Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) of Combustion and Gasification of Styrene-Butadiene Copolymer (SBR)

An investigation has been initiated to determine the effects of various atmospheres (6.9% O₂/N₂, 21% O₂/N₂ (air), 30% O₂/N₂, 3% H₂/N₂ and pure N₂) on the efficiency of gasifying or combusting rubber waste to produce synthesis gas or generate steam or power. This paper reports on the findings from a series of TGA experiments at various heating rates on styrene-butadiene copolymer (SBR), which is the main starting component for tire manufacturing. The results indicate that oxygen enhanced atmospheres have a significant effect on increasing combustion efficiency at the tested heating rates. A hydrogen-spiked atmosphere, surprisingly, did not have a significant effect on the gasification rates of SBR at any heating rate; in addition, this atmosphere resulted in a carbon residual that remained in the sample carrier, something that was not observed in the other atmospheres, including pure nitrogen. An unexpected result of the N₂-O₂ tests was the development of a plateau in the mass-loss versus temperature curves, at temperatures near 500°C.