The present invention relates to a structural element known in the technical field as tensairity, which introduces as distinctive elements with respect to the known art: (i) ropes in the shape-memory alloy (SMA) with superelastic (SE) and shape memory (ME) behaviour; (ii) mechanical tensioners for the adjustment of the initial tension in the ropes; (iii) optionally a control apparatus (processor) is connected to electric circuits that induce flow of intensity variable current through the SMA wire ropes; (iv) optionally devices for real-time monitoring of the temperature and the level of tension in the SMA ropes; (v) optionally devices for real-time monitoring of the tensairity oscillations; (vi) optionally new structural geometries capable of sustaining static actions and multidirectional dynamics.

The present invention relates to a structural element known in the technical field as tensairity, which introduces as distinctive elements with respect to the known art: (i) ropes in the shape-memory alloy (SMA) with superelastic (SE) and shape memory (ME) behaviour; (ii) mechanical tensioners for the adjustment of the initial tension in the ropes; (iii) optionally a control apparatus (processor) is connected to electric circuits that induce flow of intensity variable current through the SMA wire ropes; (iv) optionally devices for real-time monitoring of the temperature and the level of tension in the SMA ropes; (v) optionally devices for real-time monitoring of the tensairity oscillations; (vi) optionally new structural geometries capable of sustaining static actions and multidirectional dynamics.

A wire cable construct including a plurality of strands each made of a plurality of wire filaments, the strands and wire filaments arranged in a 377 configuration of 37 strands of 7 wire filaments each, with the strands arranged in four layers including a first, central layer of a single strand, a second layer of six strands, a third layer of twelve strands and a fourth, outermost layer of eighteen strands. The cable may have a small diameter for use in medical device applications, and the strand and wire element configuration allows the cable to carry high axial loads, minimizes bending stress when the cable is routed around a tight turn such as a small pulley, and minimizes torsion in the cable due to axial loading.

A threadlike metallic or metallized reinforcer, for example a thread, film, tape or cord made of carbon steel, at the periphery of which is positioned a layer of metal referred to as surface metal chosen from copper, nickel and copper/nickel alloys, is characterized in that this surface metal layer is itself coated, at least in part, with at least one layer of graphene; preferably, there is grafted, to this graphene, at least one functional group which can crosslink to a polymer matrix. This reinforcer of the invention is effectively protected from corrosion by virtue of the graphene present at the surface; advantageously, it can be adhesively bonded directly, without adhesion primer or addition of metal salt, to an unsaturated rubber matrix, such as natural rubber, by virtue of the possible functionalization of this graphene.

A threadlike metallic or metallized reinforcer, for example a thread, film, tape or cord made of carbon steel, at the periphery of which is positioned a layer of metal referred to as surface metal chosen from copper, nickel and copper/nickel alloys, is characterized in that this surface metal layer is itself coated, at least in part, with at least one layer of graphene; preferably, there is grafted, to this graphene, at least one functional group which can crosslink to a polymer matrix. This reinforcer of the invention is effectively protected from corrosion by virtue of the graphene present at the surface; advantageously, it can be adhesively bonded directly, without adhesion primer or addition of metal salt, to an unsaturated rubber matrix, such as natural rubber, by virtue of the possible functionalization of this graphene.

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.

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.

Disclosed is a tire-reinforcing steel cord for a radial tire. The tire-reinforcing steel cord has a double layer structure including a first-layer core and a second-layer core provided on the surface of the first-layer core. The first-layer core has an elliptical or rectangular cross section. The tire-reinforcing steel cord can improve processability, fatigue characteristics, and rolling resistance performance of a tire, resulting in improved fuel efficiency. A radial tire using the tire-reinforcing steel cord is also disclosed.

Disclosed is a tire-reinforcing steel cord for a radial tire. The tire-reinforcing steel cord has a double layer structure including a first-layer core and a second-layer core provided on the surface of the first-layer core. The first-layer core has an elliptical or rectangular cross section. The tire-reinforcing steel cord can improve processability, fatigue characteristics, and rolling resistance performance of a tire, resulting in improved fuel efficiency. A radial tire using the tire-reinforcing steel cord is also disclosed.

Ultra-High-Strength (UHS) wires are suited to high strength wire, strands, cables and rope applications including robotics force transmission and other high-performance mono- and multifilament wire applications. The wires exhibit high strength, low stretch and fatigue durability. Exemplary UHS materials include binary molybdenum-rhenium or tungsten-rhenium alloys with between 20 and 50 wt. % rhenium. These alloys are processed from a moderate strength (<2 GPa) warm-drawn rod to drawn monofilament wire with extreme nanocrystalline grain refinement, high apparent fatigue durability, and ultimate strength levels exceeding 5 GPa in all cases, and up to 6.8 GPa at monofilament diameters ranging from 7 to 100 m.