Rimtreat®X: A Tyre Treatment for The Next Generation of Mining Vehicles

Many mining operations use compressed air to inflate tyres, which inherently contains moisture. If left untreated, the moisture causes corrosion leading to cracks in wheel rims. Furthermore, without an appropriate corrosion inhibitor, tyres can become difficult to service, jeopardising the availability of plant and equipment resulting in additional costs of cleaning and/or replacement; issues also creating a series of safety concerns for mine workers.

ITW Polymers & Fluids’ corrosion inhibitor solution was developed from over 1000 hours of testing in its laboratory simulation unit. The combination of optimised efficiency & safety were critical aspects in the development of Rimtreat X which aims to address the issues of premature failure in wheel rims and the increasing safety risks of the tyre bay.

With extensive corrosion control testing, the Rimtreat X inhibitor makes sure rims are kept in working order for longer, increasing longevity of the rim and, as a flow on effect, the tyre itself. To confirm that the use of Rimtreat X in tyres did not cause deleterious effects on the tyre rubber and therefore performance, physical testing was carried out at ITW Polymers and Fluids R&D Laboratories in Sydney. This testing was conducted using the Instron 600DX R9207 based on a modified ASTM D412 method for tensile strength testing and the Zwick & Co. Prüfmaschinen Shore A Durometer, ASTM D676 for rubber hardness testing. A piece of tyre rubber measuring 150mm × 150mm was used, with sections of the rubber cut and subjected to water and Rimtreat X treatment with reflux at 70°C for 1000 hrs.

The results, shown in Fig 1., for testing tensile strength and the ability of the tyre to withstand force, indicates an untreated tyre loads up to 165 newtons with extension of 60mm before the rubber fails. Samples subjected to treatment using Rimtreat X loads up to 235 newtons and extends 70mm before failure. (Fig.2) The ability for Rimtreat X to provide a higher elongation to break means that the tyre can withstand larger forces and be able to extend farther without failure. As the size of vehicles and payloads escalate, this enables the Rimtreat X treatment to combat the increasingly harsh environment for the tyre

management process, and consequently ensure longevity and maximum tyre performance

for mining fleets.

With the tyre bay being one of the most dangerous locations on a mine site for workers, increasing tyre life and improving the mount/dismount process is an essential part of controlling risks for tyre fitters. Recent testing performed by ITW Polymers & Fluids confirmed that Rimtreat X was able to combat the build up of corrosion and tyre degradation and therefore the difficulties associated with tyre mount/dismount caused by internal corrosion of the rims. Extended laboratory examination using both treated and un-treated steel coupons, shows the corrosion rate after 1000 hours of testing.

As can be seen (Fig.3), no impact of corrosion was sustained on the treated coupons, exhibiting a corrosion rate of 0.0 mpy. (middle & right), whilst the untreated coupon sustained heavy corrosion at a rate of 1.696 mpy (left).

With this high degree of corrosion control, rims treated with Rimtreat X have significant improvements in their longevity under the extreme conditions in which they operate. Due to the cost of tyres and rims in a mining operation, reducing the requirement to change, clean and maintain rims will improve the cost efficiency across the whole tyre management process.

Additionally, ITW Polymers & Fluids supply a purpose-built dispensing unit that eliminates the necessity for workers to handle chemicals, enhancing safety in this area and giving operators a more accurate dispense volume avoiding over or under-dosing further improving total cost of ownership.

With significant research and development going into the formulation and testing, Rimtreat X is a tyre treatment designed to promote tyre longevity and prioritise the availability of trucks and equipment for the next generation of mining vehicles. By eliminating the potential of corrosion build up and reducing the premature failure of mining tyres, Rimtreat X is the ideal solution for enabling quick and timely returns to service. Ultimately, improving speed & quality through its performance, and reducing workers to the exposure of risks associated with tyre changes.

For further information, contact ITW Polymers & Fluids