test results, what has been achieved here is historic, there has never been a case of scrap rubber/tire dust or powder, regardless of the technology employed that has ever exceeded a couple of percentile. Before this innovation exceeding 2 plus % recycled content in a tire compound always meant what is referred to in the industry as “catastrophic failure”. History has been rewritten, the  SRI custom compound has been able to incorporate more than 14% recycled content in both the tread and sidewall compounds of a light truck tire and actually had it provide performance parameters equal to and higher than the original compound. Obviously the content levels would be substantially higher in lower to medium level applications.  SRI is currently unmatched having broken new technological ground in recycling whose impact and significance will be effect the entire rubber industry.

SRI’s revolutionary compound’s, technical reach and ability to perform in premium volume applications will not only ensure substantially improved viability for rubber product manufacturers but will make environmentally friendly “green” production the norm rather than the exception. Finally there is a real solution to the “Tire Mountains” and the environmental pollution from them.  SRI activated custom compounds allow for substantial recycled content to be applied in nearly all volume applications cost effectively without appreciable loss of properties.

Video #3 Revolutionary Technology: SRI Compound based Light Truck Tire Production:

Sekhar Research Innovations is proud to announce that it has successfully produced Light Truck Tires in a commercial production plant using a significant proportion of its custom compound. All preliminary tests have been positive and in accordance with specifications of the original control.  SRI is confident that its current attained success is of critical importance and great significance to the rubber industry. Moreover,  SRI is certain that this represents ‘History in the Making.’

The  SRI  Compound was originally produced in full production batch in a Banbury Mixer in the World Renowned Malaysian Rubber Board’s, Rubber Research Institute facility in Sg. Buloh http://www.lgm.gov.my/ and subsequently shipped to the manufacturer’s plant.

SRI Compound was then mixed and formulated with virgin light truck compound in a range of pre-agreed proportions. This blending process was successful without any alteration. Upon completion, the resultant compound was put through the balance of the manufacturing process.

Upon the success of the process the tires have now been shipped for independent testing at the World Renowned Malaysian Rubber Board’s, Rubber Research Institute facility in Sg. Buloh http://www.lgm.gov.my/. Where they will be subjected to a two phase process:

First, the Institute will conduct a full range of tire lab tests which will include abrasion resistance. The tests will be carried out on both the original control tires in parallel with the tires containing the SRI Compound. Second,  SRI Compound based light truck tires will be tested and compared alongside the control units.

Further, the tires will also be installed on a commercial truck operating in real time conditions for their useful life under standard load. The vehicle will return to the Rubber Research Institute Tire Testing Lab, where results should show the compounds aligned with all the protocols in terms of kilometers run tests so that proper measurements may be taken.

SRI, through it’s partners and licensees, is positioned to become a major player in the international tire compound market.  SRI possesses unique technology and will soon be introducing it to the global market.

Gopi Sekhar, CEO of SRI, stated, “In an industry that has now come to terms with ever increasing raw material costs, both from natural and synthetic rubbers which are further exacerbated by very serious environmental concerns, in terms of the responsible management of the resultant used tire scrap, there has been no real solution that could adequately address either the backlog nor the growing annual accumulation that has it in a literal stranglehold.

All efforts thus far have either, in some way added to the already burgeoning global pollution problem or ended up being niche applications, which relative to the problem are irrelevant.

Today SRI has unveiled a technology and process which for the very first time can address both the accumulation of scrap tires and over time the enormous backlog. The SRI process is designed to match industry volume processes and conditions; it further lends itself easily to a full and wide range of applications as a real value added raw material. This makes it a very valuable cost saving raw material to manufacturers at a time that they really need it, while at the same time allowing them to be environmentally responsible by substantively and meaningfully addressing a very serious global pollution problem.”

RECAP FROM VIDEO 1 AND 2:

If you watch Video #1

Successful Production of SRI Compound in Full Commercial Scale

and then take Video #2

SRI Compound Successfully Blended in Actual Manufacturing Conditions

it will start to paint the big picture. By the time you watch the Video #3, released in today’s news, it clearly proves how SRI is making history and stands to have an enormous positive effect on the global market of rubber.

Video 2  SRI Light Truck Compound Production

SRI has successfully cleared almost all the key manufacturing and process hurdles in one of the most challenging and demanding product manufacturing processes. This is a product (SRI Compound) that provides for very high final performance specifications as well as significant increase in added value and savings in raw material costs. Subsequent to succeeding in laboratory trials, SRI has officially duplicated the success of its products under actual challenging conditions.

After recently successfully producing SRI Compound in commercial scale at World Renowned Malaysian Rubber Board’s, Rubber Research Institute facility in Sg. Buloh http://www.lgm.gov.my/, using standard manufacturing equipment and processes,  SRI sent the custom compound to a commercial manufacturing facility in order to be utilized as a value added raw material. This institutional facility produces between 1,000 to 1,500mt of compound per month which they then manufacture product with including light truck tires, retread, motorcycle tires, bicycle tires, all types of tubes and tire flaps.

SRI Compound was introduced at the facility in the dump mill/sheeting mill stage, where it successfully blended into the manufacturing process without any issues and beyond the few seconds it took to physically load our material onto the operating mill (to allow the camera to see it happen), there was no increase in process time. The composite material in this case a blend between our custom compound (Produced earlier at the RRI http://www.lgm.gov.my/) and the manufacturer’s standard Virgin Light Truck Tire Compound.

The composite final Light Truck compound was then sheeted out, dipped into slurry of anti-tack solution (prevent the sheets from sticking together), passed through a cooling festoon and then set aside for conditioning. This conditioning process is between 4 hrs to 12 hrs, in this case the composite final compound was conditioned for 12 hours. Subsequently, it will be tested, evaluated and compared against manufacturer’s regular production material statistics. Further, it will be determined whether the product passes and is considered for further processing, in this case light truck tires.

The significance of using this recyled rubber compound (SRI Compound) is that in a very competitive environment of rising raw material and processing costs is that it allows for a savings in raw material costs (for the manufacturer) of between 4-11% subject to application, without compromising their product quality (basically unheard of in the rubber industry).

All the laboratory tests conducted on this product have proven that it will be within required parameters; however, real success will come when the product is evaluated under actual production conditions, an answer SRI will present in the next few days.

Gopi Sekhar, CEO of SRI (Sekhar Research Innovations Sdn Bhd) stated, “Today is a major watershed moment for the  SRI Compound in terms of technical hurdles. All earlier tests and trials have been on small scale and without the vagaries of actual production conditions which can have huge temperature swings, process time limitations and variable conditions that can be very challenging to say the least. Further, of all the applications that we have tested for, this would be the one with the highest performance parameters and properties. To have cleared this stage of manufacture is of enormous importance to us in the SRI project as it effectively confirms our ability to be used without problems and without causing any process changes of process time losses to the manufacturers. With this we can safely confirm our smooth entree into a very wide range of applications whose process conditions would be much less challenging than this while meeting all their performance characteristics. This successful portion of the production trial effectively confirms the financial viability of the SRI’s process and products with quite a wide variety of volume mid range applications.”

Sekhar Research Innovations announces Successful Production of SRI Compound in Full Commercial Scale.

Sekhar Research Innovations has successfully produced and tested the Revolutionary SRI Compound in a full production scale using a conventional Banbury mixer in the World Renowned Malaysian Rubber Board’s, Rubber Research Institute facility in Sg. Buloh http://www.lgm.gov.my/. This is the same facility where final compounds and products produced with our activateSRI Compound

d compound will be immediately sent for independent testing and analysis.

We now have a commercially viable way to consume the tire crumb in large volume. The material will be processed for added value which will reflect in cost savings for consuming manufacturers, while still providing a healthy margin for licensees.

The material will be a raw material compound with specified properties not a processing aid or filler. The compounds that we are working with are of high volume and high value and have requirements in terms of performance parameters that would preclude the addition of recycled material in any volume beyond the minimal.

Our tests have shown that we have processed powdered tire scrap (from truck tires) into performing compound on a commercial scale. Further, our results have shown that we have blended our activated compound into a range of value added product compounds in proportions ranging from 5% to as high as 20% depending on the application, without any appreciable loss of properties. This is a history making event.

The recovery process and our ability to sustain real time conditions on a commercial scale has shown that our technology has enabled us to achieve our goals thus making this process the first of its kind that will have an impact on the rubber market today.

Once our results of SRI Compound have been independently verified, it will lead to demand on an enormous scale. There has never been an alternative performing material like this that can immediately provide manufacturers with substantial savings. Having successfully cleared an array of tests, including abrasion resistance, our current expectations are very high.

An evaluation of the potential of using the buffings from OTR tyres to produce premium compounds. The compound for these specialized tyres are generally of superior properties and although for commercial reasons are currently being used for the production of rubber chips and coloured mulch, we are investigating the potential production of high end, premium compounds allowing for greater returns. Obviously our primary focus is still on the recovery from whole tyre crumbs however the opportunity that presents itself in the current equation may have some very interesting and profitable ramifications.

Overview and Simplified Preliminary Demonstration

Our starting point is the standard production output from a 40 mesh crumb rubber producer. While the “Surface Activation Process” is effective with material ranging from 40 mesh and better all the way to Cryogenic crumb in the 120 to 200 mesh range, we will be carrying out our process trials with standard generic 40 mesh “whole truck” dust. Once activated the highly reactive material is subjected to either a modified reclaim process or any one of the devulcanization technologies currently available. Proprietary processing aids would then be added to the mix and the resultant reactivated compound is then blended with a modified version of the virgin compound used by manufacturers. What you have at this point is a custom compound that has been tailored to whichever product category intended (in this case heavy truck retread compound). This material which is now a thoroughbred raw material, can be added into their process line with no material modification, added process activity or any additional cost factors in the manufacturers operation and most importantly without any appreciable loss in properties. This has never been viably and cost effectively done before, there have been material approximations, mostly in the form of fillers or processing aids masquerading as raw materials, none of which are remotely comparable. This in itself is a significant factor, effectively the SRI Compound would be dropped into the final minute of their normal production mixing cycle in their Banburys or intermixs. The manufacturer would be able to substitute virgin compound with our recycled compound ranging in proportions from 5% to up to 30% subject to the application and the properties required without any appreciable loss in properties allowing them to be environmentally responsible while enhancing their viability. The SRI Compound once fully developed will be a world beating recycling solution, setting a totally new standard for performance and viability.