Spray Formation of an Impermeable Barrier Layer on a Tire

Abstract

A method is provided for forming an impermeable barrier layer on an inner tire surface of a tire. An assembly is also provided along with a kit for forming an impermeable barrier layer on an inner tire surface of a tire accordingly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for forming an impermeable barrier layer on an inner tire surface of a tire, comprising:
 (A) providing at least one spray post comprising:
 a rotation platform for rotating one or more tires thereby; 
 a reservoir station with one or more reservoirs provided thereat, wherein each reservoir houses one ingredient of a recipe for a layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly selected for application to the inner tire surface, and wherein the one ingredient includes one or more solutions; 
 a spray delivery system for delivery of a solution layer to the inner tire surface, wherein the spray delivery system includes one or more spray heads with each spray head in fluid communication with at least one reservoir; and 
 a rinse delivery system for delivering one or more rinses to the tire inner surface; 
   (B) spraying the solution layer onto the inner tire surface;   (C) spraying the inner tire surface with at least one rinse;   (D) allowing at least a portion of the inner tire surface to dry;   (E) repeating steps (B) through (D) sequentially until a desired number of layers has been applied and the LbL assembly has been formed.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tire is at least partially vulcanized. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more solutions is selected from a plurality of cationic solutions, a plurality of anionic solutions, or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the cationic solution comprises a cationic material, and wherein the cationic material comprises a polyethylene oxide, a polyglycidol, a polypropylene oxide, a poly(vinyl methyl ether), a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinylpyrrolidone, a polyallylamine, a branched polyethylenimine, a linear polyethylenimine, a poly(acrylic acid), a poly(methacrylic acid), copolymers thereof, or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the anionic solution comprises an anionic material, wherein the anionic material comprises polystyrene sulfonate, a polymethacrylic acid, a polyacrylic acid, a poly(acrylic acid, sodium salt), a polyanetholesulfonic acid sodium salt, poly(vinylsulfonic acid, sodium salt), or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution layer comprises a thickness in a range of about 0.5 nanometers to about 100 nanometers. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a total of four or fewer solution layers are sprayed onto the inner tire surface. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer reduces diffusion of air, oxygen, ozone, and/or water vapor across a section of the tire comprising the barrier layer as compared to the same section of the same tire without the barrier layer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising rotating the tire around a tire axis during spraying of each solution layer and each rinse. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each spray head has one or more nozzles arranged in a substantially linear relationship along a common axis. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising delivering a selected solution to at least one corresponding selected nozzle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spray delivery system is positionable relative to the inner tire surface so as to apply bead-to-bead spraying coverage thereon. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein allowing at least a portion of the inner tire surface to dry comprises applying suction to at least a portion of the inner tire surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more solution layers and one or more rinses are sprayed sequentially. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recipe for an LbL assembly comprises a plurality of LbL assembly recipes, and wherein any selected LbL assembly recipe may be interchangeable with at least one non-selected LbL assembly recipe. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly comprising a tire having an inner tire surface and an impermeable barrier layer formed therealong according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the impermeable barrier layer is further formed by drying at least a portion of the inner tire surface after spraying the at least one rinse and prior to spraying a subsequent solution layer. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the tire is positioned relative to a spray delivery system provided at the rotation platform for delivery of the solution layer to the inner tire surface; and wherein the spray delivery system includes one or more spray heads with each spray head in fluid communication with at least one reservoir; and wherein each spray head has one or more nozzles arranged in a substantially linear relationship along a common axis. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the drying includes applying suction to at least a portion of the inner tire surface. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for forming an impermeable barrier layer on an inner tire surface of a tire according to the method of  claim 1 , the apparatus comprising;
 a selected rotation platform that is interchangeable with another non-selected rotation platform; and   a selected reservoir station that is interchangeable with another non-selected reservoir station;   wherein the tire is positionable relative to a spray delivery system provided at each rotation platform for delivery of at least one solution layer to the inner tire surface; wherein each spray delivery system includes one or more spray heads with each spray head in fluid communication with at least one reservoir; and wherein each spray head has one or more nozzles arranged in a substantially linear relationship along a common axis.