Purpose:　The　purpose　of　this　study　is　to　investigate　the　effect　of　chlorination　on　the　structure　and　properties　of　reclaimed　rubber　and　to　discuss　the　feasibility　of　a　novel　method　to　chlorinate　reclaimed　rubber.　Design/methodology/approach:　A　series　of　chlorinated　reclaimed　rubber　with　different　chlorination　degrees　(CD)　was　prepared　by　suspension　chlorination　in　aqueous　phase　(SCAP).　Their　structure　and　performance　were　characterized　by　Fourier　transform　infrared　spectrometer,　energy　dispersive　spectroscopy,　scanning　electron　microscopy,　thermogravimetric　and　mechanical　property　test.　Findings:　The　chemistry　structure,　mechanical　performance　and　heat　resistance　of　CRR　is　affected　greatly　by　its　CD.　Research　limitations/implications:　Although　in　the　present　work　only　chlorination　of　reclaimed　rubber　is　researched,　but　this　method　can　be　used　to　modify　other　recycled　rubber.　Practical　implications:　SCAP　is　a　useful　method　to　produce　CRR,　and　it　is　feasible　for　production　of　chlorinated　recycled　rubber　in　large　scale.　The　present　work　provides　a　new　strategy　to　fabricate　new　materials　based　on　recycled　rubber.　Social　implications:　Chlorination　of　reclaimed　rubber　by　SCAP　is　useful　to　convert　waste　rubber　into　new　materials,　and　it　is　useful　to　decrease　environment　pollution.　Originality/value:　SCAP　method　provides　a　new　technology　to　chlorinate　waste　rubber　with　many　merits,　such　as　chlorination　rate　of　RR　is　accelerated　and　the　reaction　can　be　controlled　or　adjusted　easily.　Moreover,　conversion　of　chlorine　is　increased　remarkably.　©　2019,　Emerald　Publishing　Limited.