Can polyamide (PA) rods be used in a wet environment?
People often ask if Polyamide (PA) rods can be used in a wet environment. The answer is no, it is not the best material for a wet environment, but in today’s blog, I will briefly explain why.
Polyamide (PA) material is hygroscopic
Polyamide (PA) is a very tough and abrasion-resistant plastic material. It is often used for rods in demanding, heavy load or abrasive applications in order to extend the life of the conveyor belt. The disadvantage of PA is that it is hygroscopic (attracting water) and absorption of water will make the material soften and expand. When this happens, rods usually lengthen. A rod may stretch so much that its length exceeds the width of the belt causing the rod to protrude. As a result of this, rods can be caught in the installation and create significant damage. In many cases, this can be prevented by inserting the rods from both sides and leaving space in-between. They can then extend freely without protruding from the belt. Depending on the application, there are other rod materials which can be chosen, for example PP, PE, PBT or POM.
If you have any further questions regarding extending rods, please don’t hesitate to give us a call or leave a comment below.
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