Utilizing Taguchi Experimental Design for Optimizing Effective Parameters in Tire Vulcanization

Authors: Ipak Torkpour

Abstract:

In order to convert natural rubber or related polymers to material with varying physical properties such as elastic modulus or durability, a chemical process named sulfur vulcanization is needed. This can be either done by heating sulfur or sulfur-containing compounds. The main goal of this process is to produce untreated natural rubber latex that can be the main source of manufacturing for several rubber producers. Temperature, pressure, and time are considered as three crucial factors in the tire vulcanization process. The present study is an attempt to optimize these crucial parameters, with the aim of achieving maximum tire modulus using Taguchi experimental design. The results revealed that the optimal parameter values are as follows: a temperature of 170 °C, a pressure of 110 bar, and a time duration of 230 seconds. Under these optimized conditions, the obtained tire modulus reached 8.8 kgf.

Keywords: Rubber vulcanization, experimental design, Taguchi, polymers.

References:

[1] Epoxidized Natural Rubber 1984. Pubi: Rubber Relnst Mlaysia (Refrevce for NR).
[2] Raj B. Durairaj, ''BPhenolic Resins for rubber industry'', 2014-7.
[3] Taguch, i G., ''Taguchi Techniques for Quality Engineering, Quality Resources'', New York, 1987.
[4] Panahi, P. N., Salari, D., Niaei, A., & Mousavi, S. M. ''Study of M-ZSM-5 nanocatalysts (M: Cu, Mn, Fe, Co…) for selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3: Process optimization by Taguchi method'', Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2015, 23(10), 1647-1654.
[5] Ferdous, W., Manalo, A., & Aravinthan, T., '' Bond behaviour of composite sandwich panel and epoxy polymer matrix: Taguchi design of experiments and theoretical predictions'', Construction and Building Materials, 2017, 145, 76-87.
[6] Nakhostin Panahi, P., Mohajer, S. & Rasoulifard, M.H, ‘’ Photocatalytic of Congo Red Decolorization in the Presence of Ag/AgCl/TiO2 Nanocomposite: Optimization of Process with Taguchi Method’’, Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 2021, 46:5619-5632 DOI10.1007/s13369-020-05157-3