Using old tyres to create plastic-rubber composite speed humps
Speed humps produced from the upcycled plastic-rubber composite material pellets Product |
Plastic-rubber composite speed humps |
Material classification |
Tyres and plastic |
Product specifications and standards |
AS2890.1:2004 |
Project type |
Trial and validation |
Research result |
The product has confirmed that the manufactured speed humps meet the required technical standards |
Sector |
Transport |
Grant recipient |
Polymeric Powders Company Pty Ltd |
Project partners |
Austeng, Innovative Plastic Solutions, The Barrier Group |
SV funding |
$34,032 |
The outcome
This project created long lasting speed humps that were comparable to virgin plastic. The pilot installation showed that there was no significant difference in wear between the virgin and recycled versions. The humps maintained structural integrity and functionality. There was no noticeable degradation in performance compared to traditional materials.
The need
The 2019 ban on the export of waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres, has created new opportunities for these materials. These waste streams can improve sustainability and environmental outcomes through the right applications. Millions of end-of-life tyres end up in landfill or are stockpiled and are a major problem. Each year, millions of tonnes of plastic are used in Australia. Half of which is still for single-use purposes.
Many speed humps are manufactured with virgin plastics. These are significant in volume and play a crucial role in road safety. This made them an ideal product to showcase the composite material’s properties such as:
- increased shock absorption
- resistance to cracking
- thermal and acoustic insulation
'The produced part is “like a brick”, very solid.'
Production of the new upcycled plastic-rubber composite material in pellet form. Developing the solution
Polymeric Powders Company successfully developed the material through earlier research and development. The rubber-plastic composite material is made from tyre crumb from end-of-life tyres, combined with recycled plastic in the form of flakes or granules. The project aimed to test potential commercial applications of this material in a product of significant volume (speed humps).
The process included:
- an upgrade of the pilot manufacturing plant for production of the composite material
- material creation in pellet form for input into an injection moulding process
- speed hump production and installation at a high use site for monitoring and evaluation.
The partnership
Polymeric Powders and Australian Engineering Solutions (Austeng) produced the composite material pellets. Innovative Plastic Solutions manufactured the speed humps using an injection moulding process. The Barrier Group installed and monitored the performance of the speed humps. They also produced a commercial evaluation report.
'The trial results indicate that the upcycled car speed humps have maintained structural integrity and functionality, with no noticeable degradation in performance compared to traditional materials.'
Pathway to commercialisation
Challenges were found in adapting the injection moulding process at Innovative Plastic Solutions to use the composite material. The combination of higher injection pressures and longer cooling increased production costs. Investment in improved manufacturing capability would enable production at scale. The project demonstrated that using recycled materials doesn’t mean compromising on performance.
For more information, please visit Polymeric Powders Company.