Urethane Belting
Urethane belts are made from the thermoplastic urethane. High-quality urethane
belts have an average life-span of 4-6 years, but can last much longer depending
on usage and environmental conditions. Urethane belts can be used for a wide
variety of applications including food conveyors, packaging equipment, dental
drills, brake rollers, chemical mixers, computer printers, HVAC equipment and
much more.
Temperature has a definite effect on the resiliency of urethane belts. Because
it is a thermoplastic, urethane's physical properties diminish the higher
the temperature. This means that a urethane belt's resiliency at 120°F
(49°C) decreases to roughly 70% of it's resiliency at room temperature,
and drops to about 10% at 150°F (66°C). As temperature decreases, urethane
becomes more brittle. When urethane belts are left overnight in low temperatures,
they can take a set which can cause welds to shear apart.
Cleaning urethane belts with Oxine (Chlorine Dioxide) or isopropyl alcohol
(rubbing alcohol) is acceptable without prolonged exposure or high concentrations
which can damage the urethane. Urethane belts may also be washed in lukewarm
water with regular liquid dishwashing soap. Frequent washing is not recommended
for more hygroscopic urethane belts as it can cause damage over time especially
with hot water temperatures. Urethane Belts should not be sanitized with bleach
because it causes them to crack and lose elasticity.