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Why is high-strength rayon used in automobile tire cord?

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Figure 1: Three common polymer structures. The linear, branched, and network architectures are represented (from top), respectively, by high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and phenol formaldehyde (PF). The chemical structure and molecular structure of highlighted regions are also shown.
man-made fibre Figure 1: Three common polymer structures. The linear, branched, and network architectures are represented (from top), respectively, by high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and phenol formaldehyde (PF). The chemical structure and molecular structure of highlighted regions are also shown.

High-strength rayon is utilized in automobile tire cord because of its specialized structural properties. During the manufacturing process, the filaments are drawn—or stretched—to induce the crystallization of cellulose polymers, which significantly enhances the fiber's strength.12

This high-strength material is essential for tire construction, as tire cords must possess high stiffness, a high strength-to-weight ratio, resistance to repeated flexing, and the ability to maintain good adhesion to rubber. By providing these characteristics, high-strength rayon helps reinforce the tire, allowing it to hold air pressure effectively and restrict unwanted deformation or growth during use.3