Full definition
Rubber particles produced by mechanical shredding, grinding, and screening of end-of-life tires (ELT), typically after steel wire and fiber removal. Granulometry ranges: coarse chips (25-100 mm, for civil engineering fill), granulate (1-10 mm, for sports surfaces and molded products), crumb rubber (0.5-4 mm, for playground surfaces and modified asphalt), and fine powder (<0.5 mm, for rubber compound re-use). The material retains the abrasion resistance and elasticity of the original tire compounds (mainly SBR/NR blends with carbon black). Applications: playground safety surfaces (EN 1177 critical fall height compliance), sports flooring and running tracks (IAAF certified), artificial turf infill (FIFA Quality certified), rubber-modified asphalt (gap-graded or open-graded mixes — reduces noise and improves flexibility), anti-vibration mats, and molded products (mats, bumpers, gym tiles — typically bonded with 10-15% polyurethane binder). Environmental benefit: diverts tires from landfill (1 billion ELT generated annually worldwide). Per ASTM D6270 for tire-derived materials in civil engineering. Steel-free and fiber-free grades required for sports and flooring applications.