Power transmission belt

1. An endless belt comprising an elastomeric main belt body portion and a sheave contact portion and having a load carrier cord embedded in said belt body portion, said cord comprising a plurality of fibers comprising para-aramid and polyvinylpyrrolidone; said fibers comprising from about 7% to about 20% by weight of polyvinylpyrrolidone based on the total weight of said para-aramid; and said cord treated with at least a primer and an adhesive.

2. The endless belt of claim 1 selected from a multi-V-ribbed belt, a V-belt and a toothed belt.

3. The endless belt of claim 1 wherein said para-aramid is poly-p-phenylene terephthalamide.

4. The endless belt of claim 3 wherein said fibers comprise 13% by weight of polyvinylpyrrolidone based on the total weight of said poly-p-phenylene terephthalamide.

5. The endless belt of claim 3 wherein said fibers consist essentially of said poly-p-phenylene terephthalamide and said polyvinylpyrrolidone.

6. The endless belt of claim 3 wherein said elastomeric belt body portion comprises a cured elastomer composition.

7. The endless belt of claim 6 wherein said cured elastomer composition comprises at least one of an elastomer selected from:

a) polyurethane elastomer;

b) polychloroprene elastomer

c) acrylonitrile butadiene elastomer;

d) hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene elastomer;

e) styrene-butadiene elastomer;

f) alkylated chlorosulfonated polyethylene;

g) epichlorohydrin;

h) polybutadiene elastomer,

j) ethylene alpha olefin elastomer; and

k) silicone elastomer.

8. The endless belt of claim 6 wherein said elastomer comprises ethylene alpha olefin elastomer and is at least one selected from:

a) Ethylene propylene copolymer;

b) Ethylene propylene diene terpolymer;

c) Ethylene octene copolymer;

d) Ethylene butene copolymer;

e) Ethylene octene terpolymer; and

f) Ethylene butene terpolymer.

9. The endless belt of claim 1 wherein said load carrying cord further comprises an overcoat or rubber cement.

10. A belt drive comprising the belt of claim 1 trained about at least one driver pulley and one driven pulley.

11. The belt of claim 1 wherein said primer is an epoxy-based or isocyanate-based primer.

12. The belt of claim 11 wherein said second adhesive is an RFL.

13. An endless multi-V-ribbed belt comprising an elastomeric undercord and a sheave contact portion positioned along the inner periphery thereof and a tensile section positioned above the undercord and aligned along the length of the belt, said tensile section comprising at least one load carrying cord, and characterized in that said load carrying cord comprises a plurality of fibers consisting essentially of poly-p-phenylene terephthalamide and polyvinylpyrrolidone, said polyvinylpyrrolidone being present in said fibers in an amount within the range of from about 7% to about 20% by weight based on the total weight of poly-p-phenylene terephthalamide, and said cord treated with at least a first primer treatment and a second adhesive treatment.

14. A method for increasing the flexural fatigue resistance and durability of a power transmission belt comprising a belt body portion and a para-aramid load carrier twisted cord embedded in said belt body portion; comprising:

selecting for the belt's load carrier cord a yarn comprising a fiber of para-aramid and polyvinylpyrrolidone;

first treating said cord with a primer; and

second treating said cord with an adhesive.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said para-aramid is poly-p-phenylene terephthalamide.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

third treating said cord with an overcoat or rubber cement.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein polyvinylpyrrolidone is present in said fibers in an amount of about 13% by weight based on the total weight of said poly-p-phenylene terephthalamide.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

combining four of said yarns to form said load carrier cord.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said combining comprises twisting together said four of said yarns.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

a first twisting of each of said yarns individually in one direction; and

wherein said twisting together of said yarns is in the opposite direction.