Metal vs Plastic Belts
If you are considering the use of plastic belts on your spirals, either to replace metal belts on existing units or designing new spirals with plastic.
With new plastic materials, solid engineering and application support and very strong belt warranties, you should take a look at the use of plastic spiral belts on your next application. The following chart is a comprehensive review of the use of "Plastic versus Metal".
If you have an application coming up for a spiral, let our team give you a specific analysis of the belts you are considering for either a specific product and environment.
Here is a brief Comparisons of advantages Metal vs Plastic Belts
In straight running applications plastic belts have proven to outwear metal by a 3:1 factor.
The strongest plastic belts are 550 lbs on plastic and 500 lbs on metal. Not all plastic or metal styles carry this rating. As strength itself is not the most critical factor (it is the radius weight rating which is), plastic belts have an advantage over metal.
Plastic belts weigh:
1"pitch:1.1lbs/sq. ft
1-1/2" pitch:1.7 lbs/sq. ft
2" pitch:2.76 lbs/sq. ft
Metal belts weigh:
Rod type 1.85 lbs/sq. ft
Flex type 3.2lbs/sq. ft
Mesh Overlay type 3.05 lbs/sq.ft
In weights, the lighter the better (assuming no strength loss). Plastics have it over metal.
Plastic belts are not subject to work hardening as metal belts are, so the continuous cycling of the belt though the spiral does not have the same detrimental affect on the plastic as it does on metal.
Metal belts (various styles) have collapse factors of:
2.2 to 1
1.7 to 1
1.5 to 1
1.1 to 1
Current Plastic belts have collapse factors of:
2.2 to 1
1.7 to 1
A smaller collapse factor in a belt gives you a smaller footprint (smaller cage diameter possibilities), so metal has it over plastic (today).
Most open metal belts (rod type) have more open area then the most open plastic belts.
Most open metal belts (rod type) are easier to clean than the most open plastic belts due to their construction. |
