Material
Rubber Crumb
Answer in brief
Rubber crumb behaves unlike any mineral granule of the same size, because the particles are elastic and electrically charged.
They bounce rather than settle, cling to surfaces and carry textile fibre that blinds screens within hours.
- Plan for static, because grounding alone does not stop the cling.
- Expect screen blinding and specify cleaning mechanisms.
- Remove steel and fibre as early in the line as possible.
Reviewed October 21, 2026 · Updated October 21, 2026
Handling challenges
Tyre recycling lines look like mineral processing plants and behave nothing like them.
Elasticity and static
Rubber particles rebound at transfer points and spread beyond the intended path, and dry conveying charges them strongly.
- Enclosed transfers with generous clearances so bouncing material stays inside.
- Grounded, conductive components and controlled humidity where practical.
- Belt and vibratory conveying in preference to long pneumatic runs.
Screening and blinding
Textile fibre liberated during granulation wraps around screen wires and blinds the deck quickly.
Screens with ball decks, brush cleaning or ultrasonic systems keep the aperture open, and fibre separation upstream reduces the load.
Steel removal
Residual bead and belt wire damages granulators and contaminates the product.
Magnetic separation at several points along the line is normal, with the final check immediately before packing.
Fire risk
Rubber dust and fibre are combustible, and stored crumb piles can self-heat.
Dust collection with explosion protection and controlled pile sizes are the usual measures.
What to establish before buying equipment
- Target particle size range and the fibre content at that cut.
- Steel content and the separation stages planned.
- Bulk density, which is low and affects silo and bag sizing.
- Dust collection and explosion protection for the granulation area.
Material behavior
- Flowability
- Moderate; bouncing and static affect transfer
- Abrasiveness
- Low
- Cohesiveness
- Low, but static causes strong adhesion
- Moisture behavior
- Moisture promotes fibre clumping and screen blinding
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