Definition
Tire cord is a high-tenacity technical fabric or yarn used as a reinforcement carrier in vehicle tires. It consists of bundled, highly oriented filaments of synthetic fibers such as nylon (polyamide), polyester, aramid, or rayon, which are twisted together and embedded in a rubber matrix. The cord plies provide the tire with structural stability, absorb tensile and compressive forces, and simultaneously allow for defined flexibility. The filament orientation and fiber type are the primary factors determining the mechanical properties of the finished tire.
Use in the textile industry
Tire cord is used in the tire industry as carcass material in passenger car, truck, and motorcycle tires, as well as in specialty tires for aviation and construction machinery. Depending on the performance requirements, different fiber types are used: polyester cord for good dimensional stability and heat resistance, aramid cord for exceptionally high tenacity at low weight, and rayon cord for uniform load distribution. The material must exhibit very high adhesion to the rubber matrix; for this reason, the filaments are typically treated with resorcinol-formaldehyde-latex (RFL) before processing.
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