Compression Molded Tires - Assignment Example

Compression Molded Tires An automobile is composed of various parts both seen and unseen. The complexities embedded within the structure require every part to be present so as to perform the function of the whole machine. One of the most vital parts in an automobile is the tires. Compression molded tires are significant parts of the automobile that offers a lot of advantages in the automobile ensemble as well as in the auto industry. I. Tires Design and Parameters Tires are basically the structures that cause the automobile to run. They look like simple and homogenous made materials, but actually they are mixtures of different kinds of materials such as carbon black, rubber, inorganic and organic materials, wires or fabrics for reinforcement and other release agents. They are intricately formed and manufactured so as to make them durable, flexible, and that can last long. There are many parameters considered in the design of tires to consider them as high quality. Tires are designed with tread, beads and sidewalls. Treads are the patterned and molded surfaces that come in contact with the road surface. The body and sidewalls gives the shape of the tire and the rubber covered beads embedded with metals and wires holds the wheel tires. The tread depth is the parameter that shows the wear and tear of the tire. It can be measured through the difference of the top of the rubber tread with the bottom of the deepest grooves of the tire. The tread wear percentage is calculated for the remaining usability of the entire tire. The maximum load for the tire is another important parameter that reveals the capacity of every tire to carry weight. The load of the tire is related to the overall size and diameter of the tire. Tires with higher loads are considered to have stronger internal construction. Another parameter considered in manufacturing tires is the inflation pressure. Every tire has an allowable recommended inflation pressure that it can contain which is measured in cold conditions. Tires are marked with their allowable inflation pressure for the general safe operation for tires with specific load ratings. The speed rating of a tire is also an important factor to consider. It is basically the maximum allowable speed that the tire is designed. For the safety of the automobile, the tire must be operated within the range of the allowable tire’s speed rating. The rotation of the tires needs to be checked as well. Tire rotation examines the rotation of the tires with regards to the position in the automobile whether they are placed in the rear or front part of the car. Correct rotational direction must be indicated in the tire to make sure that the automobile will run smoothly and efficiently (Tire Tech Information, 2012). Other parameters that contribute to the general geometry of the tires can involve the tread width, rim width and the tire’s overall diameter. The tread width measures the overall distance in between the tire’s outer and inner edges of the tread. The rim width is the required width of the rim per standards set for automobiles. The width of the rim influences the tire’s width. There are standard sizes used by manufacturers around the world. The tire’s overall diameter on the other hand is the measurement of the diameter of the tire measured from the center of the tread (Tire Tech Information, 2012). II. Materials Used for Manufacturing of Tires Tires are made of rubbers as the major raw materials. Rubber compounds are derived through the mixture of polymers, softeners, reinforcement materials and other various chemicals. Polymers used can be Natural Rubber, Isoprene Rubber, Styrene Butadiene Rubber and others. Mostly, natural rubber coming from rubber trees are the preferred materials used to manufacture tires. Rubbers are the most suitable materials for tires because they have high tear strength, wear resistance, impact resilience, and low heat generation. In order for the rubbers to achieve such characteristics, they are subjected to heat and pretreated with various chemicals. Other important raw materials for tires are the carbon black, antioxidants, waxes and steel cords. Antioxidants, waxes and other chemicals are added to rubber in making tires to protect the rubber from aging and wearing caused by heat, ozone and deflection. Steel cords on the other hand provide reinforcement for the rubber in the tires. The total performance of tires depends upon the construction of these cords in the making of tires. These wires are made up of steel wires with high level of carbon content in them. They are excellent materials used for making tires because they have superior tensile strength with high modulus of elasticity in the entire length. With the addition of these wires in tires, the durability and the strength of these tires are assured (Tire Materials, n.d). III. Tire Manufacturing Process Tires are manufactured in many industries using highly sophisticated equipment with the application of compression molding to get the most of the materials. Rubbers are pretreated with other raw materials such as carbon black, sulfur, release agents, waxes and antioxidants to derive a rubber compound. Materials can be mixed in various proportions as there are various kinds of tires that can be produced with different characteristics. Mixing and remixing are done large silos or mixers with the application of heat and friction to make the rubbers soft and to evenly distribute the chemicals added. The rubber compounds are then milled into thin sheets or ply that are formed in layers in a drum like forming machine to form the tires. The beads of the tire made up of bundles of wire are formed into rings covered with the rubber compound. Treads and sidewalls of tires are made through passing the rubber compounds in the extruder and formed into layers of rubber. The building up of layers of rubbers is called “green tire”. As soon as the green tire is done, it is then subjected into molding and curing processes. Steam is applied in the mold to allow the tire to expand and be shaped according to the mold. The tire is then assembled in the tire building machine where other materials are glued such as the bead, rubber layers for the sidewalls and the tread shaping the edges of the entire tire. After the tire has been assembled, it is then subjected to curing, cooling and testing (Tire, 2012). Compression molding is now the current trend in many tire manufacturing. It is also one of the simplest ways in molding rubber. It basically works through straightforward tooling with a female mold and male mould plunger where in between rubber compounds are preheated and cured partially. This technique is very cost efficient and can produce massive quantity of products. The materials subjected to this technique are highly maximized with wastage at minimum. There are lesser steps in the entire processing and the steps are done faster. Details of products such as holes, patterns and other features can also be done quicker and more accurate (Johnson, n.d.). IV. Quality Testing Every tire manufactured passed through testing and inspection. Bubbles and voids in the rubber are inspected in the tread, interior, sidewall and all parts of the tire. The tires are also subjected to rotational testing in a test wheel. There are also sensors that test the balance of the tire if it runs in a straight line. The quality of the tire is inspected at the raw materials. Rubbers made into tires have certain parameters to achieve to certify them as good raw materials. Mostly, they are tested with density, tensile strength and others. The same is true with the other ingredients included in the whole process (Tire, 2012). Newly fabricated tires are inspected every now and then. Random tires in batches are inspected with bubbles through slicing them open and the in between plies of rubber layers are inspected closely. They are also tested with puncture resistance through pressing them down with metal studs. Other physical tests done are through spinning then in a rapid motion, forcing them down in metal drums, testing them in test wheels, visual inspection and others. They are tested with their mileage, tensile strength and other performance parameters. Other ways for quality control of tires are done through x-rays test, radiation test and many more. Compression molded tires are being manufactured by many auto industries nowadays. With the high powered technology and sophisticated tools, manufacturing of tires are done fast. There is lower production cost and minimal waste generated. There is a promise for economic boost for the production of these tires as there are many innovations adapted nowadays to make tires more refined and reinforced through the many releasing agents and other additives added to make the entire processing simpler and less complicated without compromising the quality of the tires. Designers and engineers continue their many researches and innovations in achieving top quality tires for automobile use. It is important to have these tires made with perfection so as to make the entire automobile assemble a truly a work of art. The entire quality of the automobile relies on the individual quality of every part. Thus, choosing the best tires for it should not be taken lightly. As auto engineers and designers it is but right to look into the details of every part such as the tires. Careful examination of every part such as the tires must be inspected and scrutinized to make sure that the automobile ensemble will run efficiently. Quality must be achieved at the most affordable cost so as to gain profit with the automobile in the global and local markets (Johnson, n.d). Works Cited Tire Tech Information. (2012). Tire Rack. [online at http://www.tirerack.com /tires/tiretech/ techpage.jsp?techid=194 accessed 27 October 2012] Tire Materials. (n.d). Toyo Tires & Rubber Co., Ltd. [online at http://www.toyojapan.com/ tire-technology/tire-materials/ accessed 28 October 2012] Tire. (2012). How Products are Made. Advameg Inc. [online at http://www.madehow.com /Volume-1/Tire.html accessed 27 October 2012] Johnson, T. (n.d). What is Compression Molding. [online at http://composite.about.com/od/ Manufacturing/a/Compression-Molding.htm accessed 27 October 2012] Read More