In accordance with an example embodiment, a continuous belt may include an outer surface having a first edge spaced apart from a second edge defining a belt width, and a first wear indication positioned on the outer surface near the first edge and having a first width, the first width is less than the belt width, and the first width represents the amount of allowable wear of the continuous belt.

A cross-linkable nitrile rubber composition including a highly saturated nitrile rubber (a) containing ,-ethylenically unsaturated nitrile monomer units and ,-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid monoester monomer units and having an iodine value of 120 or less, organic staple fiber (b) with an average fiber length of 0.1 to 12 mm, and a polyamine cross-linking agent (c) is provided. The cross-linkable nitrile rubber composition able to give cross-linked rubber excellent in tensile stress and low heat buildup can be provided.

A cross-linkable nitrile rubber composition including a highly saturated nitrile rubber (a) containing ,-ethylenically unsaturated nitrile monomer units and ,-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid monoester monomer units and having an iodine value of 120 or less, organic staple fiber (b) with an average fiber length of 0.1 to 12 mm, and a polyamine cross-linking agent (c) is provided. The cross-linkable nitrile rubber composition able to give cross-linked rubber excellent in tensile stress and low heat buildup can be provided.

A power transmission belt and a method for manufacturing said belt. The belt includes: a backing layer made of a material with elastomeric behaviour; a ventral layer made of a material with elastomeric behaviour; a mechanical reinforcement means inserted between the backing layer and the ventral layer comprising a film with thermoplastic transformation surrounding the mechanical reinforcement means, said film comprising at least: a first component physically and/or chemically bonded to at least one component of the backing layer; a second component physically and/or chemically bonded to at least one component of the mechanical reinforcement means; and a third component physically and/or chemically bonded to at least one component of the ventral layer. The method for manufacturing said belt may advantageously use an anti-sticking means.

This disclosure describes systems and methods which utilize organoclays compounded with zinc acrylates to improve the performance of drive belts. In performing research on organoclays, the inventors created formulations and methods of compatibilizing organoclays with metal salts of --unsaturated organic acids and incorporating the compatibilized organoclays into the belt compound so that the planar organoclay particles are substantially aligned with the longitudinal plane of the belt. This is shown to provide a) lower Mooney viscosity (resulting in greater ease of processing), b) higher stiffness (both tensile and dynamic) c) improved tear resistance, d) lower crack growth rate and e) nearly equivalent fatigue resistance in spite of the increased stiffness. This combination of traits in the belts created utilizing the organoclay/zinc acrylate technology described herein results in an unexpectedly improved belt.

This disclosure describes systems and methods which utilize organoclays compounded with zinc acrylates to improve the performance of drive belts. In performing research on organoclays, the inventors created formulations and methods of compatibilizing organoclays with metal salts of --unsaturated organic acids and incorporating the compatibilized organoclays into the belt compound so that the planar organoclay particles are substantially aligned with the longitudinal plane of the belt. This is shown to provide a) lower Mooney viscosity (resulting in greater ease of processing), b) higher stiffness (both tensile and dynamic) c) improved tear resistance, d) lower crack growth rate and e) nearly equivalent fatigue resistance in spite of the increased stiffness. This combination of traits in the belts created utilizing the organoclay/zinc acrylate technology described herein results in an unexpectedly improved belt.

A rubber composition includes an elastomer component, a polyvinyl pyrrolidone-based resin, and a non-water-absorbent short fiber, and includes substantially no water-absorbent fiber. The elastomer component may include an ethylene--olefin elastomer. The polyvinyl pyrrolidone-based resin may have a K value of 10 to 100. The non-water-absorbent short fiber may include an aliphatic polyamide short fiber.

A friction transmission belt includes a compression layer forming a pulley contact portion, the compression layer includes an inner layer formed from a rubber composition and an outer layer provided on a pulley contact side of the inner layer and formed from a fiber member, and a ratio (M10 modulus/M50 modulus) of an modulus at 10% elongation in a belt longitudinal direction (M10 modulus) to an modulus at 50% elongation in the belt longitudinal direction (M50 modulus), of the rubber composition, is not less than 1.5.

A friction transmission belt includes a compression layer forming a pulley contact portion, the compression layer includes an inner layer formed from a rubber composition and an outer layer provided on a pulley contact side of the inner layer and formed from a fiber member, and a ratio (M10 modulus/M50 modulus) of an modulus at 10% elongation in a belt longitudinal direction (M10 modulus) to an modulus at 50% elongation in the belt longitudinal direction (M50 modulus), of the rubber composition, is not less than 1.5.

A thermoplastic belt is disclosed. The belt comprises a main body having a relatively low glass transition temperature. In some embodiments, the belt maintains flexibility at about 25 C. to about 50 C. The main body may be formed as an annular ring and have a generally circular cross-sectional shape. The belt may be employed in a roller conveyor, and more particularly a roller conveyor used in a cold temperature environment such as a freezer.