US 11,874,223 B1
Terahertz characterization of a multi-layered tire tread
Claude Schweitzer, Colmar-Berg (LU); Pierre Felix Orlewski, Ettelbruck (LU); Christian Jean-Marie Kaes, Schrondweiler (LU); Abdulkareem Modupe Melaiye, Akron, OH (US); Michael Freylinger, Akron, OH (US); Sylvain Fourme, Medernach (LU); and Pauline Monique Marie-Lucie Ghislaine Delroisse, Vance (BE)
Assigned to THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Akron, OH (US)
Filed by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, OH (US)
Filed on Aug. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/823,087.
Int. Cl. G01N 21/35 (2014.01); G01N 21/3581 (2014.01); G01N 21/3563 (2014.01)
CPC G01N 21/3581 (2013.01) [G01N 21/3563 (2013.01); G01N 2201/0696 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for characterizing a multi-layered tire tread, the method comprising:
providing a first rubber composition having a first refractive index;
providing a second rubber composition having a second refractive index;
determining a difference between the first refractive index and the second refractive index;
comparing the difference to a threshold refractive index;
adding a refractive index modifier to the first rubber composition and/or second rubber composition in case the comparison provides that difference is lower than the threshold refractive index, so that the difference is greater than, or equal to, the threshold refractive index;
producing a multi-layered tire tread comprising a first layer comprising the first rubber composition and also comprising a second layer comprising the second rubber composition, the first rubber composition or the second rubber composition comprising the added refractive index modifier in case the refractive index modifier is added;
irradiating the multi-layered tire tread with a THz electromagnetic radiation; and
receiving radiation transmitted through the multi-layered tire tread and/or radiation reflected by the multi-layered tire tread.