We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
[Aging and Small-sized Particles Release Characteristics of Tire Microplastics in Various Environmental Media].
Summary
Researchers simulated the aging of tire microplastics from cars and electric bicycles under UV illumination in both dry and aquatic environments, finding that 30 days of UV exposure caused surface roughening, cracking, and flaking while increasing the carbonyl index and releasing smaller particles, revealing distinct aging and fragmentation behaviors across environmental media.
In recent years, research on microplastics has mostly focused on thermoplastic materials, and there is a lack of research on the pollution status and environmental behavior of tire microplastics, a type of rubber elastomers. In order to investigate the aging and small-sized particles release characteristics of tire microplastics in various environmental media, the aging process of two different tire microplastics, one for cars and the other for electric bicycles, was simulated in dry and aquatic environments under laboratory conditions. The results showed that the tire microplastics would be aged after 30 d of UV illumination, which was manifested by the roughness of the surface and the appearance of cracks and flaking. The Fourier infrared spectra showed that the carbonyl index of the surface also increased. In addition, tire microplastics released a large number of small sub-micron particles under the influence of UV illumination and hydrodynamic action, and the number of particles released from car tire microplastics in aquatic environments reached 694.8 million particles per milliliter of solution at 30 d of the UV light condition, among which 694.6 million particles with a particle size of less than 1 μm were released, which was approximately 100 times of that in the dark condition. The study showed that tire microplastics in aquatic environments were more susceptible to aging and released more small particles under light conditions and that car tire microplastics released more small particles than electric bicycle tire microplastics, posing ecological and environmental risks.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Degradation rates and ageing effects of UV on tyre and road wear particles
Researchers studied how UV light degrades tire and road wear particles, which are considered the largest source of microplastics in the environment. They found that UV exposure caused significant surface cracking and chemical changes in the rubber particles, accelerating their breakdown into smaller fragments. The study provides important data on how quickly these particles degrade outdoors, which helps predict their long-term environmental fate and accumulation.
A study on the aquatic degradation of tire wear particles: Impact of environmental factors and material formulations
This study investigated how tire wear particles degrade in aquatic environments, examining the effects of environmental factors such as UV exposure and water chemistry on particle breakdown. The results showed that aquatic degradation alters tire wear particles in ways that may increase their ecotoxicological risk.
A study on the aquatic degradation of tire wear particles: Impact of environmental factors and material formulations
This study assessed how tire wear particles degrade in freshwater environments under varying environmental conditions including UV radiation and water chemistry. The degradation process alters particle properties in ways that may increase toxicity to aquatic organisms.
UV and thermal degradation of tire derivatives: A comparative study of unused tires, recycled tire chips, and tire and road wear particles
Researchers compared UV and thermal aging behavior of unused tires, recycled tire chips, and tire and road wear particles, finding that material history and particle size influenced degradation rate and benzothiazole leaching—a marker of toxicological concern from tire-derived microplastics.
Assessing the Biodegradability of Tire Tread Particles and Influencing Factors
Researchers tested the biodegradability of tire tread particles under natural and UV-weathered conditions, finding that biodegradation was limited and that UV weathering affected the process. Tire wear particles persist in the environment and contribute to microplastic, chemical, and particulate matter pollution.