Plastic Mold Element with Metallic Coating for Tire Curing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tire curing molds with metallic trim elements are costly, making them unsuitable for small series tire production due to high manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A mold element comprising a plastic or synthetic material body with a metallic coating, designed for low-cost production and limited lifetime use, featuring a molding surface for tire tread and sidewalls, manufactured using additive techniques like stereolithography or laser sintering, and coated with layers such as copper, nickel, and chromium for mechanical strength and thermal conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metallic trim elements are used in conventional tire curing molds, then mechanical resistance and thermal conductivity are improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a plastic or synthetic material body with a metallic coating layer. The body provides cost-effective manufacturing and appropriate mechanical properties, while the metallic coating (such as copper, nickel, or chromium) deposited on the molding face delivers the required mechanical resistance and thermal conductivity for tire curing. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by achieving high performance characteristics without the high cost of fully metallic mold elements.
2Temperature
If metallic trim elements are used in conventional tire curing molds, then thermal conductivity is improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure combines a plastic body with a metallic coating layer where the coating provides the necessary thermal conductivity for effective heat transfer during tire curing. The metallic coating (copper, nickel, or chromium) ensures adequate temperature distribution and curing performance, while the plastic body maintains cost-effectiveness. This resolves the thermal conductivity requirement without incurring high manufacturing costs associated with fully metallic elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing the metallic coating only on the molding face where thermal conductivity and mechanical resistance are critical for tire curing. The body can be made of cost-effective plastic material in non-critical areas. This localized application of expensive metallic material only where needed optimizes thermal performance while controlling manufacturing costs.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional metallic mold elements are used, then mold lifespan is extended, but initial manufacturing investment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle by creating a mold element with a plastic body and metallic coating that is designed for limited use in small series production (e.g., less than one hundred tires). The element can be discarded after limited use, eliminating the need for expensive durable metallic molds when high lifespan is not required. This resolves the contradiction by offering a cost-effective solution for applications where extended mold lifespan is not necessary.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables cost-effective manufacturing of tire molds suitable for small series production, providing sufficient mechanical strength and thermal conductivity for tire curing, with the option to discard after limited use, suitable for feasibility tests, design presentations, or trade fair demonstrations.
Implementation Method 1
The coating can be obtained by metallization. This metallization of the plastic or synthetic body allows for sufficient mechanical resistance and thermal conductivity characteristics
Implementation Method 2
the body is produced by additive manufacturing. 'Body produced by additive manufacturing' refers to any manufacturing process based on building the body layer by layer by adding material
Implementation Method 3
by laser sintering or melting of a plastic or synthetic powder
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The mold element for a tire mold comprises a body 12 made of plastic or synthetic material and provided with a molding face 14, and a coating deposited on the body 12 and covering at least the molding face 14 of said body and defining a molding surface 28 intended to mold all or part of the tread and/or of one or both sidewalls of the tire.