Bekaert, DuPont offer steel-aramid hybrid yarn

ERJ staff report (DS)

Cologne, Germany -- Bekaert and DuPont have jointly developed a hybrid yarn in which an aramid core is surrounded by steelcord. The yarn is exceptionally strong in comparison with other yarns available on the market and can potentially be used in a variety of tyre applications. OTR mining tyres and truck tyres are possoible applications.

The development was revealed at the Tire Technology conference in Cologne on Tuesday. Speaking for DuPont, Florencio Gopez, the company's tyre technology team leader said the two companies have managed to match the elongation at break of the two types of fibre. He said the companies are keen towork with tyre industry engineers to find applications. Gopez did not give many details, explaining that any potential client would need to sign non-disclosure agreements before continuing any further.

Stijn Himpe product development manager at Bekaert said adhesion between steelcord and rubber is excellent, but adhesion between aramid and rubber is less good. He said the steelcord completely surrounds the aramid fibre and in fact pushes its way onto the circular fibre. There is no adhesive between the steelcord and the aramid. However, because the rubber adheres so well to the steelcord, the fibre is kept firmly in place and also the aramid completely fills the void between the steelcord fibres, removing any risk of air pockets or water transmission.