• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • List Stock
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE
MARKETPLACE
  • Latest News
  • Features
    • Cover Story
    • Up Front
    • Waste Management In Action
    • Council in Focus
    • Rules and Regulations
    • International
    • Product Spotlight
    • Last Word
    • Profile
    • Events
    • Sustainability in Business
  • Events
  • White Paper
  • Magazine
  • Awards
    • WIRA
    • WII
    • Foundation Awards
No Results
View All Results
  • Latest News
  • Features
    • Cover Story
    • Up Front
    • Waste Management In Action
    • Council in Focus
    • Rules and Regulations
    • International
    • Product Spotlight
    • Last Word
    • Profile
    • Events
    • Sustainability in Business
  • Events
  • White Paper
  • Magazine
  • Awards
    • WIRA
    • WII
    • Foundation Awards
No Results
View All Results
Home News

Used tyres provide ‘sunscreen’ for roads

by Lisa Korycki
May 25, 2022
in News
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
used tyres

Road engineer Associate Professor Filippo Giustozzi is focused on delivering practical and readily implementable research outcomes. (Image: RMIT)

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Rubber from used tyres acts like sunscreen for roads and halves the rate of sun damage when mixed with bitumen, new research has found.  

RMIT University engineers collaborated with Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) to reveal a bitumen blend that is both UV-resistant and withstands traffic loads, with the potential to save governments millions on road maintenance annually.

Unlike much outdoor infrastructure – such as playground equipment and outdoor furniture – roads are not designed with any sun protection, making them prone to cracking and potentially unsafe to drive on. Australian states and territories spent nearly $2.9 billion on road maintenance in 2019  –2020, according to the National Transport Commission.

The invention also provides a promising sustainable solution to Australia’s used-tyre crisis. Used tyres in Australia have been subject to an export ban since December 2021, which means new methods for recycling and reprocessing them locally is increasingly important.

While research efforts have focused on improving the durability of roads in terms of traffic load, thermal ageing and weather-related events, sun damage has received little attention – until now.

The new study, led by Associate Professor Filippo Giustozzi at RMIT University provides a sustainable solution to UV protection for roads, with results published in the Journal of Cleaner Production.

“We found that the ageing trend is actually slowed down when you add crumb rubber, which is recycled from scrap tyres, into the top layer of a road,” Giustozzi said.

“This acts so effectively as a sunscreen for roads that it actually makes the surface last twice as long as regular bitumen.

“We knew that UV would be a factor in road degradation, but not by what degree or how to protect against it, as nobody has really been looking at this aspect.”

RMIT is one of the few universities in Australia to have a UV machine for asphalt studies, which can simulate weather-related ageing and is usually used for testing outdoor furniture paints.

Giustozzi’s team used this machine to simulate the long-term effect of solar degradation in the lab on bitumen with different concentrations of crumb rubber: from a low concentration of 7.5 per cent to a medium of 15 per cent  and a high of 22.5 per cent.

After a month and a half of continuous exposure in the UV machine – equivalent to about a year of Melbourne’s UV radiation – they measured the changes in bitumen’s chemical and mechanical properties.

Giustozzi said bitumen mixed with the high concentration of crumb rubber from recycled tyres showed 50 per cent less UV damage compared to regular bitumen.

While using more rubber was better in terms of UV resistance, Giustozzi said it was also important to balance this with mechanical performance.

“You don’t want something that is UV resistant but not truck resistant,” he said.  “We found adding between 18 per cent and 22 per cent of crumb rubber generates an ideal balance in terms of improving rut and fatigue resistance to traffic loads, while resisting UV ageing.”

Used tyres in Australia cannot be exported, making new methods for recycling and reprocessing them locally increasingly important.

Lina Goodman, TSA Chief Executive Officer, said while Australia produced about 450,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres in 2021, only about 70 per cent of those were recycled or reprocessed, making it a critical problem to solve.

“We are encouraged by the research in showcasing the viability and benefits of using crumb rubber from end-of-life tyres, not only in roads and civil infrastructure, but across multiple sectors,” Goodman said.

“We’re excited to collaborate on this project with industry and leading researchers at RMIT University. A multi-organisational approach paves the way for new innovation and the opportunity to turn this resource into a value-added product.”

Giustozzi said an added advantage of crumb rubber was that it was already widely in use, including in some roads, but that the councils and state authorities using it were not aware of this ‘sunscreen’ effect revealed in the research.

“We hope this research will change that and open new opportunities.”

Related stories:

RMIT researchers develop novel solution for cigarette butt waste

RMIT professors push for industry input on circular economy

Tags: end-of-life tyresTSA
Premium Ad
20

$616,000

2023 TEREX FINLAY J960A JAW CRUSHER

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Crusher
  • » Class: Jaw Crusher
  • » Application: Mobile
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Burpengary, QLD

Location marker The shape of a location marker

Delivery ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, TAS & VIC

07 3106 7395
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
1
Private Advertiser

$80,000

2013 KIRPY KIRPY ROCK CRUSHER

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Crusher
  • » Class: Crushing Mobile
  • » Application: Mobile
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Port Pirie South, SA

**** *** 071
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
2

$15

SAND WASHING WEAR PARTS SUIT TRIO, EAGLE, DYNAMIC, M&Q, GATOR AND OTHERS

  • » Listing Type: New
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Port Adelaide, SA

08 7099 2506
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
4
Private Advertiser

$33,000

CUSTOM CUSTOM

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Screener
  • » Class: Screenboxes
  • » Application: Mobile
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Peak Crossing, QLD

**** *** 571
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
1

$30

2021 DYNAMIC EZ SKIRT

  • » Listing Type: New
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Port Adelaide, SA

08 7099 2506
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
33

$1,485,000

2023 KEESTRACK R6 IMPACTOR

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Crusher
  • » Class: Impactor
  • » Application: Mobile
  • » Capacity - tonnes/h: 350
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Laverton North, VIC

03 9999 3807
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
2

$335,000

2020 MCCLOSKEY S190

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Screener
  • » Class: Double Deck
  • » Application: Mobile
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Wacol, QLD

07 3073 8201
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
3

$790,000

2019 MCCLOSKEY C44V2

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Crusher
  • » Class: Cone-Gyratory
  • » Application: Mobile
  • » Capacity - tonnes/h: up to 300tph
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Wacol, QLD

07 3073 8201
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
21

$499,000

2017 METSO LOKOTRACK® LT1213S MOBILE CRUSHER AND SCREEN

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Crusher
  • » Class: Impactor
  • » Application: Mobile
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Cranbourne North, VIC

0485 931 103
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
18

$95,000

2010 FINLAY I130RS

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Crusher
  • » Class: Impactor
  • » Application: Mobile
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Dubbo, NSW

02 8315 0022
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
2

$682,000

2021 POWERSCREEN POWERSCREEN MAXTRAK 1000 CONE CRUSHER

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Crusher
  • » Class: Cone
  • » Application: Mobile
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Narangba, QLD

07 3073 8183
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
6
Private Advertiser

$110,000

2012 TEREX TC 1000

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Crusher
  • » Class: Cone
  • » Application: Stationary
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Ebor, NSW

**** *** 416
MORE DETAILS

Related Posts

lithium-ion battery South Australia

South Australia launches safety campaign to fight lithium-ion battery fires

by Jennifer Pittorino
July 14, 2025

The rise of lithium-ion battery fires has prompted a new safety campaign by South Australia’s fire services. The South Australian...

Pact Group targets

Pact Group commits to eliminating single-use plastic packaging

by Jennifer Pittorino
July 14, 2025

Packaging solutions provider Pact Group has committed to net-zero emissions by 2050, with significant progress made by 2030, and to...

City of Swan EMRC

City of Swan leaves the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council

by Jennifer Pittorino
July 14, 2025

After 39 years of association with the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council (EMRC), the City of Swan ended its membership on...

Join our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.
Waste Management Review is the specialist magazine for the waste, recycling and resource recovery sectors in Australia.

Subscribe to our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.

About Waste Management Review

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • List Your Equipment Today
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Collection Notice

Popular Topics

  • News
  • Features
  • Waste Management In Action
  • Product Spotlight
  • Profiles
  • Up Front
  • Last Word
  • Events

Our TraderAds Network

  • Arbor Age
  • Australian Car Mechanic
  • Australian Mining
  • Australian Resources & Investment
  • Big Rigs
  • Bulk Handling Review
  • Bus News
  • Cranes & Lifting
  • Earthmoving Equipment Magazine
  • EcoGeneration
  • Energy Today
  • Food & Beverage
  • Fully Loaded
  • Global Trailer
  • Inside Construction
  • Inside Waste
  • Inside Water
  • Landscape Contractor Magazine
  • Manufacturers' Monthly
  • MHD Supply Chain
  • National Collision Repairer
  • OwnerDriver
  • Power Torque
  • Prime Mover Magazine
  • Quarry
  • Roads Online
  • Rail Express
  • Safe To Work
  • The Australian Pipeliner
  • Trade Earthmovers
  • Trade Farm Machinery
  • Trade Plant Equipment
  • Trade Trucks
  • Trade Unique Cars
  • Tradie Magazine
  • Trailer Magazine
  • Trenchless Australasia
  • Waste Management Review

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

No Results
View All Results
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE
MARKETPLACE
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Features
    • Cover Story
    • Up Front
    • Waste Management In Action
    • Council in Focus
    • Rules and Regulations
    • International
    • Product Spotlight
    • Last Word
    • Profile
    • Events
    • Sustainability in Business
  • Events
  • White Paper
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
  • Awards
    • WIRA
    • WII
    • Foundation Awards
  • Marketplace
  • List Your Equipment Today
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited