A BRASS COATED WIRE WITH A ZINC GRADIENT IN THE COATING AND ITS METHOD OF MANUFACTURING

摘要

A steel cord with a ternary or quaternary brass-based alloy coating is presented. The inventive steel cord shows a greatly improved under cure and regular cure adhesion behaviour to rubber compared to known ternary or quaternary brass- based alloy coatings. The adhesion retention after cured humidity aging or steam aging is equal to that of known ternary or quaternary brass based alloys coatings. This improved steel cord makes the use of cobalt containing ingredients in the rubber superfluous while still enjoying the improved adhesion retention. The surface of the inventive steel cord coating is characterised by the reduced presence of zinc or zinc containing compounds at the surface. More specifically very little zinc oxide is present on the surface compared to prior-art samples. A method to produce such a steel cord is also described and claimed as well as rubber articles comprising the steel cord and that use rubbers that are substantially free of cobalt.