Tyromer Inc. is a company established by the University of Waterloo to commercialize a rubber devulcanization technology invented by Professor Costas Tzoganakis of the Department of Chemical Engineering.

Sam Visaisouk, CEO of Tyromer, specializes in technology commercialization via start-ups. His diverse industry and R&D management background enables him to establish critical open-innovation partnerships and strategic product development collaborations which deliver quick and sustainable value to partners, customers and shareholders.

We sat down with Sam to discuss Tyromer, rubber devulcanization  and why this new technology is important.

How did Tyromer get its start?

Tyromer technology, based on rubber devulcanization, was invented by Professor Costas Tzoganakis of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Funding for the research was provided by Ontario Tire Stewardship and Ontario Centres of Excellence, an organization that connects entrepreneurs, start-ups, industry, academia and investors to commercialize innovation and compete globally. Tyromer also formed a strategic collaboration with Kitchener-based AirBoss, one of North America’s largest custom rubber compounders.

What’s the deal with this rubber devulcanization process?

When rubber is formed into a tire, it is vulcanized. This is a process in which rubber is mixed with sulfur and exposed to heat. The result is a hard, durable rubber product – perfect for tires. However, vulcanized rubber is difficult to recycle because it cannot be easily reformulated into raw materials.

The problem of effectively and efficiently recycling tires has been explored for a long time. It wasn’t until Dr. Costas Tzoganakis, a chemical engineering professor from the University of Waterloo, discovered a rubber devulcanization process that unlocks the underlying performance characteristics of scrap tire rubber, that a major breakthrough was made.

The conversion is 99 per cent efficient and no chemicals or solvents are used in the process. This is the only cost-effective and environmentally-friendly devulcanization technology currently available. The ground-breaking process produces a highly versatile material that can be used to create a wide variety of end-use products.

Why is this breakthrough so important?

Managing scrap tire waste is still a problem in North America. Governments have traditionally used grants, subsidies and incentives to reduce scrap tire stockpiles; however, 50 per cent of all scrap tires in North America are still burned to prevent further stockpiling. This amounts to more than 500 million tires annually – just imagine the impact this has on air quality.

With Tyromer, for the first time, massive quantities of rubber from scrap tires can be recovered without resorting to government subsidies and incentives or environmental compromise. Tyromer offers the rubber industry an opportunity to meet sustainability mandates while getting access to a cheaper rubber supply. The bottom line is that Tyromer offers a painless way to deal with a major environmental problem that will only get bigger as more tires hit the road.