Pneumatic Tire Cover Layer Prevents Mold Incrustation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern tread mixtures with plasticizers in vehicle tires tend to clog vulcanization mold vent valves and soil mold surfaces due to incrustation during the vulcanization process, making removal difficult and labor-intensive.
Innovation Solution
Applying a cover layer with 0-25% plasticizer over the tread strip, composed of the same polymer system as the tread, to prevent direct contact with the mold and reduce incrustation, with a thickness of 0.1 mm to 2.0 mm, and optionally incorporating electrically conductive fillers like carbon black to prevent electrostatic charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If modern tread mixtures with plasticizers are used to improve wet grip and abrasion resistance, then tire performance is improved, but vent valves clog and mold surfaces become dirty with hard incrustations during vulcanization
Solution Approach 1:
The tread is divided into two distinct layers: a base tread layer containing plasticizers for improved performance, and a cover layer with reduced or no plasticizers to prevent mold contamination. This segmentation allows each layer to fulfill its specific function without the negative effects affecting the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover layer acts as an intermediary barrier between the plasticizer-rich base tread and the vulcanization mold. It prevents direct contact between the plasticizers and the mold surface, thereby eliminating the clogging and incrustation problems while allowing the base tread to maintain its performance benefits.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a cover layer with low plasticizer content is applied over the tread, then mold contamination is prevented, but the tread structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
A thin cover layer (0.1-2.0 mm) is applied over the base tread. This thin film structure provides the necessary protective function against mold contamination while minimizing the added complexity and maintaining ease of manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The tread is constructed as a composite structure combining two rubber mixtures with different plasticizer contents. The base layer provides performance enhancement while the cover layer provides protection, creating a composite material system that achieves multiple objectives simultaneously.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the cover layer thickness is increased to better protect against contamination, then mold cleanliness is improved, but manufacturing difficulty and material consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire tread thick to prevent contamination, only a thin cover layer (0.1-2.0 mm) is applied on the surface. This partial action provides sufficient protection against mold contamination while avoiding the manufacturing difficulties and material waste associated with a uniformly thick tread.
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
The cover layer effectively prevents mold surface and vent valve clogging, facilitating easier tire production by maintaining mold cleanliness and reducing clogging issues during vulcanization.
Implementation Method 1
Due to oxidation processes, very hard and resistant incrustations form on the mold surfaces and on the vent valves
Implementation Method 2
In order to be able to dissipate the electrostatic charging of the pneumatic vehicle tire via the tread
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The pneumatic vehicle tire has a tread strip (1) of a positive profile (11) and grooves (12), where the tread strip is completely covered with a covering layer (13). The covering layer is made of a rubber mixture comprising plasticizer, particularly liquid polybutadiene, where the thickness (14) of the covering layer varies from 0.1 to 2.0 millimeter. The covering layer has electrically conductive filler, particularly carbon black. : An independent claim is provided for a method for manufacturing a pneumatic vehicle tire. USE : Pneumatic vehicle tire, particularly summer or winter tires. ADVANTAGE : The covering layer consists of a rubber mixture comprising plasticizer, particularly a liquid polybutadiene, where the thickness of the covering layer varies from 0.1 to 2.0 millimeter, and thus ensures improved grip in the winter tire and reduced abrasion in the summer tire, where the blockage of the vent valves is avoided in the pneumatic vehicle tire. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS : The drawing shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a pneumatic vehicle tire. 1 : Tread strip 11 : Positive profile 12 : Groove 13 : Covering layer 14 : Covering layer thickness POLYMERS : The sprayable solution for the covering layer is provided as aqueous latex or an organic volatile solvent.