Tire Retreading Cushion Gum Low-Temperature Curing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for retreading tires are limited by the need for sulfur-based cure systems, which have a short shelf life and require high heat for curing, leading to increased costs and logistical challenges due to the separate production of cushion gum and tread components.
Innovation Solution
A retreading process using a cushion gum composition with a functional polymer and a crosslinking agent that reacts at low temperatures, allowing for ambient temperature curing and enabling on-site preparation and application, reducing the need for separate facilities and energy-intensive curing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a sulfur-based cure system is used for cushion gum, then the cushion gum can be cured at high temperature, but the shelf life of the cushion gum becomes short
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the cure system from sulfur-based to peroxide-based curing agents, and uses functional polymers with specific reactive groups (isocyanate, amine, acid anhydride) that enable curing at lower temperatures. This parameter change extends shelf life while maintaining curing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushion gum is formulated as a composite material containing functional polymers (polyols, polyamines, polyester polymers) combined with specific crosslinking agents (peroxides, carboxylic acid halides, anhydrides). This composite structure enables ambient temperature curing and extends shelf life.
2Reliability
If sulfur-based cure systems are used, then curing can be achieved, but high heat is required which increases energy consumption and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the curing temperature parameter from high temperature (required by sulfur-based systems) to ambient or low temperature by using peroxide-based crosslinking agents and functional polymers with reactive groups that cure at lower temperatures, thereby reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal-mechanical curing process (high heat and pressure) with a chemical curing process using peroxide-based crosslinking agents that can cure at ambient temperature, substituting mechanical/thermal energy with chemical reaction energy.
3Ease of manufacture
If cushion gum is produced at a separate facility and shipped to retreading facility, then production can be specialized, but logistical costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cushion gum production and retreading operations by formulating the cushion gum with extended shelf life using peroxide-based crosslinking agents. This allows the cushion gum to be produced at the retreading facility itself, combining previously separate operations and eliminating logistics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables preliminary preparation of the cushion gum composition with extended stability, allowing it to be stored and used on-demand at the retreading facility rather than requiring just-in-time delivery from a separate production facility, thereby simplifying logistics.
4Reliability
If both heat and pressure are applied to cure cushion gum, then proper curing is achieved, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the need for high heat and pressure mechanical curing systems with a chemical curing system using peroxide-based crosslinking agents that cure at ambient temperature, eliminating or reducing the need for expensive curing equipment while maintaining curing quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the curing parameters from high temperature and high pressure to ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure by using peroxide-based crosslinking agents, thereby reducing equipment requirements and production costs while maintaining reliable curing.
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
This approach extends the shelf life of the retreading materials, reduces production costs, and allows for more efficient retreading operations by enabling ambient temperature curing, thus improving the overall efficiency and economics of the tire retreading process.
Implementation Method 1
a crosslinking agent including at least two moieties that will react with the functional group of the functional elastomer
Data Source
AI summary
A process for retreading a tire, the process comprising the steps of providing a tire casing; providing a cured rubber component having first and second planar surfaces, where the first planar surface includes a tread pattern; providing a cushion gum, wherein the cushion gum is a composition including a functional polymer including at least one functional group, and a crosslinking agent including at least two moieties that will react with the functional group of the functional elastomer; applying the cushion gum to the tire casing; applying the second planar surface of the cured rubber to the cushion gum to form a tire composite; and treating the tire composite to thereby form a retread tire.