Composite reinforcer sheathed with a layer of polymer that is self-adhesive to rubber

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9821606-B2
Application number	US-201213981769-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2012
Priority date	Feb 3, 2011
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A composite reinforcer that can adhere directly to a diene rubber matrix is usable as a reinforcing element for a pneumatic tire. The composite reinforcer includes at least one reinforcing thread, such as a carbon steel cord. Covering each thread individually or several threads collectively is a layer of a thermoplastic polymer composition. The thermoplastic polymer composition includes at least one thermoplastic polymer have a glass transition temperature that is positive, a poly(p-phenylene ether) (PPE), and a functionalized unsaturated thermoplastic styrene (TPS) elastomer having a glass transition temperature that is negative. The TPS elastomer includes a functional group selected from: an epoxide group, a carboxyl group, an acid anhydride group, and an ester group. A process for manufacturing such a composite reinforcer is presented, as well as a process for producing a rubber article, especially a pneumatic tire, incorporating such a composite reinforcer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A composite reinforcer comprising:
at least one reinforcing thread; and
a layer of a thermoplastic polymer composition covering each thread individually or plural threads collectively, of the at least one reinforcing thread, wherein the thermoplastic polymer composition includes:
a thermoplastic polymer having a glass transition temperature that is positive,
a poly(p-phenylene ether), and
a functionalized unsaturated thermoplastic styrene elastomer having a glass transition temperature that is negative,
wherein the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyesters, and polyimides, and
wherein the functionalized unsaturated thermoplastic styrene elastomer includes a functional group selected from the group consisting of an epoxide group, a carboxyl group, an acid anhydride group, and an ester group.

2. The composite reinforcer according to claim 1 , wherein the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic polymer is above +20° C.

3. The composite reinforcer according to claim 1 , wherein the glass transition temperature of the functionalized unsaturated thermoplastic styrene elastomer is below −20° C.

4. The composite reinforcer according to claim 2 , wherein the glass transition temperature of the functionalized unsaturated thermoplastic styrene elastomer is below −20° C.

5. The composite reinforcer according to claim 1 , wherein a difference between the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic polymer and the glass transition temperature of the functionalized unsaturated thermoplastic styrene elastomer is greater than 60° C.

6. The composite reinforcer according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is an aliphatic polyamide or a polyester.

7. The composite reinforcer according to claim 1 , wherein the functionalized unsaturated thermoplastic styrene elastomer is a copolymer that includes styrene blocks and diene blocks.

8. The composite reinforcer according to claim 1 , wherein the poly(p-phenylene ether) has a glass transition temperature above 150° C.

9. The composite reinforcer according to claim 1 , wherein the poly(p-phenylene ether) is poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether).

10. The composite reinforcer according to claim 1 , wherein the functionalized unsaturated thermoplastic styrene elastomer includes between 5% and 50% styrene by weight.

11. The composite reinforcer according to claim 1 , wherein a minimum thickness of the layer is between 1 μm and 2 mm.

12. The composite reinforcer according to claim 1 , wherein the composite reinforcer is incorporated in a pneumatic tyre.

13. A method for manufacturing a composite reinforcer, comprising steps of:
providing at least one reinforcing thread;
providing a thermoplastic polymer composition that includes:
a thermoplastic polymer having a glass transition temperature that is positive,
a poly(p-phenylene ether), and
a functionalized unsaturated thermoplastic styrene elastomer having a glass transition temperature that is negative,
wherein the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyesters, and polyimides, and
wherein the functionalized unsaturated thermoplastic styrene elastomer includes a functional group selected from the group consisting of an epoxide group, a carboxyl group, an acid anhydride group, and an ester group; and

sheathing the at least one reinforcing thread with a layer of the thermoplastic polymer composition, wherein the sheathing covers each thread individually or plural threads collectively.

Assignees

• Abad Vincent
• Rigo Sébastien
• Custodero Emmanuel
• Michelin & Cie
• Michelin Rech Tech

Inventors

• Abad Vincent
• Rigo Sébastien
• Custodero Emmanuel

Classifications

• D02G3/48

  Tyre cords {(tyre reinforcements B60C9/00; metal cords for reinforcing rubber or plastic articles D07B1/0606)} · CPC title

• D07B2501/2046

  Tyre cords · CPC title

• B29D2030/383

  Chemical treatment of the reinforcing elements, e.g. cords, wires and filamentary materials, to increase the adhesion to the rubber · CPC title

• B60C2009/0021

  Coating rubbers for steel cords · CPC title

• B29D30/38 Primary

  Textile inserts, e.g. cord or canvas layers, for tyres (making woven fabrics D03D); Treatment of inserts prior to building the tyre (pretreatment of inserts B29B15/00; manufacture of layers comprising fibrous parallel reinforcements of substantial or continuous length B29C70/20) · CPC title