Alliedsignal Inc.

Performance Fibers, Inc.

Honeywell International Inc.

Peter Bryan Rim

Charles J Nelson

James M Turner

Jayendra H Bheda

Farangis Kiani

John Armstrong Young

Huy Xuan Nguyen

Qiang Zhou

Yousef Mohajer

Dennis A Powell

Richard H Woodlee

Chi-T Huynh-Tran

Michael F Kopplin

Vinay Mehta

Rita A Feczer

The subject matter herein is directed to a polymer-based cap ply reinforcement material that has a shrinkage component, wherein the reinforcement material is treated such that the shrinkage component increases at least about 10% over a reference shrinkage component of a reference polymer-based reinforcement material. The subject matter herein is further directed to a method of producing a product comprising a polymer-based cap ply reinforcement material, wherein the method includes: a) providing a reference polymer-based cap ply reinforcement material having a reference shrinkage component; b) providing a polymer-based cap ply reinforcement material having a shrinkage component; c) treating the polymer-based cap ply reinforcement material such that the shrinkage component increases at least about 10% over the reference shrinkage component of the reference polymer-based cap ply reinforcement material.

Polymer-based reinforcement material and tire cord compositions and methods of production thereof

A product includes a dimensionally stable polymeric multifilament yarn having a decitex per fiber count DPF of at least 7.5 and a fatigue strength retention FR, wherein preferred yarns are spun and drawn such that FR increases when DPF increases. Particularly preferred yarns are fabricated from poly(ethylene terephthalate) and have a DPF of between 10 and 20.

High-DPF yarns with improved fatigue

A polymer-based reinforced rubber composition may be produced that comprises a) a plurality of polymer-based fibers, wherein at least some of the plurality of polymer-based fibers comprises at least one surface modification agent; and b) a rubber compound, wherein the rubber compound comprises a plurality of active rubber moieties, and wherein at least some of the plurality of active rubber moieties is adhesively interactive with the surface modification agent. Methods of producing a polymer-based reinforced rubber composition comprise: a) providing a plurality of polymer-based fibers; b) providing a rubber compound or composition, wherein the rubber compound or composition comprises a plurality of active rubber moieties; c) coupling a surface modification agent onto the surface of at least some of the plurality of polymer-based fibers; and d) adhesively interacting the surface modification agent with at least some of the plurality of active rubber moieties in an adhesive interaction in order to produce an interface. Furthermore, the surface modification agent and the plurality of active rubber moieties are chosen, such that the plurality of active rubber moieties is adhesively interactive with the surface modification agent under preparation conditions, such as vulcanization.

Tire fabric compositions and methods of production thereof

A spun polyester fiber, a drawn polyester yarn, and methods for making them. Polyethylene terephthalate yarn is prepared by extruding a molten melt-spinnable polyethylene terephthalate having an intrinsic viscosity of at least about 0.8 through a shaped extrusion orifice having a plurality of openings to form a molten spun yarn; solidifying gradually said molten spun yarn by passing said molten spun yarn through a solidification zone which comprises (i) a retarded cooling zone and (ii) a cooling zone adjacent said retarded cooling zone where, in said cooling zone, said yarn is rapidly cooled and solidified in a gaseous atmosphere; withdrawing at sufficient speed said solidified yarn from said solidification zone to form a crystalline partially oriented yarn; and hot drawing said crystalline partially oriented yarn at a total draw ratio between about 1.5/1 and about 2.5/1 to produce a drawn yarn having an effective crosslink density (N) between about 10&#xd7;10and about 20&#xd7;10crosslinks per cubic centimeter. The yarns and fibers so prepared may be used to make treated tire cord having high tenacity in combination with improved dimensional stability.

Dimensionally stable polyester yarn for high tenacity treated cords

An undrawn yarn is produced at increased quench delay and increased take-up speed to achieve improved ultimate elongation at a given crystallinity. Particularly preferred aspects include products comprising such yarns and methods for producing same.

Dimensionally stable yarns

Process of making a dimensionally stable yarn

A spun polyester fiber, a drawn polyester yarn, and methods for making them. Polyethylene terephthalate yarn is prepared by extruding a molten melt-spinnable polyethylene terephthalate having an intrinsic viscosity of at least about 0.8 through a shaped extrusion orifice having a plurality of openings to form a molten spun yarn; solidifying gradually said molten spun yarn by passing said molten spun yarn through a solidification zone which comprises (i) a retarded cooling zone and (ii) a cooling zone adjacent said retarded cooling zone where, in said cooling zone, said yarn is rapidly cooled and solidified in a gaseous atmosphere; withdrawing at sufficient speed said solidified yarn from said solidification zone to form a crystalline partially oriented yarn; and hot drawing said crystalline partially oriented yarn at a total draw ratio between about 1.5/1 and about 2.5/1 to produce a drawn yarn having an effective crosslink density (N) between about 10&times;10 and about 20&times;10 crosslinks per cubic centimeter. The yarns and fibers so prepared may be used to make treated tire cord having high tenacity in combination with improved dimensional stability.

A product comprises a dimensionally stable polymeric multifilament yarn having a decitex per fiber count DPF of at least 7.5 and a fatigue strength retention FR, wherein preferred yarns are spun and drawn such that FR increases when DPF increases. Particularly preferred yarns are fabricated from poly(ethylene terephthalate) and have a DPF of between 10 and 20.

Polyethylene terephthalate yarn is prepared by spinning under high stress conditions in the transition region between oriented-amorphous and oriented-crystalline undrawn yarns by selection of process parameters to form an undrawn yarn that is a crystalline, partially oriented yarn with a crystallinity of 3 to 15 percent and a melting point elevation of 2 to 10&deg; C. The spun yarn is then hot drawn to a total draw ratio between 1.5/1 and 2.5/1 with the resulting properties: (A) a terminal modulus of at least 20 g/d, (B) a dimensional stability defined by E &plus;FS<13.5 percent, (C) a tenacity of at least 7 grams per denier, (D) a melting point elevation of 9 to 14&deg; C., and (E) anamorphous orientation function of less than 0.75. The resulting treated tire cord provides high tenacity in combination with improved dimensional stability.

Process of making dimensionally stable polyester yarn for high tenacity treated cords

Polyethylene terephthalate yarn is prepared by spinning under high stress conditions in the transition region between oriented-amorphous and oriented-crystalline undrawn yarns by selection of process parameters to form an undrawn yarn that is a crystalline, partially oriented yarn with a crystallinity of 3 to 15 percent and a melting point elevation of 2.degree. to 10.degree. C. The spun yarn is then hot drawn to a total draw ratio between 1.5/1 and 2.5/1 with the resulting properties: (A) a terminal modulus of at least 20 g/d, (B) a dimensional stability defined by E.sub.4.5 +FS&lt;13.5 percent, (C) a tenacity of at least 7 grams per denier, (D) a melting point elevation of 9.degree. to 14.degree. C., and (E) an amorphous orientation function of less than 0.75. The resulting treated tire cord provides high tenacity in combination with improved dimensional stability.

Process of making dimensionally stable polyester yarn for high tenacity

Yarns are prepared by spinning PEN or other semi-crystalline polyester polymers made from similarly rigid monomer combinations to a state of optimum amorphous orientation and crystallinity. This is accomplished by selection of process parameters to form an undrawn polyester yarn of birefringence at least 0.030. The spun yarn is then hot drawn to a total draw ratio of between 1.5/1 and 6.0/1 with the resulting drawn semi-crystalline polyester yarn having Tg greater than 100.degree. C. and a melting point elevation at least 8.degree. C. The preferred yarn has a tenacity at least 6.5 g/d, dimensional stability (EASL+Shrinkage) of less than 5%, and shrinkage 4% or less. The resulting yarn exhibits surprisingly high modulus and tenacity together with low shrinkage when compared to prior art yarns.

High modulus polyester yarn for tire cords and composites

Dimensionally stable polyester yarn for high tenacity treaty cords

Polyethylene terephthalate yarn is prepared by spinning under very high-stress conditions wherein oriented-crystalline undrawn yarns are obtained. Selection of process parameters yields a partially oriented semicrystalline undrawn yarn with a crystallinity of 16 to 24 percent and a melting point elevation of 14.degree. to 22.degree. C. which is drawn to produce the resulting unique combination of properties: (A) a terminal modulus of at least 20 g/d, (B) a dimensional stability defined by E.sub.4.5 +FS&lt;11.5 percent, (C) a tenacity of at least 5 grams per denier, (D) a melting point elevation of 14.degree. to 22.degree. C., preferably 17.degree. to 20.degree. C., and (E) an amorphous orientation function of less than 0.75. The resulting treated tire cord unexpectedly provides high ultimate elongation and high toughness in combination with improved dimensional stability.

Growing community of inventors

Midlothian, VA, United States of America

Peter Bryan Rim