A steel cord for the reinforcement of elastomer products such as elevator belts, conveyor belts, synchronous or timing belts or hoses or tyres is presented. The steel cord comprises strands and monofilaments made of steel filaments. The strands themselves are also made of steel filaments twisted together. The strands form the outer layer of the steel cord. The monofilaments are twisted into the cord with the same lay length and direction as the strands and are positioned in the valleys between the strands on the radial outer side of the steel cord. The steel cord has the advantage that it has a better fill factor and a rounder aspect. Furthermore the monofilaments may act as an early wear indicator of the elastomer product.

A steel cord for the reinforcement of elastomer products such as elevator belts, conveyor belts, synchronous or timing belts or hoses or tyres is presented. The steel cord comprises strands and monofilaments made of steel filaments. The strands themselves are also made of steel filaments twisted together. The strands form the outer layer of the steel cord. The monofilaments are twisted into the cord with the same lay length and direction as the strands and are positioned in the valleys between the strands on the radial outer side of the steel cord. The steel cord has the advantage that it has a better fill factor and a rounder aspect. Furthermore the monofilaments may act as an early wear indicator of the elastomer product.

A steel wire has a microstructure that is completely ferritic, a mixture of ferrite and cementite or a mixture of ferrite and pearlite and has a weight content of carbon C such that C<0.05% and a weight content of chromium Cr such that Cr<12%. The process for drawing the wire comprises: at least one first uninterrupted series of steps of drawing the wire from a diameter D to a diameter d, at least one second uninterrupted series of steps of drawing the wire of diameter d to a diameter d, and one or more intermediate steps between the first and second uninterrupted series of steps of drawing the wire, the wire having a temperature less than or equal to 300 C. during the or each intermediate step.

A steel wire has a microstructure that is completely ferritic, a mixture of ferrite and cementite or a mixture of ferrite and pearlite and has a weight content of carbon C such that C<0.05% and a weight content of chromium Cr such that Cr<12%. The process for drawing the wire comprises: at least one first uninterrupted series of steps of drawing the wire from a diameter D to a diameter d, at least one second uninterrupted series of steps of drawing the wire of diameter d to a diameter d, and one or more intermediate steps between the first and second uninterrupted series of steps of drawing the wire, the wire having a temperature less than or equal to 300 C. during the or each intermediate step.

A motor vehicle tire is reinforced by at least one carbon steel band that has a very low carbon content and high strength in the work-hardened state The carbon steel comprises (% by weight) between 0.05% and 0.4% of carbon, between 0.5% and 4% of manganese, between 0.1% and 2.5% of silicon, optionally (i) less than 1.5% of aluminium, (ii) less than 0.5% of each of the metals boron, chromium, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, nickel, niobium, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, and zirconium, and (iii) less than 0.05% of each of the elements phosphorus, sulfur, nitrogen, or rare earth, and the rest is made up of iron and inevitable impurities resulting from the smelting. The microstructure of the work-hardened carbon steel is mainly martensitic or ferritic-martensitic. The strength, denoted Rm, of the strip is greater than 1200 MPa and its elongation at break, denoted At, is between 1% and 5%.

A motor vehicle tire is reinforced by at least one carbon steel band that has a very low carbon content and high strength in the work-hardened state The carbon steel comprises (% by weight) between 0.05% and 0.4% of carbon, between 0.5% and 4% of manganese, between 0.1% and 2.5% of silicon, optionally (i) less than 1.5% of aluminium, (ii) less than 0.5% of each of the metals boron, chromium, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, nickel, niobium, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, and zirconium, and (iii) less than 0.05% of each of the elements phosphorus, sulfur, nitrogen, or rare earth, and the rest is made up of iron and inevitable impurities resulting from the smelting. The microstructure of the work-hardened carbon steel is mainly martensitic or ferritic-martensitic. The strength, denoted Rm, of the strip is greater than 1200 MPa and its elongation at break, denoted At, is between 1% and 5%.

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 steel cord for the reinforcement of elastomer products such as elevator belts, conveyor belts, synchronous or timing belts or hoses or tyres is presented. The steel cord comprises strands and monofilaments made of steel filaments. The strands themselves are also made of steel filaments twisted together. The strands form the outer layer of the steel cord. The monofilaments are twisted into the cord with the same lay length and direction as the strands and are positioned in the valleys between the strands on the radial outer side of the steel cord. The steel cord has the advantage that it has a better fill factor and a rounder aspect. Furthermore the monofilaments may act as an early wear indicator of the elastomer product.

A steel cord for the reinforcement of elastomer products such as elevator belts, conveyor belts, synchronous or timing belts or hoses or tyres is presented. The steel cord comprises strands and monofilaments made of steel filaments. The strands themselves are also made of steel filaments twisted together. The strands form the outer layer of the steel cord. The monofilaments are twisted into the cord with the same lay length and direction as the strands and are positioned in the valleys between the strands on the radial outer side of the steel cord. The steel cord has the advantage that it has a better fill factor and a rounder aspect. Furthermore the monofilaments may act as an early wear indicator of the elastomer product.