Steel Cord and Cable

Since belted radial tires were introduced in 1948 by Michelin, steel as well as polyester and aramid have been used to make the tire cord for the radial belt. Steel has historically also been used to make the bead wire in tire construction. In addition, steel has been used to manufacture the cable that is used in making rubber mining conveyor belts. Lastly, in the automotive industry, many times rubber parts are made that are composites of rubber and steel. Examples of these parts are seen with motor mounts and bushings. 

Steel tire cord is usually brass plated in order to achieve good rubber-to-metal adhesion. Also, tire bead wire is commonly plated with bronze to achieve rubber-to-metal adhesion. The steel cable used in rubber mining belts may also be brass or bronze plated. 

Steel is manufactured from iron ore, a metallurgical grade of coke (from coal), and limestone as shown in Eigure 5.20. 

The grade of steel used to manufacture steel tire cord or tire bead wire is considered a high carbon steel with carbon content typically above 0.60%. 

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, which is used in plating steel tire cord, while bronze is an alloy of copper and tin used in plating tire bead wire. 

---