Urethane Belting

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.