Sensor Adhesion on Tire Inner Surface via Ozone Etching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for bonding sensor units to tire inner surfaces in pneumatic tires face challenges with poor adhesiveness and air retention properties due to the use of release agents, which either degrade air retention or fail to adequately remove the agent, leading to peeling issues.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a release agent thickness of 0.1 μm to 100 μm, detected by an electron microscope, is applied to the tire inner surface, combined with an adhesive layer, and optionally laser irradiation to ensure adhesiveness and air retention, using a cyanoacrylate-based adhesive with tensile shear adhesive strength between 0.4 N/mm2 and 100 N/mm2, and a base to prevent peeling from tire deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a release agent is applied to the tire inner surface to prevent bonding of the green tire and bladder, then the green tire can be successfully vulcanized, but the adhesiveness between the tire inner surface and sensor unit becomes poor
Solution Approach 1:
The release agent is applied to the tire inner surface before vulcanization to prevent unwanted bonding between the green tire and bladder. This preliminary action ensures successful vulcanization while the release agent remains on the surface to be removed later, resolving the contradiction between ensuring vulcanization success and maintaining subsequent adhesiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The release agent is selectively removed from the tire inner surface after vulcanization but before sensor unit bonding. This extraction eliminates the harmful substance (release agent) that prevents adhesiveness while preserving the benefits it provided during vulcanization, thereby resolving the contradiction between vulcanization success and adhesiveness.
2Strength
If the tire inner surface is buffed to remove the release agent, then adhesiveness improves, but the gauge of the innerliner is reduced and air retention properties degrade
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical buffing process is replaced with chemical etching using an ozone treatment. This substitution removes the need for mechanical abrasion that damages the innerliner gauge, while still achieving effective release agent removal. The chemical process selectively attacks the release agent without significantly affecting the innerliner material, thus resolving the contradiction between adhesiveness and air retention properties.
Solution Approach 2:
Ozone, a strong oxidant, is used to chemically etch and remove the release agent from the tire inner surface. The oxidative process selectively decomposes the release agent molecules without significantly degrading the innerliner rubber, thereby achieving effective release agent removal while preserving air retention properties.
3Strength
If a film is bonded to the tire inner surface in advance and then peeled after vulcanization to remove the release agent, then adhesiveness improves, but air retention properties degrade
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical peeling process is replaced with chemical etching using ozone treatment. This substitution eliminates the mechanical stress and potential damage to the innerliner that occurs during film peeling. The chemical process selectively removes the release agent without compromising the innerliner integrity, thus resolving the contradiction between adhesiveness and air retention properties.
4Strength
If the tire inner surface is cleaned to remove the release agent, then adhesiveness improves, but the release agent cannot be sufficiently removed
Solution Approach 1:
Ozone, a strong oxidant, is used to chemically etch and remove the release agent from the tire inner surface. The oxidative process selectively decomposes the release agent molecules, ensuring thorough removal that conventional cleaning methods cannot achieve. This resolves the contradiction between adhesiveness and completeness of release agent removal.
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 enhances adhesiveness between the tire and sensor unit while maintaining air retention properties, allowing for accurate tire information acquisition and easy installation, with improved durability and bladder life.
Implementation Method 1
at least one sensor unit fixed to a tire inner surface via an adhesive layer
Implementation Method 2
a release agent is applied to the inner surface of the green tire to prevent bonding of the green tire and the bladder
Implementation Method 3
irradiating the tire inner surface with a laser to remove a release agent
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a pneumatic tire and a method for manufacturing the same. At least one sensor unit including a sensor that acquires tire information is fixed to a tire inner surface via an adhesive layer, and a thickness of a release agent detected by an electron microscope at least in a fixing region for the sensor unit is from 0.1 μm to 100 μm.