INTRODUCTION
As shown in the drawing of this page, ARABELT® is a rubber conveyor belt characterized by only one ply with a special construction named “straight warp”.
This is a special weaving where the longitudinal filaments (warp) are not braided with the transversal ones (weft); furthermore, the connection between warp and weft is assured by a special nylon binder. In this way, both warp and weft are straight, with two main advantages: no elongation due to the weaving of fibres and possibility to connect big warp and weft filaments with each other.
This second aspect guarantees high tensile strength and superior cutting, tearing and impact resistance thanks to the presence of a double weft realized with high tensile nylon filaments.
SPECIAL TEXTILE CONVEYOR BELTS: THE ARAMID FIBER
The advantages of straight warp construction are emphasized by the aramid fiber forming the longitudinal filaments. Aramid is a sintetic fibre whose molecule is a combination between the rigid aromatic structure of polyester and the chain links of polyamide; the result is an aromatic polyamide with higher strength and very low elongation.
These two characteristics are so stunning for a sintetic fibre that aramid is comparable to steel, but with a very important difference: a density more than five times lower. Two other properties make aramid similar to steel: high heat and flame resistance.
Further considerations on the differences between aramid and steel can be found at section “comparative graphics”.