The Technical Truth About Belt Tensioners: Plastic vs. Steel Tensioner Pulleys - How Important Is Performance?
The Technical Truth About Belt Tensioners: Plastic vs. Steel Tensioner Pulleys - How Important Is Performance?
The Technical Truth About Belt Tensioners: Plastic vs. Steel Tensioner Pulleys - How Important Is Performance?
Steel Pulleys
Metal deflects dirt and grit particles in high contamination environments to protect belt performance. Metal resists abrasion to maintain proper belt alignment. The thermal properties of steel dissipate and distribute heat more evenly and efficiently to protect bearings longer. Bearings do not distort significantly when pressed into a steel pulley. Bearings that maintain correct roundness last longer.
Plastic Pulleys
Dirt and grit embed in the plastic surface and act like sandpaper on the backside of the belt, leading to early belt failure. Plastic is less abrasion resistant. Abrasion can lead to belt misalignment and can even cause a belt to fly off the drive. Plastic retains heat longer because it acts as an insulator rather than a conductor. As heat increases, the bearings essentially cook and degrade performance further. Bearings can distort during the molding process as the plastic shrinks around the bearing. Out-of-round bearings have a shorter operating life. Some manufacturers specify higher tolerances for bearing grease to ensure longer-lasting pulley performance.
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