Pre-treatment with Aurora low-pressure plasma for automobile tires

An automobile tire consists of the tread and the tire skeleton. More than 200 different materials are used in manufacturing automobile tires, including oils, steel, sulphur compounds, Kevlar®, polyester and up to 80 different grades of rubber, aramid, zinc, resin and silica.

To increase the tire’s speed rating and handling, the tire tread is reinforced with Kevlar® (aramid). Achieving a secure bond between the tread material and the Kevlar® meshing so the tire can withstand high g-forces is of crucial importance. In mass production, this adhesion is promoted by pre-treating the aramid mesh with caustic sulfuric acid.

Safer, more reliable material bonding thanks to Aurora plasma

Pre-treatment with Aurora low-pressure plasma provides a more reliable and environmentally friendly alternative for this hazardous chemical process. Plasma effectively functionalizes the surface of the aramid mesh for the subsequent vulcanization process.