Kenaf reinforced rubber for power transmission belts
View Patent ↗An elastomeric composition and a power transmission belt based on the elastomeric composition, wherein the composition includes kenaf fiber.
1. A power transmission belt comprising an elastomeric belt body and a helically wound tensile member embedded in the belt body, said elastomeric belt body comprising a cured elastomeric composition comprising kenaf fiber;
wherein the elastomeric composition comprises a polychloroprene base elastomer; and
wherein the elastomeric composition comprises a second type of fiber, wherein the second type of fiber is short aramid fiber.
2. The belt of claim 1 wherein said kenaf fiber comprises bast fiber with average fiber diameter of about 20 microns.
3. The belt of claim 1 wherein said kenaf fiber is present in the elastomeric composition at a level of 1 to 50 parts per hundred of base elastomer.
4. The belt of claim 2 wherein said kenaf fiber is chopped bast fiber with average fiber length of 1 to 3 mm.
5. The belt of claim 3 wherein said composition further comprises a compatibilizer that aids dispersion or adhesion of the kenaf fiber in the base elastomer.
6. A power transmission belt comprising an elastomeric belt body, a tensile cord, and a sheave contact portion; said elastomeric belt body comprising a cured elastomeric composition comprising kenaf fiber;
wherein the elastomeric composition comprises a polychloroprene base elastomer; and
wherein the elastomeric composition comprises a second type of fiber, wherein the second type of fiber is short aramid fiber.
7. The power transmission belt of claim 6 in the form of a V-belt, a toothed belt, or a multi-V-ribbed belt.
8. The belt of claim 7 wherein said kenaf fiber comprises bast fiber.
9. The belt of claim 8 wherein said kenaf fiber is present in the elastomeric composition at a level of 1 to 50 parts per hundred parts of base elastomer.
10. The belt of claim 9 wherein said kenaf fiber is chopped bast fiber with average fiber length of 1 to 3 mm and with average fiber diameter of about 20 microns.
11. The belt of claim 10 wherein said composition further comprises a compatibilizer that aids dispersion or adhesion of the kenaf fiber in the base elastomer.