Conti advances alternative to chloroprene rubber in drive belts

Hanover, Germany – Continental AG is presenting its latest synthetic rubber drive belt which it says is based on a new sustainable compound which will help the German group further advance climate protection. 

Making its debut at the Automechanika trade show in Frankfurt on 13-17 Sept, the new timing belt’s profile side is made not from polychloroprene rubber, which is conventionally used for the product.

Instead, Conti said in a 31 Aug statement, a new and patented synthetic rubber compound has been used that has “a significantly lower global warming potential.”

The statement did not provide further details on what the new compound includes, but said that compared to polychloroprene, it generates an around 50% smaller carbon footprint – from manufacture to the disposal of the belt.

Furthermore, the belt’s tension members and fabric are made with organic fibres and biopolymers from renewable raw materials, Conti explained.

The product also features technical improvements, such as enabling higher power transmission and offering improved cold and heat resistance compared to its predecessors.

According to Conti the new timing belt is ready for series production and is slated for global launch by mid-2023.