• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2003

Steel tire cords were subjected to plasma polymerization coating of acetylene in order to enhance the adhesion to rubber compounds. Plasma polymerization coating was varied to plasma polymerization coating of acetylene, argon plasma etching+plasma polymerization, or argon plasma. etching+plasma polymerization with Ar carrier gas. Adhesion was evaluated via TCAT samples and compared to those with brass coated tire cord. For durability study, plasma polymer cooled tire cords were aged in lab atmosphere for 1, 3, 5, 10 or 15 days, while TCAT specimens prepared with plasma polymer coated tire cords were aged in distilled water, 10% NaCl solution or $100^{\circ}C$ oven for 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks. After testing, failure surfaces were analyzed with SEM/EDX. Among the treatments, the highest adhesion was obtained by Ar etching+acetylene plasma. polymerization coating with Ar carrier gas, providing almost same pull-out force as the brass coated tire cords. Upon the aging of the tire cords in the lab atmosphere, brass coated tire cords provided better adhesion than plasma polymer coated tire cords, while the TCAT samples with plasma polymer coated tire cords exhibited similar or slightly superior durability to those with brass coated tire cords.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.253-261
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• 1999

The cure properties of rubber compounds containing different adhesive compositions were examined. As the amounts of tannin were increased in the adhesive composition, the scorch time was increased and cure rate was decreased due to the size and shape of tannin molecules. Also, the effect of adhesive composition on the adhesion between rubber and fiber was examined by TCAT(Tire Cord Adhesion Test), The reinforcing cords used in this study were mon ofilaments of nylon 610 and nylon 66. According to the results, the optimum adhesion strength between rubber and fiber could be obtained with adhesives whose molar ratios of formaldehyde/resorcinol were above 5/1 in the recipes. Although the level of dip pick-up(DPU) on the reinforcing cord affects the adhesion strength, the DPU of nylon 610 monofilament did not affect the adhesion strength because the level of DPU was constant regardless of the adhesive compositions. In this case, the adhesion strength with the adhesive composition could be explained with the behavior of tannin in the adhesive.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.128-134
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• 1999

Steel tire cords were coated via RF plasma polymerization of acetylene and butadiene gas in order to enhance adhesion to rubber compounds. Adhesion of tire cords was measured by TCAT and T-test as a function of type of gas, plasma powder, treatment time, gas pressure and Ar gas etching. Some samples were subjected to aging study in distilled water at $80^{\circ}C$ for a period of 7 days. After testing, tire cords were analysed by SEM to elucidate the adhesion mechanism. The highest adhesion values were obtained at 20W, 2min and 25mtorr for acetylene plasma polymerization, and l0W, 4min, 25mtorr for butadiene plasma polymerization. However, Ar plasma etching did not affect adhesion, while the adhesion of tire cords increased rather than decreased, contrary to expectations. It was not possible to elucidate failure mode by SEM, owing to the rough surface of the tire and the thin plasma polymer coating layer.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2000

Zinc plated steel tire cords were subjected to RF plasma etching of argon, followed by plasma polymerization coating of acetylene or butadiene in order to enhance adhesion to rubber compounds. Plasma polymerization was carried out under optimized conditions of 10 W, 30 sec, 30 mTorr for acetylene and butadiene gas, while plasma etching was performed at 90W, 10min and 30mTorr. The adhesion of tire cords was evaluated via Tire Cords Adhesion Test (TCAT) and the failure surfaces of the tested samples were analyzed by SEM. Polymer coating by plasma polymerization was also characterized by FT-IR, Alpha-Step and dynamic contact angle analyzer in order to elucidate the adhesion mechanism.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2000

Zinc plated steel tire cords were treated with RF plasma polymerization coating of acetylene or butadiene in order to enhance adhesion to rubber compounds. Plasma polymerization was carried out as a function of plasma power, treatment tune and gas pressure. In order to maximize adhesion, argon plasma etching was performed, with carrier gas such as argon, nitrogen and oxygen, while the adhesion of tire cords was evaluated via TCAT. Best results were obtained from a combination treatment of argon etching (90 W. 10 min, 30 mTorr) and acetylene plasma polymerization coating (10 W, 30 sec, 30 mTorr) with argon carrier gas (25/5:acetylene/argon). These samples exhibited a pull out force of 285N which is comparable to that obtained from the brass plated tire cords (290N).