Method to make radiopaque a reinforcing layer for a manufactured product made of elatomeric material and manufactured product comprising said layer

Abstract

A reinforcing fabric includes a plurality of non-metallic reinforcing cords. The non-metallic reinforcing cords are at least partially enclosed in elastomeric material and are radiopaque. A method to make the reinforcing fabric includes rendering a plurality of non-metallic cords radiopaque using one or more radiopaque compounds and enclosing the non-metallic cords in elastomeric material. The reinforcing fabric includes the elastomeric material enclosing the non-metallic reinforcing cords. A tyre for a vehicle wheel includes at least one rubberized reinforcing fabric. The at least one rubberized reinforced fabric includes elastomeric material including a plurality of non-metallic reinforcing cords. The plurality of non-metallic reinforcing cords are radiopaque.

1 - 44 . (canceled)  
   
   
       45 . A method to make a reinforcing fabric radiopaque, comprising: 
 rendering a plurality of non-metallic cords radiopaque using one or more radiopaque compounds; and    at least partially enclosing the non-metallic cords in elastomeric material;    wherein the reinforcing fabric comprises the elastomeric material at least partially enclosing the non-metallic reinforcing cords.    
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the non-metallic cords comprise organic fibers.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the organic fibers comprise polymer fibers of natural or synthetic origin.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the organic fibers comprise one or more of: 
 cellulose;    rayon;    polypropylene;    polyesters;    polyamides,    aromatic polyamides;    polyketones;    poly-p-benzamide;    poly(vinyl alcohols); and    polyetheramides.    
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the organic fibers comprise one or more of: 
 polybutylene terephthalate;    polyethylene terephthalate; and    polyethylene naphthalate.    
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the organic fibers comprise one or both of: 
 nylon-6; and    nylon-66.    
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the organic fibers comprise: 
 long fibers of poly(para-phenyleneterephthalamide);    short fibrillated fibers of poly(para-phenyleneterephthalamide); or    long fibers of poly(para-phenyleneterephthalamide) and short fibrillated fibers of poly(para-phenyleneterephthalamide).    
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the non-metallic cords comprise inorganic fibers.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the inorganic fibers comprise: 
 glass fibers;    carbon fibers; or    glass fibers and carbon fibers.    
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the one or more radiopaque compounds comprise one or more organic or inorganic salts of at least one heavy metal.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the at least one heavy metal comprises one or more of: 
 barium;    cadmium;    chromium;    cobalt;    copper;    gold;    iron;    lead;    manganese;    mercury;    nickel;    palladium;    platinum;    radium;    silver;    thorium;    tin;    uranium; and    zinc.    
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the at least one heavy metal comprises one or both of: 
 barium; and    lead.    
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the one or more organic salts of at least one heavy metal comprise one or more of: 
 salts of saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acids;    salts of saturated or unsaturated alicyclic carboxylic acids;    salts of saturated or unsaturated aromatic carboxylic acids;    salts of sulphonic acids;    salts of phosphonic acids; and    salts of boric acids.    
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the one or more organic salts of at least one heavy metal comprise one or both of: 
 salts of saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acids; and    salts of saturated or unsaturated aromatic carboxylic acids.    
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 57  or  58 , wherein the aliphatic carboxylic acids comprise one or more of: 
 formic acid;    acetic acid;    propionic acid;    butyric acid;    heptanoic acid;    hexanoic acid;    ethylhexanoic acid;    octanoic acid;    neodecanoic acid; and    dodecanoic acid.    
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 57  or  58 , wherein the aliphatic carboxylic acids comprise one or more fatty acids.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the one or more fatty acids comprise one or more of: 
 stearic acid;    oleic acid;    linoleic acid; and    palmitic acid.    
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 57  or  58 , wherein the aromatic carboxylic acids comprise one or more of: 
 benzoic acid;    naphthoic acid;    phthalic acid; and    p-phenylenediacetic acid.    
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the one or more organic salts of at least one heavy metal comprise one or more of: 
 propionates;    hexanoates;    dodecanoates;    stearates;    naphthenates; and    alkylsulphonates.    
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the one or more organic salts of at least one heavy metal comprise one or more of: 
 lead naphthenate;    barium dodecanoate;    barium stearate; and    lead salts of 2-ethylhexanoic acid.    
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the one or more inorganic salts of at least one heavy metal comprise one or more of: 
 halides;    sulphates;    carbonates;    phosphates; and    tungstates.    
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the one or more inorganic salts of at least one heavy metal comprise one or both of: 
 barium sulphate; and    barium tungstate.    
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 54 , comprising the one or more organic or inorganic salts of at least one heavy metal in an amount greater than or equal to 0.1 mmol of metal/g of fiber.  
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 54 , comprising the one or more organic or inorganic salts of at least one heavy metal in an amount greater than or equal to 0.5 mmol of metal/g of fiber and less than or equal to 2 mmol of metal/g of fiber.  
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the one or more radiopaque compounds comprise one or more water-soluble nonionic organic compounds comprising at least one iodine atom, and 
 wherein the one or more water-soluble nonionic organic compounds are stable at temperatures above 90° C.    
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the one or more radiopaque compounds comprise one or more water-soluble nonionic organic compounds comprising at least three iodine atoms, and 
 wherein the one or more water-soluble nonionic organic compounds are stable at temperatures above 90° C.    
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the one or more water-soluble nonionic organic compounds comprise one or more of: 
 iopamidol;    ioglycamic acid;    iopanoic acid;    metrizamide;    iohexol; and    propyliodone.    
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the one or more water-soluble nonionic organic compounds comprise iopamidol.  
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the one or more radiopaque compounds comprise one water-soluble nonionic organic compound comprising at least one iodine atom, 
 wherein the one water-soluble nonionic organic compound is stable at temperatures above 90° C., and    wherein the one water-soluble nonionic organic compound is iopamidol.    
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the one or more radiopaque compounds comprise salts of one or more water-soluble nonionic organic compounds comprising at least one iodine atom, and 
 wherein the one or more water-soluble nonionic organic compounds are stable at temperatures above 90° C.    
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the one or more radiopaque compounds comprise salts of one or more water-soluble nonionic organic compounds comprising at least three iodine atoms, and 
 wherein the one or more water-soluble nonionic organic compounds are stable at temperatures above 90° C.    
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the one or more radiopaque compounds comprise one or more of: 
 sodium iopodate;    sodium diatrizoate;    erythrosin B; and    sodium iodophthalein.    
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the one or more radiopaque compounds comprise sodium iopodate.  
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the one or more radiopaque compounds comprise salts of one water-soluble nonionic organic compound comprising at least one iodine atom, 
 wherein the one water-soluble nonionic organic compound is stable at temperatures above 90° C., and    wherein the one radiopaque compound is sodium iopodate.    
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 69 , comprising the one or more water-soluble nonionic organic compounds in an amount greater than or equal to 0.1 mmol of iodine/g of fiber.  
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 69 , comprising the one or more water-soluble nonionic organic compounds in an amount greater than or equal to 0.5 mmol of iodine/g of fiber and less than or equal to 2 mmol of iodine/g of fiber.  
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 74 , comprising the salts of one or more water-soluble nonionic organic compounds in an amount greater than or equal to 0.1 mmol of iodine/g of fiber.  
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 74 , comprising the salts of one or more water-soluble nonionic organic compounds in an amount greater than or equal to 0.5 mmol of iodine/g of fiber and less than or equal to 2 mmol of iodine/g of fiber.  
   
   
       83 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein rendering the plurality of non-metallic cords radiopaque comprises adding at least one of the one or more radiopaque compounds, dissolved in water, during a polymer polymerization stage.  
   
   
       84 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein rendering the plurality of non-metallic cords radiopaque comprises adding at least one of the one or more radiopaque compounds in unmodified form to a bulk of a polymer melt in a step immediately preceding a spinning of the polymer.  
   
   
       85 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein the at least one of the one or more radiopaque compounds comprises one or more organic or inorganic salts of at least one heavy metal.  
   
   
       86 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein rendering the plurality of non-metallic cords radiopaque comprises adding at least one of the one or more radiopaque compounds in unmodified form to a finishing agent.  
   
   
       87 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein rendering the plurality of non-metallic cords radiopaque comprises adding at least one of the one or more radiopaque compounds to an adhesive composition.  
   
   
       88 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein the at least one of the one or more radiopaque compounds comprises one or more water-soluble nonionic organic compounds comprising at least one iodine atom, and 
 wherein the one or more water-soluble nonionic organic compounds are stable at temperatures above 90° C.    
   
   
       89 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein the at least one of the one or more radiopaque compounds comprises salts of one or more water-soluble nonionic organic compounds comprising at least one iodine atom, and 
 wherein the one or more water-soluble nonionic organic compounds are stable at temperatures above 90° C.    
   
   
       90 . A reinforcing fabric, comprising: 
 a plurality of non-metallic reinforcing cords;    wherein the non-metallic reinforcing cords are at least partially enclosed in elastomeric material, and    wherein the non-metallic reinforcing cords are radiopaque.    
   
   
       91 . The reinforcing fabric of  claim 90 , wherein the non-metallic cords comprise organic fibers.  
   
   
       92 . The reinforcing fabric of  claim 91 , wherein the organic fibers comprise polymer fibers of natural or synthetic origin.  
   
   
       93 . The reinforcing fabric of  claim 90 , wherein the non-metallic cords comprise inorganic fibers.  
   
   
       94 . The reinforcing fabric of  claim 93 , wherein the inorganic fibers comprise: 
 glass fibers;    carbon fibers; or    glass fibers and carbon fibers.    
   
   
       95 . An elastomeric manufactured product, comprising: 
 a reinforcing fabric comprising radiopaque non-metallic reinforcing cords.    
   
   
       96 . The elastomeric manufactured product of  claim 95 , wherein the non-metallic cords comprise organic fibers.  
   
   
       97 . The elastomeric manufactured product of  claim 96 , wherein the organic fibers comprise polymer fibers of natural or synthetic origin.  
   
   
       98 . The elastomeric manufactured product of  claim 95 , wherein the non-metallic cords comprise inorganic fibers.  
   
   
       99 . The elastomeric manufactured product of  claim 98 , wherein the inorganic fibers comprise: 
 glass fibers;    carbon fibers; or    glass fibers and carbon fibers.    
   
   
       100 . A tyre for a vehicle wheel, comprising: 
 at least one rubberized reinforcing fabric;    wherein the at least one rubberized reinforced fabric comprises elastomeric material comprising a plurality of non-metallic reinforcing cords, and    wherein the plurality of non-metallic reinforcing cords are radiopaque.    
   
   
       101 . A tyre for a vehicle wheel, comprising: 
 a carcass structure;    a tread band; and    a belt structure circumferentially interposed between the carcass structure and the tread band;    wherein the carcass structure comprises at least one carcass ply comprising reinforcing cords substantially oriented in radial planes comprising a rotation axis of the tyre,    wherein the tread band extends circumferentially around the carcass structure,    wherein the belt structure comprises at least one pair of radially-superposed belt strips,    wherein each belt strip comprises a plurality of reinforcing cords obliquely oriented relative to an equatorial plane of the tyre,    wherein, within each belt strip, the reinforcing cords are parallel to one another,    wherein the reinforcing cords of a first belt strip of the at least one pair of belt strips are in a crossed orientation relative to the reinforcing cords of a second belt strip of the at least one pair of belt strips, and    wherein the tyre comprises radiopaque non-metallic reinforcing cords.    
   
   
       102 . The tyre of  claim 101 , wherein the reinforcing cords of the at least one carcass ply are radiopaque non-metallic reinforcing cords.  
   
   
       103 . The tyre of  claim 101 , wherein the belt structure comprises a reinforcing layer radially external to the at least one pair of belt strips, 
 wherein the reinforcing layer comprises non-metallic reinforcing cords substantially parallel to each other and to the equatorial plane of the tyre, and    wherein the non-metallic reinforcing cords of the reinforcing layer are radiopaque.    
   
   
       104 . The tyre of  claim 101 , wherein the radiopaque non-metallic reinforcing cords comprise organic fibers.  
   
   
       105 . The tyre of  claim 104 , wherein the organic fibers comprise polymer fibers of natural or synthetic origin.  
   
   
       106 . The tyre of  claim 101 , wherein the radiopaque non-metallic reinforcing cords comprise inorganic fibers.  
   
   
       107 . The tyre of  claim 106 , wherein the inorganic fibers comprise: 
 glass fibers;    carbon fibers; or    glass fibers and carbon fibers.