Electron Beam Radiation Technology Application in the Tyre Industry

Electron beam radiation (EBR) technology is one of the most promising technologies among other radiation-driven technologies and has been used in the rubber and tyre industry due to its ability to cross-link certain rubbers depending on their chemical structures. EBR can provide good green strength to rubber and rubber products by partial cross-linking which has practical importance in the radial tyre building process. The tyre components where EBR has practical application include tyre treads, inner liners, belt, and body ply skim compounds. This book chapter discusses the effect of EBR on the structure and properties of tyre rubbers, such as natural rubber (NR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), polybutadiene rubber (BR), synthetic polyisoprene (IR), and isobutylene-isoprene rubber or butyl rubber (IIR). The impact of EBR on the performance triangle properties of the tyre such as rolling resistance, wet grip, and abrasion resistance are discussed in detail. The viability of the application of this process in the modern-day tyre industry is also highlighted.