Tire curing is the final step in tire manufacturing where a green tire built from layers of rubber compounds is formed to the desired shape in a press. Heat is transferred to the tire from the surroundings which are maintained at higher temperatures. The transferred heat provokes the curing reaction (vulcanization) of the rubber compounds, thus converting the compounds to a strong elastic material. The curing process is energy-consuming and has a strong effect on material properties. Knowing the point at which sufficient vulcanization occurs during the production of rubber products allows the manufacturer to minimize cycle time while simultaneously reducing product variation. The conventional method is to directly measure the temperature-time profiles using thermocouples inserted in various parts of the tire and then to convert the measured profiles to the state of cure. This is costly and very time-consuming.

Fluent CFD software provides a modeling tool for the tire curing process, and enables you to optimize the processing conditions to increase production rate and improve product quality.

Predicted temperature evolution for a tire curing process.

Predicted evolution of degree of cure for a tire curing process.