Tire curing bladder with an air barrier layer

1. A method of manufacturing a tire curing bladder, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) providing a cured tire curing bladder, wherein the cured tire bladder is a used tire curing bladder; and

(ii) applying an air barrier composition to the cured tire curing bladder to form an air barrier layer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the used tire curing bladder includes a crack or a pinhole.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the air barrier composition includes a phase separated blend of elastomer and thermoplastic resin.

4. The method of claim 1 , the tire curing bladder having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the step of applying is performed by spraying the air barrier composition onto the interior surface of the tire curing bladder.

5. The method of claim 1 , the tire curing bladder having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the step of applying is performed by spraying the air barrier composition onto the exterior surface of the tire curing bladder.

6. The method of claim 1 , the tire curing bladder having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the step of applying includes applying the air barrier composition to both the interior surface of the tire curing bladder and the exterior surface of the tire curing bladder.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of applying forms a tire curing bladder having enhanced air retention properties, the method further comprising the step of utilizing the tire curing bladder having enhanced air retention properties to manufacture a tire.

8. A method of repairing a tire curing bladder, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) providing a damaged tire curing bladder; and

(ii) applying an air barrier composition to the damaged tire curing bladder to form an air barrier layer,

wherein the step of applying forms a tire curing bladder having enhanced air retention properties, the method further comprising the step of utilizing the tire curing bladder having enhanced air retention properties to manufacture a tire.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the air barrier layer includes a phase separated blend of elastomer and thermoplastic resin.

10. A tire curing bladder assembly comprising a cured tire curing bladder including a body and an air barrier layer disposed on the body, wherein the air barrier layer includes a phase separated blend of elastomer and thermoplastic resin.

11. The tire curing bladder assembly claim 10 , the body having an interior surface and an outer surface, the air barrier layer being disposed on the interior surface.

12. The tire curing bladder assembly of claim 10 , the body having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the air barrier layer being disposed on the exterior surface.

13. The tire curing bladder assembly of claim 10 , the body having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, the air barrier layer extending from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end.

14. The tire curing bladder assembly of claim 10 , the tire curing bladder being a generally toroidal shape when expanded.

15. A method of manufacturing a tire curing bladder, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) providing a cured tire curing bladder; and

(ii) applying an air barrier composition to the cured tire curing bladder to form an air barrier layer, wherein the air barrier composition includes a phase separated blend of elastomer and thermoplastic resin.

16. The method of claim 15 , the tire curing bladder having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the step of applying is performed by spraying the air barrier composition onto the interior surface of the tire curing bladder.

17. The method of claim 15 , the tire curing bladder having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the step of applying is performed by spraying the air barrier composition onto the exterior surface of the tire curing bladder.

18. The method of claim 15 , the tire curing bladder having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the step of applying includes applying the air barrier composition to both the interior surface of the tire curing bladder and the exterior surface of the tire curing bladder.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of applying forms a tire curing bladder having enhanced air retention properties, the method further comprising the step of utilizing the tire curing bladder having enhanced air retention properties to manufacture a tire.