Patent ID: 6660122
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: B29C,B29D,B29K,B29L,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of selectively curing a tire component having the steps of:dispersing a plurality of induction sensitive metal particles into a rubber composition; preshaping the rubber composition into a tire component of a predetermined cross-section; placing the tire component, prior to being assembled in a tire, in an induction heating coil and applying induction heating by activating the induction heating coil thereby internally curing the tire component while maintaining the external surfaces of the tire component partially or completely uncured; the tire component when placed in an assembly of tire components has the external surfaces cured in a conventional mold curing press; characterized in that the induction sensitive particles are dispensed in the range of 0.01% up to 5% per 100 parts of rubber into the tire component; and preselecting a time and energy profile for the induction heating for the tire component to insure the external surfaces remain at least partially uncured while the interior of the tire component is cured.