Atmospheric plasma treatment of reinforcement cords and use in rubber articles

A method of making a cord-reinforced rubber article is disclosed. The method comprises the steps: atomizing a mixture of a halogenated hydrocarbon, a carrier gas, and at least one member of the group consisting of hydrocarbon sulfides and polymerizable monomers, to form an atomized mixture; generating an atmospheric pressure plasma from the atomized mixture; exposing a reinforcement cord to the atmospheric pressure plasma to produce a treated reinforcement cord; and contacting the treated reinforcement cord with a rubber composition comprising a diene based elastomer and at least one member of the group consisting of methylene donors and methylene acceptors. Also, a cord-reinforced rubber article made in accordance with this method is disclosed. The rubber article may be a pneumatic tire, a hose, a transmission belt, a drive belt, an air spring, a conveyor belt and a drive track.