Provided is a fiber for rubber reinforcement that can be produced using a bio-derived raw material and hardly breaks even when compounded with a rubber material. A first fiber for rubber reinforcement uses a protein fiber containing a hydrophobic protein. A second fiber for rubber reinforcement uses a protein fiber having an initial tensile modulus of elasticity of 2.0 GPa or more when wet. These fibers for rubber reinforcement preferably have a coating layer made of a water-based adhesive composition on the surface thereof.

An electrically conductive yarn (200, 300) comprising a first yarn (262, 362) and a second yarn (264, 364), the first yarn (262, 362) comprises or consists out of a plurality of stainless steel fibers, the second yarn (264, 364) comprises organic fibers wherein the first yarn (362) and the second yarn (364) are twisted or cabled together or the second yarn (264) is wrapped around the first yarn (262) such that the first yarn (262) is provided as a core yarn and such that the first yarn (262) provides part of the surface of the electrically conductive yarn (200).

An electrically conductive yarn (200, 300) comprising a first yarn (262, 362) and a second yarn (264, 364), the first yarn (262, 362) comprises or consists out of a plurality of stainless steel fibers, the second yarn (264, 364) comprises organic fibers wherein the first yarn (362) and the second yarn (364) are twisted or cabled together or the second yarn (264) is wrapped around the first yarn (262) such that the first yarn (262) is provided as a core yarn and such that the first yarn (262) provides part of the surface of the electrically conductive yarn (200).

A cord for reinforcing a rubber product, comprising a core (9) and at least one thread (8) wrapped around the core, wherein the core comprises at least one strand of filaments, and wherein the linear density of the core is greater than the linear density of the thread.

Method for the treatment of single-filament polyethylene terephthalate cords for the reinforcing layers of a pneumatic tyre comprising (a) an adhesive solution coating step, wherein the single filament cord is immersed in an adhesive solution; (b) a drying step, wherein the cord covered in adhesive resin is held within a drying oven at a temperature of between 120 and 180° C.; and (c) a thermobonding step wherein the cord, proceeding from the drying step, is arranged within an oven at a temperature of between 230 and 260° C. for a period of between 30 and 90 seconds. During the thermobonding step, the single filament cord is subjected to a tension of between 8 and 12 mN/dtex.

A multicomposite reinforcer (R1, R2) comprises one or more monofilament(s) (10) made of glass-resin composite comprising glass filaments (101) embedded in a crosslinked resin (102), with a glass transition temperature Tg.sub.1. A layer of a thermoplastic material (12), the glass transition temperature of which, denoted Tg.sub.2, is greater than 20° C., covers said monofilament or, if there are several, individually covers each monofilament or collectively covers all or at least some of the monofilaments. Said monofilament or, if there are several, all or at least some of the monofilaments has the following features: a temperature Tg.sub.1 equal to or greater than 190° C.; an elongation at break A.sub.(M) equal to or greater than 4.0%; and an initial tensile modulus E.sub.(M) greater than 35 GPa. A multilayer laminate may comprise such a multicomposite reinforcer. A pneumatic or non-pneumatic tyre may be reinforced with such a multicomposite reinforcer or multilayer laminate.

A multicomposite reinforcer (R1, R2) comprises one or more monofilament(s) (10) made of glass-resin composite comprising glass filaments (101) embedded in a crosslinked resin (102), with a glass transition temperature Tg.sub.1. A layer of a thermoplastic material (12), the glass transition temperature of which, denoted Tg.sub.2, is greater than 20° C., covers said monofilament or, if there are several, individually covers each monofilament or collectively covers all or at least some of the monofilaments. Said monofilament or, if there are several, all or at least some of the monofilaments has the following features: a temperature Tg.sub.1 equal to or greater than 190° C.; an elongation at break A.sub.(M) equal to or greater than 4.0%; and an initial tensile modulus E.sub.(M) greater than 35 GPa. A multilayer laminate may comprise such a multicomposite reinforcer. A pneumatic or non-pneumatic tyre may be reinforced with such a multicomposite reinforcer or multilayer laminate.

A tyre for vehicle wheels comprises a support structure and a tread band arranged in a radially outer position with respect to the support structure. The support structure comprises at least one reinforcing layer including a plurality of hybrid reinforcing cords (10′) each having a metallic wire (21) twisted together with a multifilament textile yarn (22) comprising a plurality of filaments (23). In any cross section of each of said hybrid reinforcing cords (10′), the metallic wire (21) is at least partially embedded in the filaments (23) of the multifilament textile yarn (22).

A tyre for vehicle wheels comprises a support structure and a tread band arranged in a radially outer position with respect to the support structure. The support structure comprises at least one reinforcing layer including a plurality of hybrid reinforcing cords (10′) each having a metallic wire (21) twisted together with a multifilament textile yarn (22) comprising a plurality of filaments (23). In any cross section of each of said hybrid reinforcing cords (10′), the metallic wire (21) is at least partially embedded in the filaments (23) of the multifilament textile yarn (22).

The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a metallic reinforcing cord (10) for tyres for vehicle wheels. The process comprises providing at least one elongated element (15) comprising at least one metallic wire (11) twisted together with at least one textile yarn (20) and removing said at least one textile yarn (20) from said at least one elongated element (15) to form the aforementioned metallic reinforcing cord (10). Such a metallic reinforcing cord (10) has a helical geometry, consisting only of said at least one metallic wire (11) that extends along a helical path. The invention also relates to an apparatus (1) for manufacturing the aforementioned metallic reinforcing cord (10).