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Abstract
The article presents the potential impact of flat drive and transport belts on people’s safety during a fire. The analysis distinguished belts made of classically used fabric–rubber composite materials reinforced with cord and currently used multilayer polymer composites. Moreover, the products’ multilayers during the thermal decomposition and combustion can be a source of emissions for unpredictable and toxic substances with different concentrations and compositions. In the evaluation of the compared belts, a testing methodology was used to determine the toxicometric indicators (WLC50SM) on the basis of which it was possible to determine the toxicity of thermal decomposition and combustion products in agreement with the standards in force in several countries of the EU and Russia. The analysis was carried out on the basis of the registration of emissions of chemical compounds during the thermal decomposition and combustion of polymer materials at three different temperatures. Moreover, the degradation kinetics of the polymeric belts by using the thermogravimetric (TGA) technique was evaluated. Test results have shown that products of thermal decomposition resulting from the neoprene (NE22), leder leder (LL2), thermoplastic connection (TC), and extra high top cower (XH) belts can be characterized as moderately toxic or toxic. Their toxicity significantly increases with the increasing temperature of thermal decomposition or combustion, especially above 450 °C. The results showed that the belts made of several layers of polyamide can be considered the least toxic in fire conditions. The TGA results showed that NBR/PA/PA/NBR belt made with two layers of polyamide and the acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber has the highest thermal stability in comparison to other belts.
Highlights
Flat belts are used in machines and devices fulfilling both drive and transport function [1,2,3].Classic and commonly used draw belts were made in the form of fabric–rubber composites reinforced with a cord [4,5]
Flat drive and transport belts made of composites can become a serious toxic hazard during a fire
The emission of toxic products of thermal decomposition and combustion can cause a lethal hazard during a fire in places where transmission gears and conveyor belts are used
Summary
Flat belts are used in machines and devices fulfilling both drive and transport function [1,2,3].Classic and commonly used draw belts were made in the form of fabric–rubber composites reinforced with a cord [4,5]. Due to the development of construction materials, they are made of various polymers-based composites, e.g., poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), polyamide (PA), polyurethane. The literature presents the results of tests of the mechanical properties of uniform flat belts [7,9] as well as tests that take into account the influence of machining (perforation) [10]. During the operation of cable gears as a result of damage to machine components or external factors, the belts are exposed to high temperature [11,12]. The causes of ignition of belts may be mechanical damage to machine elements [14,15], gearbox pollution [16], or external factors affecting high temperature [17]
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