Power transmission belt
A power transmission belt or hose or other dynamic article with an elastomeric body comprising a rubber composition that includes an ionomeric polymer additive, such as an ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer or a butyl ionomer. The rubber body exhibits improved crack growth resistance over the same body composition without the ionomer additive.
1. A power transmission belt comprising an elastomeric belt body, said body comprising a rubber composition comprising an ionomeric polymer additive; wherein said ionomeric polymer additive comprises polyethylene-methacrylic acid random copolymer wherein said polyethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer has at least a portion of its acid groups neutralized.
2. The belt of claim 1 wherein said ionomeric polymer additive is present in said rubber composition at a concentration of up to 50 phr.
3. A power transmission belt comprising an elastomeric body, said body comprising a rubber composition comprising an ionomeric polymer additive;
wherein said ionomeric polymer additive comprises polyethylene-methacrylic acid random copolymer with at least a portion of its acid groups neutralized;
and wherein said ionomeric polymer additive is present in said rubber composition at a concentration of up to 50 phr.
4. A method of increasing crack growth resistance in power transmission belts comprising a rubber body subject to flexing in use comprising:
adding an ionomeric polymer additive to a rubber composition used to form said rubber body;
wherein said ionomeric polymer additive comprises polyethylene-methacrylic acid random copolymer with at least a portion of its acid groups neutralized.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said polyethylene-methacrylic acid random copolymer is present in said rubber composition at a concentration of about 4 phr to about 8 phr.