Vulcanizing Mold Roughness for Rubber Adhesion Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rubber residues adhere to vulcanization mold surfaces during the tire vulcanization process, requiring time-consuming and costly cleaning, and existing solutions like spray pretreatment can compromise tire grip and require additional processing steps.

Innovation Solution

Applying a thermal spray coating with defined roughness to the mold surfaces of the vulcanization mold, where the tread profile areas are rough and the grooves are smooth, minimizing rubber adhesion and maintaining optical contrast.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If spray solution is applied to mold surfaces before vulcanization, then rubber adhesion to mold is reduced, but tire grip is compromised and additional process step is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverubber adhesion to moldVSAvoidvulcanization cycle efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The mold surface is pre-treated with a roughness coating before vulcanization to prevent rubber adhesion. This preliminary action eliminates the need for spray solutions during each vulcanization cycle, as the rough surface structure permanently reduces rubber-mold contact area and adhesion forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using consumable spray solutions that must be reapplied for each cycle, a durable roughness coating is applied to the mold surface. This coating acts as a permanent anti-adhesion layer, replacing the need for repeated application of temporary spray treatments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If spray solution is used to prevent rubber adhesion, then rubber material sticks less to mold, but tire surface grip is reduced in initial operation period

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverubber adhesion to moldVSAvoidtire grip performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mold surface is selectively roughened only in specific areas where rubber adhesion occurs during vulcanization, while the tread pattern areas that contact the road maintain their original smooth finish. This localized roughness application ensures anti-adhesion properties where needed without compromising tire grip performance on the road surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Shape

If elevations are polished to create optical contrast between groove and tread surface, then visual contrast is achieved, but manufacturing time and skill requirement increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical contrast between groove and treadVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of polishing the elevations to create optical contrast, the invention applies roughness to the mold surface areas that form the tread profile. This inverted approach creates visual contrast through roughness rather than smoothness, achieving the same aesthetic effect while simplifying manufacturing and reducing skill requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 solution reduces rubber adhesion to the mold, allows for easy tire release, and enhances tire grip and visual contrast without the need for pre-treatment sprays, improving operational efficiency and tire performance.

Implementation Method 1

the roughness is formed by applying a thermal spray coating to the mold surfaces of the mold segments of the vulcanizing mold

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal spray: Plasma Spray

Data Source

PatentEP2234782B1Tyre vulcanizing mould and tyre produced using said tyre vulcanizing mould
Publication Date: 2012.02.22 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP2234782B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2234782B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2234782B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a tyre vulcanizing mould comprising at least two mould segments (1), the forming areas (2) of which jointly also form the tread rubber profile (7) of a tyre (6, 12) to be vulcanized and have a casing-shaped area (3) with elevations (4), such as preferably webs, wherein the casing-shaped area (3) forms the casing-shaped tread rubber profile area (8) of the tyre and wherein the elevations (4) impress the depressions (9), such as preferably grooves, in the tread rubber profile (7) of the tyre. The invention also relates to a tyre vulcanized using the vulcanizing mould mentioned above. The invention is distinguished in that certain regions of the forming areas (2) of the mould segments (1), which forming areas form the tread rubber profile (7), are provided with a roughness (5), such that those regions (3) of the vulcanizing mould which form the casing-shaped tread rubber profile area are provided with the roughness (5), whereas those elevations (4) which impress the depressions (9), such as preferably grooves, are not provided with this roughness (5) but instead are smooth.