Joseph Walter Miller

The Requirements for Nondestructive Characterization in the Tire and Rubber Industry

The pneumatic tire is a toroidal, high performance polymeric composite, which exhibits characteristics of a flexible-membrane pressure container providing load carrying capability, cushioning, and road handling abilities. It transmits driving and braking torque, cornering forces, and performs all functions essential to locomotion. These features can be attributed to its deformability and damping characteristics. The pneumatic tire is a complex system of interacting composites, each with specific properties for maximum effectiveness.1 Figure 1 is a schematic of the Goodyear Eagle GT+4 All Season high performance radial passenger tire. Each individual composite in the tire is different from its neighbor in terms of content, properties, shape, and function. Individual composites contain combinations of various synthetic and natural rubbers, reinforcing fillers, steel wire, fabric, sulfur, curatives, and antidegradant materials.2 Some of these are listed in Table 1.