Characterization of the adhesive interface between rubber and brass plated steel tire cords

Extensive use of steel belted radial tires made it necessary to investigate the rubber-brass adhesion. Surface analysis techniques were used to give a better understanding of this bond, After about a decade of research, investigators have been successful in optimizing many of the parameters to obtain a bond of high strength. However there are still certain areas in which more work has to be done to make better quality tires. One such area is the effect of compound formulation on adhesion. Compound formulations still to a large extent are empirical. The purpose of this work is to give a scientific basis for formulating the rubber compound for best possible adhesion.