Patent GB-1167871-A (GB)
Title: High Modulus Polyamide Tyre Cord.
Inventor: KENYON DEREK
IPC: D01F6/60
Filed: 1966-09-13
Abstract: 1,167,871. Heat-treating drawn polyamide yarns. IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES Ltd. 21 Aug., 1967 [13 Sept., 1966], No. 40816/66. Heading B5B. [Also in Division B7] A polyamide yarn or cord (particularly, though not exclusively, for use as a tyre cord), having an L 5  modulus above 60, a tensile strength T above 8 and a heat contraction H c  below 4% may be produced by passing the yarn, after it has been drawn, through a constant temperature heating zone in such a manner that it acquires and maintains a constant temperature, in the region between the melting-point of the yarn and a temperature 20‹ C. below it, for a period of time not exceeding 30 seconds, the yarn being maintained at constant tension by tensioning means which automatically compensates for variations in the length of the yarn in the heating zone. The tension in the yarn may be maintained at a value above 0À45 1b. per 100 denier. The yarn may be a single strand or two or more strands of yarn may be twisted together to form a cord. The polyamide may be nylon 66. The L 5  modulus of the tyre cord is determined by stretching a sample of the cord on a Scott Inclined Plane testing machine with a constant rate of loading such that the sample breaks in about 11 seconds at 65Œ2% relative humidity and 20 Œ 2‹C. The load required to stretch the cord by 5% of its original length is thereby determined. The load, expressed in grams, is multiplied by 20 and divided by the cord denier to obtain the L 5  value. The tensile strength T is the load expressed in grams under which the cord breaks, divided by the cord denier. The heat contraction H c  is determined by maintaining a hank of 100 cm. of cord at 150‹ C. in an oven for half an hour and then re-measuring the length of the cord after it has been removed from the oven and conditioned in air at 65% relative humidity and at 20‹ C. for 24 hours. The contraction of the cord H c  is expressed as a percentage of the original length. As shown in the drawing, an apparatus by means of which tyre cord may be heat-treated according to the invention comprises a roll 7 and its associated separator roll 1a and idler roll 1b and rolls 2 and 3 located inside the heating zone 8. The tyre cord 9 is passed several times round rolls 1 and 1a and then passes several times backwards and forwards round rolls 2 and 3. The heating zone 8 is a chamber heated by blowing hot air through it and the internal temperature of the chamber is measured at several points by means of thermocouples. The cord then leaves the heating zone 8, passes over rolls 4, 5 and 6 and is then wound several times around rolls 7 and 7a to obtain full grip. The roll 5 is free to move vertically up and down and is pulled vertically downwards by an attached weight W. The speed of roll 7 is controlled electronically from the up and down movement of roll 5 in such a manner as to maintain the cord under constant tension which is about half the weight W. The polyamide tyre cords of the invention have an improved resistance to stretching (expressed in terms of the modulus), combined with improved tensile strength and an acceptably low heat shrinkage when heated.