The invention relates to rubber compositions that are provided with polyorganosiloxanes as plasticizers. The rubber compositions can be vulcanized by means of a cross-linking resin and they are particularly suitable for use as curing bladders in the production of tires. The invention further relates to the use of polyorganosiloxanes as corresponding plasticizers.

A process for producing tyres with auxiliary components for vehicle wheels is described. The process includes i) covering the external surface of an expandable chamber for tyre vulcanisation and moulding apparatuses with a first substantially cross-linkable polysiloxane composition and ii) covering the radially inner surface of the impermeable elastomeric material layer of the green tyre with a second substantially non-cross-linkable polysiloxane composition. An expandable chamber for tyre vulcanisation and moulding apparatuses and, a process for treating the expandable chamber are also described.

A system and method for building and curing a tire curing bladder is provided. In one embodiment, a system for curing a tire curing bladder is provided, the system comprising: a tire building drum, including: at least one end cap; and a cylindrical wall; wherein the tire building drum includes an axis of rotation and wherein the axis of rotation extends through the at least one end cap, and wherein the cylindrical wall includes at least one orifice; a mold, including: a mold ring oriented at least partially radially outwardly of the tire building drum; and at least one outside bead ring; and a tire curing press.

A laminate comprising a first layer and a second layer directly covering the first layer, the first layer being a layer of a silicone rubber composition comprising a micrometric silicone powder and a mixture of crosslinkable organopolysiloxanes, the second layer being a layer of a silicone rubber composition comprising a hydrophobic silica and a mixture of crosslinkable organopolysiloxanes, is provided. The first layer and the second layer are crosslinked. The laminate, in particular when it is used as a coating for the outer surface of an expandable bladder for a tire curing mold, makes it possible to eliminate molding defects on the inner liner of the tire.

According to the present invention, a bladder assembly structure for detachably attaching a bladder to a tire vulcanization apparatus is proved, wherein it comprises: a lower clamp for fixing a lower side bead of the bladder and allowing a housing to be coupled thereto; and an upper clamp for fixing an upper side bead of the bladder and allowing an upper end of a center post penetrating the housing to be coupled, wherein the upper and lower clamps are made of lightweighted aluminum material.

A method is described for vulcanizing a green tire using an organopolysiloxane-based mold release agent lubricant composition. Also described, is an organopolysiloxane-based mold release agent lubricant composition.

A waterless tire curing system for curing a tire in a mold includes a platen and a mold jacket configured to have at least one component of the mold coupled thereto. The platen and the mold jacket include an induction coil. An electric coil is provided that produces an electromagnetic field to induce an eddy current into the induction coil to produce a first heat energy. A bladder is disposed in an interior of the mold and a nitrogen supply system is included to provide a heated pressurized nitrogen gas for circulation through the bladder. The heat energy from the induction coil is transferred to the mold and the uncured tire. The heat energy from the heated pressurized nitrogen gas is transferred to the bladder and the uncured tire, wherein the heat energy transferred to the uncured tire is effective to cure the tire.

Disclosed is a tire curing press. The tire curing press includes: a curing bladder; a lower clamping assembly for clamping a lower flange of the curing bladder; and an upper clamping assembly for clamping an upper flange of the curing bladder. An upper end of a center rod is fixedly connected to the upper clamping assembly, and the center rod is capable of a lifting motion in a longitudinal direction relative to the lower clamping assembly. The tire curing press further includes a heating component, a stirring component, and a rotary driving member. The tire curing press further includes a rotating cylinder rotatably arranged to pass through a bore of a ring seat, where one end of the rotating cylinder projects from one side of the ring seat and is connected to the stirring component, the other end of the rotating cylinder projects from the other side of the ring seat and has a stator assembly fixed to the periphery thereof. The center rod extends through the interior of the rotating cylinder. In the tire curing press, the rotating cylinder encompasses the center rod, such that a high-temperature high-pressure medium can be isolated in the rotating cylinder, thereby reducing or even eliminating the influence of the high-temperature high-pressure medium on the rotary driving member.

The method includes a step of deploying a curing membrane against an interior surface of the tire. The curing membrane has a contact surface with a drainage structure which comprises air-discharge channels and which is subdivided into a first drainage region, a second drainage region, and a third drainage reason. The first drainage region is pressed intimately against a crown region of the tire, the second drainage region is pressed intimately against a sidewall region of the tire, and the third drainage region is pressed intimately against a bead region of the tire. A mean depth of the channels of the third drainage region is strictly greater than a mean depth of the channels of the second drainage region, which is itself strictly greater than a mean depth of the channels of the first drainage region.