Systematic Review of Tyre Technology 1 Yasuhiro Ishikawa ■ Abstract The history of the tyre starts with the use of the wheel, using a log or its x-section. Tyres then came into common use on the wheels of carts or horse carts. The pneumatic tyre was originally invented by R.W. Thomson in the middle of 19th century. Then at the end of 19th century, a pneumatic tyre for automobiles was invented. The history of the Japanese rubber industry also starts around this time: the latter half of 19th century, out of which the tyre industry then developed. The history of the Japanese tyre industry is divided into the three following stages: Stage 1: Dawn of the Industry The Japanese tyre industry began in the Meiji era (1868-1912) with the initial development of the Japanese rubber industry. The foundation of Tsuchiya Rubber Factory in 1886 (Meiji 19) is generally taken to herald the start of the Japanese rubber industry, approximately fifty years after the invention of vulcanization by C. Goodyear in 1839. Stage 2: Age of Growth This period from the beginning of the Taisho era (1912-1926) to the end of World War II saw the introduction to Japan of rubber technology from foreign countries, when domestic industry as a whole was developing with the importation of various technologies. The founding of domestic tyre manufacture dates from this period. Domestically-developed tyre technology showed dramatic growth during the War and played an important role in military supplies. Stage 3: Maturity This stage covers the time from the end of the War II to the present. Although tyre manufacturing suffered significant damaged during the War, recovery was rapid, and tyre technology saw further dramatic development with the growth of motorisation. This period of growing post-War motorisation is divided into three parts. The first period was when new materials such as nylon and synthetic rubber were developed. In this period, processing technology that could deal with these new raw materials was developed for the tyre. The second period saw tyre construction completely change from bias to radial tyres. This significant development in tyre construction saw not only major changes in materials, such as the use of steel cord, but also in the modification of production equipment. In the third period, the various elemental technologies were integrated, resulting in the further refinement of the steel radial tyre and the achievement of its durability in terms of adhesion between 1 National Museum of Nature and Science Vol.16,2011 the rubber and steel cords, and preventing rubber fatigue throughout the tyre’s working life. Following this period, better motion performance was required of tyres. However, it was well known that a tyre with lower rolling resistance had the problem of lower skid resistance. This performance trade-off is still major issue with tyres today. In addition, the improvement of ride quality, such as the reduction of noise and vibration, came to be increasingly important in tyre performance. Therefore, more exacting demands have been made of tyre performance since the 1980s. Many epoch-making technologies have been developed since the War in the areas of raw materials and construction, and which have then been incorporated into tyre technology. How much Japan has contributed to these developments in tyre technology is debatable; however, Japanese tyre technology has recently been earning itself recognition in the tyre industry by further consolidating these technologies. The next decade will see rising demand for environmentally friendly solutions, spurring the need for new technology that addresses this major issue. ■Profile ■Contents Yasuhiro Ishikawa Chief Survey Officer, Center of the History of Japanese 1. Introduction Industrial Technology, National Museum of Nature and Science 2. Creation of the Tyre March 1969 Completed Master’s degree at Tokyo 3. Dawn of the Japanese Rubber Industry (The Age of Institute of Technology Graduate Early Compounding Techniques) School of Engineering April 1969 Employed in the laboratory at 4. Stage of Growth: Creation of the Domestic Tyre Yokohama Rubber Company October 1993 Head of the Tire Materials Industry Development Department, Yokohama Rubber Company 5. Stage of Maturity: The Age of Motorisation 6. The Coming of Age of Radial Tyres July 1996 Director of the Tire Materials Development Laboratory, Yokohama 7. Detailed Description of Tyres Requiring Additional Rubber Company July 2001 Director, Yokohama Rubber Company Performance July 2003 Chief Engineer, Yokohama Rubber Company 8. Summary of Technology Progress July 2005 Consultant, Yokohama Rubber List of Candidates for Registration Company January 2008 Retired 2001-2002 Vice President, The Society of Rubber Science and Technology, Japan Present Chairperson, Moulded Processing Technology Subcommittee, Research Committee, The Society of Rubber Science and Technology, Japan Doctor of Engineering 2 National Museum of Nature and Science Vol.16,2011 1. Introduction 1.1. Outline of Tyre Technology 1.2. Progress of Japanese Tyre Tyres are an essential component to the Technology (Systematisation) (See Fig. 1.1) establishment of the automobile mechanism. The history of the tyre industry in Japan Tyres can be viewed as having the following can be divided into three stages. four functions 1)). Stage 1: Dawn of the Industry – Meiji Period. - Bearing a load (support) The dawn of the Japanese rubber industry saw - Acting as a spring (absorption) some rudimentary developments. - Conveying driving and braking forces Stage 2: Stage of Growth – Early Taisho Period (transmission) to the Second World War. From the Taisho - Facilitating steering of the vehicle (turning) Period to the early Showa Period, Japan either These are vital functions in which the tyres as introduced overseas technology or started part of the vehicle serve as an intermediary in developing its own independent technology. establishing a mutual relationship between the This technology later played a role as military vehicle and the surface of the road. goods during wartime. The history of tyre technology is the history of Stage 3: Stage of Maturity – Post-War to the developments carried out to achieve these present. While various companies suffered functions. This technology is expansive in during the war, they bounced back from the extent, combining many materials to form the ravages of war and, accompanied by the later mechanics of the tyre, which in turn plays a spread of motorisation, grew rapidly to the complex role being incorporated as a present day 2). component into the automobile mechanism. The Stage 3 post-war age of motorisation can Thus, tyre technology is expansive and has be divided into three further stages. come to hold an important place in the industry. The first stage was the age of incorporating Tyres are a rubber product. Rubber technology new materials into the existing bias tyres. had a long history before the invention of the Instead of cotton or rayon for reinforcing, tyre in the 19th century. The technology synthetic nylon appeared; synthetic rubbers followed the same path in Japan, albeit later. such as SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber) and BR (butadiene rubber) also appeared as a replacement for natural rubber. This stage is remembered as an age in which new materials appeared and much effort was spent on processing techniques in order to fully utilise them (post-war – 1960s) 3 National Museum of Nature and Science Vol.16,2011 Part 1 (Tyre Outline) Chapter 1: Introduction, Chapter 2: Creation of the Tyre (3) Part 2 (Progress of Japanese Tyre Technology) Chapter 5: Post-War Developments Post-War – (1) (2) (Stage of Maturity; Age of Chapter 3: The Start of the Chapter 4: Creation of the Motorisation) (Stage of Growth; Japanese Rubber Industry Japanese Tyre Industry Technology Imports; Domestic – End of the Meiji Period (Dawn) Taisho Period, Early Showa Period, End of the War Production Period) Chapter 5 The Age of Motorisation Introductory Stage Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 The Age of New The Age of The Age of Radial Stage of Growth Materials Structural Change Tyres (Use of Nylon, (Bias → Radial) (The Age of Evolution) Systematisation Trends Synthetic Rubber) (Use of Steel Cord, Chapter 6 Polyester) Chapter 6 The Coming of Age of Radial Tyres; Stage of Maturity The Age of Evolution Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Durability Manoeuvrability Sensation and (Change of (Change of Sensitivity Materials) Materials/Structure) (Change of Chapter 7 Additional Performance Stage 4: Integration Structure) Aircraft; Construction Vehicles; Two-Wheeled Vehicles; Studless Fig. 1.1. Progress of Japanese Tyre Technology (Systematisation) The second stage was the age in which tyre durability, fraught with issues such as how to structure changed from bias to radial. This fasten steel cord and rubber together and major change in tyre structure was dealing with separation due to breakdown in accompanied by major changes in the rubber. 1970s-1980s. manufacturing facilities. The appearance of The second was the age of ensuring high steel cord reinforcing meant major changes in manoeuvrability as a required performance tyre structure and manufacturing facilities, over and above durability. This was affected accompanied by major progress in tyre by the 1979 oil crisis, with a rapidly-increasing performance. demand for improved fuel economy. This The third stage is the age of integrating various presented some issues with safety, since tyres elements of existing technology and improving with good fuel economy moved easily but radial tyre performance. This stage can be were difficult to stop. Competition soared divided into a further four stages. around the world to resolve this paradox. The first was the age of perfecting radial tyre 1980s onwards. durability. This was an age of ensuring The third was the age of increased sensation 4 National Museum of Nature and Science Vol.16,2011 and sensitivity, such as noise and vibration. normal. These have played a role in 1980s onwards.