ABSTRACT
The ever-growing demand for new cars implies that more tires are fabricated each year. Nevertheless, after the end of their lifespan, they become an environmental passive of difficult final disposition, both because of their big volume and because of their lengthy decomposition. Discarding them inadequately causes important damages to the environment and favors the proliferation of vectors of human diseases. In order to contribute to the reversal logistics of unserviceable tires, this work aims at, to create a concrete with the insertion of tire retreading rubber residue in proportions of 6% and 9% in weight, to be used in the manufacturing of interlocked blocks for low-traffic pavements. The experimental method consisted of analyzing the mechanical behavior and absorption of water, gradation and specific weight. Macroscopic and microscopic analysis with the utilization of stereoscope and Scanning Electron Macroscope (SEM), respectively, were also conducted. Finally, a quantitative evaluation of the environmental benefits of the use of the residue was made, as well as an analysis of the costs of manufacturing a concrete with rubber. The results demonstrate that the addition of rubber allows for a minor reduction of the concrete’s strength by 15.24% and 17.27% for 6wt% and 9wt% of added rubber, respectively. However, all the mixes produced exceeded the level of 35 MPa required in Brazilian regulations (ABNT: NBR 9781/2013), thus fit for the use in low-traffic roads. The concrete with rubber also offered advantages such as reduction of specific weight and 4% lower production costs. From the analysis, the technical, economic and environmental viability of this alternative is established, being it useful for the for the management of unserviceable of pneumatics and for the manufacturing of paving blocks of satisfactory quality according to the most accepted technical standards.
Keywords
Rubber concrete; Mechanic and physic properties; Costs analysis
