A steel filament for twisting into a steel cord for the reinforcement of rubber articles, which contains a steel substrate that is coated with a coating comprising brass. The coating is different in that the amount of iron at the surface is distinctively higher than that prior steel filaments. The coating has an average iron content of 4 or more atomic percent compared to the total of iron, zinc and copper atoms in the layer extending from the surface to a depth of 3 nanometer below the surface. The steel filaments show an improved adhesion retention under hot and humid conditions and in organic cobalt compound containing rubbers as well as rubbers that are substantially free of cobalt. The lifetime of the rubber article is extended.

A steel filament for twisting into a steel cord for the reinforcement of rubber articles, which contains a steel substrate that is coated with a coating comprising brass. The coating is different in that the amount of iron at the surface is distinctively higher than that prior steel filaments. The coating has an average iron content of 4 or more atomic percent compared to the total of iron, zinc and copper atoms in the layer extending from the surface to a depth of 3 nanometer below the surface. The steel filaments show an improved adhesion retention under hot and humid conditions and in organic cobalt compound containing rubbers as well as rubbers that are substantially free of cobalt. The lifetime of the rubber article is extended.

A belt containing steel cords, the steel cords containing strands made of steel filaments wherein the largest diameter filaments are at least intermittently positioned at the radially outer side of the steel cord. Such a configuration can be obtained by using steel cord constructions wherein the thickest filaments are positioned outside of the steel cord which is contrary to the current practice. In a further embodiment the largest diameter filaments fill up some or all of the valleys of the strands at their radially outer side. These monofilaments thus have the same lay length and direction as the strands in the steel cord. The advantage of putting the largest filaments at the outside is that they will break first and thus will be readily detectable by electrical, magnetic or visual means. In this way a belt is provided that can be monitored easier and more conveniently than prior art belts.

A belt containing steel cords, the steel cords containing strands made of steel filaments wherein the largest diameter filaments are at least intermittently positioned at the radially outer side of the steel cord. Such a configuration can be obtained by using steel cord constructions wherein the thickest filaments are positioned outside of the steel cord which is contrary to the current practice. In a further embodiment the largest diameter filaments fill up some or all of the valleys of the strands at their radially outer side. These monofilaments thus have the same lay length and direction as the strands in the steel cord. The advantage of putting the largest filaments at the outside is that they will break first and thus will be readily detectable by electrical, magnetic or visual means. In this way a belt is provided that can be monitored easier and more conveniently than prior art belts.

A wire rope for face shovels or draglines, comprising: a core, said core is made from a plurality of core strands a plurality of outer strands laid on said core, a plurality of separator strands located in the interstices between said core strands and said outer strands, a plastic jacket around said plurality of outer strands, said plurality of separator strands and said core strands, wherein said plurality of separator strands extend from said core strands and in-between each pair of said plurality of outer strands so as to produce and maintain gaps between said pair of said plurality of outer strands; wherein said core strands are compacted, and the gap between said core strands is less than 0.4% of the diameter of the core strand.

A wire rope for face shovels or draglines, comprising: a core, said core is made from a plurality of core strands a plurality of outer strands laid on said core, a plurality of separator strands located in the interstices between said core strands and said outer strands, a plastic jacket around said plurality of outer strands, said plurality of separator strands and said core strands, wherein said plurality of separator strands extend from said core strands and in-between each pair of said plurality of outer strands so as to produce and maintain gaps between said pair of said plurality of outer strands; wherein said core strands are compacted, and the gap between said core strands is less than 0.4% of the diameter of the core strand.

A wire rope (10, 20), comprising: a core (12, 22), a plurality of outer strands (18, 28) and a plurality of separator strands (17, 27) laid on said core (12, 22), and a first plastic jacket (19) around said plurality of outer strands (18, 19) and said plurality of separator strands (17, 27), wherein said plurality of separator strands (17, 27) extend from said core (12, 22) and in-between each pair of said plurality of outer strands (18, 28) so as to produce and maintain gaps between said pair of said plurality of outer strands (18, 28). Plastic impregnation of the wire rope (10, 20) can be ensured due to the separator strands/17, 27).

A wire rope (10, 20), comprising: a core (12, 22), a plurality of outer strands (18, 28) and a plurality of separator strands (17, 27) laid on said core (12, 22), and a first plastic jacket (19) around said plurality of outer strands (18, 19) and said plurality of separator strands (17, 27), wherein said plurality of separator strands (17, 27) extend from said core (12, 22) and in-between each pair of said plurality of outer strands (18, 28) so as to produce and maintain gaps between said pair of said plurality of outer strands (18, 28). Plastic impregnation of the wire rope (10, 20) can be ensured due to the separator strands/17, 27).

A wire strand (10) comprises a plurality of wires (12, 16, 20). The wires comprise a central king wire (12), a first layer (14) of wires (16) arranged around the king wire, and a second layer (18) of wires (20) arranged around the first layer. The king wire is formed of steel having a carbon content of at least 0.3 wt %. Each wire of the first layer is formed of steel having a carbon content which is less than the carbon content of the king wire. Each wire of the second layer is formed of steel having a carbon content which is greater than, or the same as, the carbon content of the wires of the first layer.

A wire strand (10) comprises a plurality of wires (12, 16, 20). The wires comprise a central king wire (12), a first layer (14) of wires (16) arranged around the king wire, and a second layer (18) of wires (20) arranged around the first layer. The king wire is formed of steel having a carbon content of at least 0.3 wt %. Each wire of the first layer is formed of steel having a carbon content which is less than the carbon content of the king wire. Each wire of the second layer is formed of steel having a carbon content which is greater than, or the same as, the carbon content of the wires of the first layer.