Process for the surface treatment of polymers for reinforcement-to-rubber adhesion
AssigneeThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
InventorsDerek Shuttleworth, Syed K. Mowdood, Walter H. Waddell, Jimmy L. Richards, Eilert A. Ofstead, Jerry L. Brenner
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Abstract
This invention is directed to treating the surfaces of rubber-reinforcing materials with a gas plasma of O.sub.2 and CF.sub.4 to activate the surfaces to make them more receptive to adhesives. Optionally the surfaces of the reinforcing materials may be exposed to a polymerizing gas plasma such as a thio-carbon to coat the surfaces of the reinforcing material with substances that promote adhesion to rubber. The treated surfaces have been shown to adhere directly to rubber when vulcanized in the normal fashion.
Claims15
A method of preparing a polymer surface for chemical bonding comprising the sequential steps of:
- (a) disposing a polymer having a surface in a plasma chamber containing a mixture of 10-90% O.sub.2 and 10-90% CF.sub.4 at a pressure of about 0.001 to 1 torr and
- exposing said polymer surface to a plasma generated by electrical energy of about 50 Hz to 2.45 GHz;
- and
- (b) further treating said polymer with a plasma of an incorporating gas generated by electrical energy of about 50 Hz to 2.45 GHz.
A method of preparing a surface of reinforcing polymer for direct bonding to rubber comprising the sequential steps of:
- (a) disposing said reinforcing polymer in a plasma chamber containing an incorporating gas, a non-incorporating gas, an inert gas, or a mixture thereof and
- exposing said reinforcing polymer surface to a plasma generated by electrical energy of about 50 Hz to 2.45 GHz;
- and
- (b) exposing said reinforcing polymer surface to a plasma of a polymerizing gas comprising CS.sub.2 generated by electrical energy of about 50 Hz to 2.45 GHz.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.