Interaction among reinforcing fibres, adhesive layer and rubber in tyres

Textile cords used in rubber applications are commonly treated with the so-called Resorcinol-Formaldehyde-Latex (RFL-DIP). Despite the relevance of good adhesion between cords and rubber, and although this system dates back as far as 1938 and is still commonly used for rubber reinforcement till today, the mechanism by which the adhesion is obtained has remained unclear. The level of knowledge of adhesion between RFL-treated cords and rubber today is empirical rather than scientific. With the introduction of new material in recent years, it is considered appropriate to revisit the physical and/or chemical processes at the basis of the interactions between latex and resin in the RFL-DIP traditional systems and to define also the nature of interactions among the RFL components and the reinforcing fibers and the RFL components and rubber.Based on the results obtained from the understanding of these interactions, a study on the possibility of developing alternative DIP systems formaldehyde-free has been performed.