Course: Sustainability in the Rubber Industry
June 12, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: This course is available in-person only at ACE Laboratories – 6800 N. Chestnut St., Suite C, Ravenna, OH 44266.
Course Overview: This course is a technical review of sustainable raw materials for the rubber industry. This will include recycled polymers, carbon blacks, oils and green fillers. We will review where they come from, how they are produced and how you can use them. A BBQ lunch and a tour of ACE Laboratories is included.
Course Content:
Devulcanized and Reclaim Rubber
Devulcanized Methods
- Mechanical
- Chemical
- Hybrid
Ground Tire Rubber
- Ambient
- Cryogenic
- Water Jet
Compounding with Devulcanized Rubber
Recycled Carbon Black Processes
Sustainable Carbon Black Processes
Compounding with RCB
Recycled Fillers
- Silica
- Calcium carbonate
- Zinc
- Magnesium
Sustainable Fillers
- Rice husk
- Eggshells
- Other
Plant based polymers
- Guayule
- Dandelion
Plant based oils
- Rapeseed
- Soy
- Castor
This course includes case studies analyzing many of these sustainable materials into application compounds.
Price: $595 Member / $745 Non-members / Free for Undergraduate Student Members / $100 Other Student Members
Instructor: Erick Sharp, ACE Laboratories
Bio: Erick Sharp founded ACE Laboratories in January of 2015. Erick received his degree in Industrial Engineering in 2003. He has also completed several polymer science and rubber formulating certifications. With ACE, Erick assisted in the launch of several new product lines in the rubber and silicone field. He has also acted as a contract technical and executive management support for many growing companies in the industry. He has been in the rubber industry for eighteen years and is looking forward to eighteen more. He has presented at numerous industry conferences across the globe. Erick resides in Uniontown, OH with his wife and two boys.