Atmospheric plasma treatment of reinforcement cords and use in rubber articles

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of treating a reinforcement cord, comprising the steps of A) atomizing a mixture of at least one polymerizable monomer, a halogenated saturated hydrocarbon, and a carrier gas to form an atomized mixture; B) generating an atmospheric pressure plasma from the atomized mixture; and C) exposing the reinforcement cord to the atmospheric pressure plasma under conditions suitable to form a polymer strongly bonded to the tire cord and capable of bonding to rubber.

1 . A method of treating a reinforcement cord, comprising the steps of
 A) atomizing a mixture of at least one polymerizable monomer, a halogenated saturated hydrocarbon, and a carrier gas to form an atomized mixture;   B) generating an atmospheric pressure plasma from the atomized mixture; and   C) exposing the reinforcement cord to the atmospheric pressure plasma.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plasma is generated by dielectric barrier discharge. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tire cord is a steel reinforcement cord. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tire cord is a polymeric reinforcement cord, the polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyester, polyketone, rayon, and polyaramid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement cord is conveyed continuously during exposure to the second mixture. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier gas is selected from the group consisting of argon, helium, neon, xenon, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymerizable monomer is selected from the group consisting of isoprene, butadiene, squalene, and styrene. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the atomized mixture further comprises at least one curative. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the halogenated saturated hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of dichloromethane (methylene chloride), trichloromethane (chloroform), carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethane, chlorobutane, bromoethane, dibromomethane (methylene bromide), and tribromomethane (bromoform). 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cord is in the form of an individual cord or a fabric. 
     
     
         11 . A treated metallic reinforcement cord treated by the method of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         12 . A treated polymeric reinforcement cord treated by the method of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         13 . A reinforced rubber or reinforced elastomer article of manufacture comprising the treated cord of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         14 . A reinforced rubber or reinforced elastomer article of manufacture comprising the treated cord of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         15 . The article of manufacture of  claim 11 , selected from the group consisting of hoses, transmission belts, drive belts, air springs, conveyor belts, and drive tracks. 
     
     
         16 . The article of manufacture of  claim 12 , selected from the group consisting of hoses, transmission belts, drive belts, air springs, conveyor belts, and drive tracks. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one curative is selected from the group consisting of sulfur donors and accelerators. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an adhesively effective amount of material is deposited on the tire cord during exposure of the tire cord to the atmospheric pressure plasma. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one monomer is present in a concentration range of from 10 to 50 percent by weight on a carrier gas free basis. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the saturated halogenated hydrocarbon is present in a concentration range of from 90 to 50 percent by weight on a carrier gas free basis.