A polymeric product with at least one surface subject to wear or abrasion, at least a portion of which product includes microcapsules of an indicator substance which is released to indicate a state of wear has been reached. The microencapsulated indicator substance may be a fragrance or a colorant. The indicating portion or zone may be a layer or a thin sheet of microcapsules in rubber or in the polymeric material making up the body of the product. There may be more than one indicating layer or zone in the product. The various zones may contain different fragrances or colorants, which may provide progressive indication of the state of wear.

A polymeric product with at least one surface subject to wear or abrasion, at least a portion of which product includes microcapsules of an indicator substance which is released to indicate a state of wear has been reached. The microencapsulated indicator substance may be a fragrance or a colorant. The indicating portion or zone may be a layer or a thin sheet of microcapsules in rubber or in the polymeric material making up the body of the product. There may be more than one indicating layer or zone in the product. The various zones may contain different fragrances or colorants, which may provide progressive indication of the state of wear.

A conductive anti-static drive belt includes a first or drive surface having a plurality of tooth formations therein with a land portion formed between each adjacent pair of teeth. The drive surface is provided by a fabric layer having electrically conductive properties. The fabric layer has an interior surface opposite the drive surface. A second surface is provided opposite the drive surface. The second surface is provided by a polymeric body that conforms to and is mated with the interior surface of the fabric layer. At least one tensile reinforcement member is at least partially encased in the polymeric body and extends along the interior surface of the fabric C layer at each land portion throughout a loop formed by the belt. A conductive strand is at least partially encased in the polymeric body and extends along the interior surface of the fabric layer at each land portion.

A conductive anti-static drive belt includes a first or drive surface having a plurality of tooth formations therein with a land portion formed between each adjacent pair of teeth. The drive surface is provided by a fabric layer having electrically conductive properties. The fabric layer has an interior surface opposite the drive surface. A second surface is provided opposite the drive surface. The second surface is provided by a polymeric body that conforms to and is mated with the interior surface of the fabric layer. At least one tensile reinforcement member is at least partially encased in the polymeric body and extends along the interior surface of the fabric C layer at each land portion throughout a loop formed by the belt. A conductive strand is at least partially encased in the polymeric body and extends along the interior surface of the fabric layer at each land portion.

The invention relates to an article comprising a main body (6, 7, 8) that consists of a polymer material having elastic properties, particularly an air spring bellows (2), a metal-rubber element or a vibration damper. In order for fire-retardant properties to be improved, the article is provided, partially or fully, with a cover (9) formed from at least one flat textile structure and/or at least one three-dimensional textile structure and/or at least one shrink film. The cover can be fire-retardant itself or can be equipped to be fire-retardant.

A transport, driving or pressing belt, comprising at least one belt material having a lower and an upper face limited by two longitudinal edges and two transverse edges running obliquely with respect to the main extension direction of the belt, the belt material being closed and the longitudinal edges being folded down, and a method for manufacturing a transport, driving or pressing belt. To ensure high tensile strength over the complete belt length and avoid an edge tearing of the first belt material at the longitudinal edges, the transverse edges of a first belt material lie against each other in abutting relationship, and a second belt material is arranged centrically on the first belt material at least in the region of the transverse edges. The second belt material here nearly covers a width of 50% of the first belt material and is centrically glued with the first belt material.

A plate link chain for a continuously variable transmission in a motor vehicle. The chain includes longer and shorter chain links that include longer and shorter link plates that are coupled to each other by pairs of rocker pressure pieces. The plate link chain includes only two types of link plates, namely shorter link plates and longer link plates.

In a metal belt for a continuously variable transmission having a saddle face of a metal element and a rocking edge positioned at substantially the same position in the radial direction, a rocking edge is provided at a radially outer end of a front face of a body part, the rocking edge being a fulcrum for pitching of the metal element of the metal belt which is wound around a drive pulley and a driven pulley and transmits a driving force between the two pulleys, and a recess is provided extending from a front face of a neck part to a front face of the body part. Thus, it is possible to minimize a space created between the front and rear metal elements and reduce the bending stress applied to the metal elements, thereby minimizing degradation of the power transmission efficiency.

A V-ribbed belt in which a friction transmission surface of a compression rubber layer is coated with a knit fabric is provided. The compression rubber layer is formed of the cured product of a rubber composition containing an ethylene-?-olefin elastomer and carbon black wherein the carbon black contains a soft carbon having a primary particle diameter of at least 40 nm and a hard carbon having a primary particle diameter of less than 40 nm. The ratio between the number of particles of the soft carbon and hard carbon is former/latter=3/97 to 25/75.

A V-ribbed belt in which a friction transmission surface of a compression rubber layer is coated with a knit fabric is provided. The compression rubber layer is formed of the cured product of a rubber composition containing an ethylene-?-olefin elastomer and carbon black wherein the carbon black contains a soft carbon having a primary particle diameter of at least 40 nm and a hard carbon having a primary particle diameter of less than 40 nm. The ratio between the number of particles of the soft carbon and hard carbon is former/latter=3/97 to 25/75.