Tyre production is a complicated process involving the assembly of over 250 basic elements. Natural and synthetic rubber, nylon tyre fabric, bead wire, carbon black, strengthening non-black fillers such as silica, vulcanizing chemicals, and anti-oxidants are among the primary components. In this article, we'll look at the tyre manufacturing process from raw ingredients to finished product.
Tyre Raw Materials
Tyres are made of various types of rubber, fillers, chemicals, and reinforcing materials. The main raw materials used in tyre production are:
● Natural rubber: This is a polymer made from latex collected from rubber plants. Natural rubber is utilized for tyre tread and sidewalls because of its excellent elasticity, strength, and durability.
● Synthetic rubber: This is a synthetic polymer created from petroleum, coal, or natural gas. Synthetic rubber is utilized for different components of tyres, including as the inner liner, apex, and bead, since it is more resistant to heat, abrasion, and ageing than natural rubber.
● Carbon black: This is a fine black powder formed by incomplete hydrocarbon combustion. Carbon black is used in tyres as a filler and reinforcing agent because it enhances rubber strength, wear resistance, and heat dissipation.
● Sulfur and other chemicals: These include vulcanizing agents, antioxidants, antiozonants, accelerators, and other additives that change the characteristics of rubber and allow cross-linking reactions to occur during curing.
● Steel wire: This is used for making the beads and the belts of tyres. Steel wire provides strength, rigidity, and durability to tyres, and helps them maintain their shape and size under high pressure and load.
● Textile fabric: This is used to create the plies, or fabric layers, that constitute the skeleton of tyres. Cotton, rayon, nylon, polyester, and Kevlar are all examples of textile fabrics. Tyres benefit from the flexibility and stability provided by textile fabric.