A process for depositing, with forward progression, graphene on the surface of a metallic or metallized continuous reinforcer, at the periphery of which is positioned a layer of surface metal chosen from copper, nickel and copper/nickel alloys, comprises at least one stage of flame spray pyrolysis (FSP), under a reducing atmosphere, of a carbon precursor which generates, in the flame, at least one carbon-based gas such as carbon monoxide which is sprayed onto the surface of the reinforcer in forward progression, and is decomposed thereon to form one or more graphene layers at the surface of the surface metal; an additional stage of graphene functionalization makes it possible to adhere the reinforcer to a polymer matrix such as rubber.

This disclosure is to provide a brass-plated steel wire for reinforcing a rubber article, which is capable of improving the initial adhesiveness, heat-resistant adhesiveness and initial adhesion rate. This disclosure is a brass-plated steel wire for reinforcing a rubber article, wherein: when measured with XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), an outermost surface contains zinc at an amount of 4.8 atom % or less, phosphorus at an amount of 0.5 atom % or more, and oxygen at an amount of 50 atom % or less; and in the outermost surface, an atomic ratio of copper to zinc is 1 to 6.

This disclosure is to provide a brass-plated steel wire for reinforcing a rubber article, which is capable of improving overvulcanization adhesiveness. This disclosure is a brass-plated steel wire for reinforcing a rubber article, wherein: when measured with XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), an outermost surface contains zinc at an amount of 4.93 to 14 atom %, and contains oxygen at an amount of 50 atom % or less; and in the outermost surface, an atomic ratio of copper to zinc is more than 2.33 and 6 or less.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a brass-plated steel wire in which improvement in the quality of the brass-plated steel wire and energy saving in the manufacturing process are balanced and a brass-plated steel wire obtained by the method. The method is a method for manufacturing a brass-plated steel wire comprising a plating process in which a steel wire rod is brass plated and a final wire drawing process in which the obtained brass-plated steel wire rod is subjected to a final drawing. The method includes a zinc oxide removing process in which the amount of zinc oxide on the surface of the brass-plated steel wire rod is made smaller than 50 mg/m.sup.2 before the final wire drawing process.

Provided is a resin-metal composite material that ensures high adhesion between a resin material and a metal material. Additionally provided is a tire that achieves high durability by using the resin-metal composite material. The resin-metal composite material includes a metal material and a resin material that coats at least a part of the surface of the metal material. The resin material includes, as a main component, a thermoplastic resin having a polar group. The surface of the metal material is treated with a buffer solution having a pH of from 5 to 7.2, and an abundance ratio of copper to a total amount of copper and zinc (Cu/(Cu+Zn)100) in the surface of the metal material is from 55 to 95% by mass. The tire includes a circular tire frame formed of a resin material and a reinforcing layer composed of a reinforcing member wound around an outer circumference of the tire frame, in which the reinforcing member includes the resin-metal composite material.

Composite reinforcer (R-2) that is self-adhesive, by curing, to a diene rubber matrix, which can be used as reinforcing element for a pneumatic tire, comprising: one or more reinforcing thread(s) (20), for example a carbon steel cord; a first layer (21) of a thermoplastic polymer, the glass transition temperature of which is positive, for example a polyamide, covering said thread, individually each thread or collectively several threads; a second layer (22) of a composition comprising a poly(p-phenylene ether) (PPE) and a functionalized diene elastomer bearing functional groups selected from epoxide, carboxyl, acid anhydride and acid ester groups, in particular an epoxidized SBR, covering the first layer (21). Process for manufacturing such a composite reinforcer and rubber article or semi-finished product, especially a pneumatic tire, incorporating such a composite reinforcer.