Benefits of Stainless Steel Roller Chains

Roller chains are used in a variety of industries such as automotive products and for agricultural chains and sprockets. They’re typically used to run FRAS belts and various other industrial machinery.

An industrial chain may have single or multiple strands depending on the application and may be made in a variety of materials that include nylon, polypropylene, hardened steel and stainless steel or a combination of materials. The actual material chosen will depend on a number of factors such as noise and heat generation, horsepower transmission influence, environmental conditions and cost. In many instances, however, a stainless steel roller chain will be the best choice.

Where Stainless Steel Roller Chains are Better

A stainless steel roller chain has several advantages that make it suitable for use in specific situations:

• It’s very resistant to corrosion and is often preferred for use in acidic or alkaline environments where other materials will deteriorate.
• The material can withstand harsh conditions and is very easy to clean. For this reason, it’s often used in food processing or pharmaceutical industries where hygiene and cleanliness are essential.
• Stainless steel can withstand extreme temperatures — up to 400�?� Celsius and down to -20�?� Celsius — and will still operate effectively without cracking, unlike many other materials.
• It has low magnetic permeability and so is suitable for applications that require the use of materials that aren’t easily magnetised (often for medical or electronic equipment).
• Although not as strong as carbon steel and so may wear more quickly, stainless steel roller chains can be heat treated and pre-stressed. This will give even better temperature resistance and will prevent stretching and premature breakage.

Taking Care to Choose Correctly

Although stainless steel roller chains are perfect for many applications, particularly in the food, medical and chemical industries, they may not always be the best choice. They may wear more quickly than carbon steel versions unless they are heat treated. They can also retain more heat, which reduces the tensile strength and resistance to wear.

The wear life of a roller chain needs to be known so future breakages and production downtime can be avoided. Since this can be affected by the quality of the product and the materials used, it’s always important to choose the best quality from reputable suppliers. You should also be aware of coding standards, which indicate the size of the chain and its characteristics (whether, for example, lightweight or a heavy-duty version).

At Industrial & Automotive Parts, we’re renowned industrial chain suppliers in addition to everything else we provide. Consequently, we have a wide range of roller chains of varying types, sizes and materials such as agricultural chain. We can give you all the advice you need and can recommend the ideal roller chain for your particular application.

In many cases, a stainless steel roller chain will be the best option. If it’s not, we’ll tell you what is because we want you to have the best equipment for your needs so you can operate at peak efficiency.