Silane-based steel-rubber bonding patent leads to new tyre designs
ERJ staff report (RD)
Cincinnati, Ohio -- Chief scientist of Ecosil, Emeritus Vanooij, and his co-inventors have received the first Ohio Patent Award from the Ohio Academy of Science (OAS) for bonding steel to rubber using silanes, a 30 March statement from the University of Cinncinati said.
Prior to establishing Ecosil, a silane surface treatment specialist, Vanooij was an engineering professor at the University of Cincinnati, under whose name the patent was filed in 2004.
According to the statement, the patent has led to the building, designing and testing of a special type of radial tyres. Vanooij said he has been in collaboration with Findlay, Ohio-based Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. and Tokusen USA Inc. -- an Arkansas-based “specialty wire†manufacturer that provides steel cord to the tyre industry.
“The people at Cooper Tire are very excited,†Vanooij said. “Their tyre tests clearly demonstrated the performance advantages of the presence of the silane-treated steel cords in the belt,†he added.
Despite collaborating on the project for a number of years, the three companies had decided to keep it quiet, until now, the statement said.
Vanooij, who holds around 30 patents, is receiving the Melvin Mooney Distinguished Technology Award from the American Chemical Society's Rubber Division, as well as an engraved plaque at the upcoming OAS annual meeting.
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Press release from the University of Cinncinati
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