Application of Liquid Regenerated Rubber in Conveyor Belt Cover Compounds: Characterization and Property Retention

ABSTRACT

Waste rubber resists natural degradation, making recycling essential. Unlike traditional reclaimed rubber (RR), which selectively breaks sulfur bonds, liquid reclaimed rubber (LRR) is produced by reducing gel size and sol molecular weight, simplifying production and improving compatibility. This study characterized LRR (showing Mw < 10,000 and 41.61%‐sol content) and evaluated its application in conveyor belt rubber. Compared to RR, LRR reduces Mooney viscosity and Payne effect, increases loss factor, and enhances processability and mechanical properties. When substituting raw rubber, LRR excellently retains tear strength (116.1%) and elongation (101.6%). Replacing aromatic oil yields optimal overall performance, with key property retention rates exceeding 100%. However, LRR is less effective in replacing carbon black. The findings highlight LRR's potential for high‐value waste rubber recycling.