What is the effect of temperature on ribbed belt material selection

As a key transmission component, ribbed belts are widely used in many fields such as automobiles, industrial machinery and household appliances. Their performance and service life are affected by many factors, among which temperature has a significant impact on the physical and chemical properties of ribbed belts, which in turn determines their applicability in specific application environments.

Importance of thermal stability of materials
Ribbed belts often face temperature fluctuations during operation, especially under high load and high speed conditions. Such temperature changes may cause thermal aging and performance degradation of materials. Therefore, selecting materials with excellent thermal stability is the basis for ensuring long-term reliable operation of ribbed belts. Materials such as polyurethane (PU), chloroprene rubber (CR) and fluororubber (FPM) perform well in high temperature environments and can effectively maintain their mechanical properties and elasticity.
For example, the strength and elastic modulus of polyurethane materials at high temperatures change relatively little, making them very suitable for use in high temperature environments such as engine compartments. Chloroprene rubber is often used in automotive ribbed belt systems due to its excellent heat resistance and oil resistance to ensure stability and reliability under harsh conditions.

Effect of temperature on material physical properties
Temperature changes directly affect the physical properties of materials. As the temperature increases, the elastic modulus of the material usually decreases, resulting in increased flexibility of the ribbed belt. This helps the ribbed belt adapt to a variety of working conditions to a certain extent, but if the temperature is too high, it may cause the material to soften, which in turn increases the risk of sliding and wear. In low temperature environments, the toughness of the material tends to decrease, which can easily lead to brittle cracking and fracture.
Therefore, when selecting the ribbed belt material, it is necessary to fully consider the changes in its physical properties within the expected operating temperature range. For different temperature conditions, different material combinations may need to be selected to ensure that excellent performance is maintained in various environments.

The effect of temperature on friction properties
The working principle of the ribbed belt relies on the effective transmission of friction force, and temperature changes have a significant impact on the friction properties of the material. In high temperature environments, the friction coefficient of the ribbed belt may decrease, resulting in slippage. This phenomenon is particularly obvious when the engine is running at high temperatures, which may lead to a decrease in power transmission efficiency and even damage to the equipment. Therefore, it is crucial to select materials with good high-temperature friction properties.
Some high-performance polymer materials are specially treated to maintain a high friction coefficient at high temperatures, thereby effectively improving transmission efficiency. In low temperature environments, the friction coefficient of the material may increase, resulting in additional wear. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of the friction characteristics of the material is required to ensure the reliability and working efficiency of the ribbed belt under different temperature conditions.