Abstract: Methods for fabricating laminations to form structural elements of predetermined shapes (120, 220, 420, 520, 620) are provided. Laminations include parts (22, 24) fabricated from the tread portion (42) of discarded rubber tires. The parts are typically arranged in layers with various relationships therebetween. The parts are pressed to remove all voids therebetween causing dynamic tension which creates rigidity and then bonded with methods including vulcanization, chemical vulcanization, epoxy and adhesive.

Abstract: A process for fabricating cord-reinforced-rubber structural materials from used tires and a cord-reinforced-rubber structural material. The process includes the following steps for handling and treating the tires: removing the side walls from the tires; removing at least some of the tread material from the tire to provide an essentially uniform tread thickness; cutting the tires in a transverse direction to provide elongated strips of tire material having at least some inherent curvature; removing at least some of the inherent curvature by compressing the strips to at least about 100 psi and heating the strips to at least 200 degrees F to remove at least some of the inherent curvature; mating the strips with a gum rubber adhesive; and bonding the strips and gum rubber adhesive by compressing them to about 100 psi and heating them to at least 200 degrees F. By removing at least some of the inherent curvature the strips of rubber material are more easily handled during subsequent processing.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating laminations to form structural elements of predetermined shapes (120, 220, 420, 520, 620) are provided. Laminations include parts (22, 24) fabricated from the tread portion (42) of discarded rubber tires. The parts are typically arranged in layers with various relationships therebetween. The parts are pressed to remove all voids therebetween causing dynamic tension which creates rigidity and then bonded with methods including vulcanization, chemical vulcanization, epoxy and adhesive.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating laminations to form structural elements of predetermined shapes (120, 220, 420, 520, 620) are provided. Laminations include parts (22, 24) fabricated from the tread portion (42) of discarded rubber tires. The parts are typically arranged in layers with various relationships therebetween. The parts are pressed to remove all voids therebetween causing dynamic tension which creates rigidity and then bonded with methods including vulcanization, chemical vulcanization, epoxy and adhesive.