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NEWS U CAN USE
Volume 7, Issue 4
The Pendulum is Swinging
“Plastic vs. Steel Pulleys”
Over the years, the front end accessory drive and power transfer community has gone full circle relative to cost, value and performance arguments of steel vs. plastic pulleys. Elevated raw material costs, rugged environments (especially in emerging markets), under-hood packaging and high temperature environments, extended warranties, and more robust design requirements are swinging the pendulum back to steel.
In addition to these commercial elements now driving steel, the more obvious and historical benefits of steel still prevail such as:
• Superior Heat dissipation with steel.
• Longer bearing life – shorter with plastic due to trapped heat and shrink
distortion.
• Imbedded debris with plastic creating abrasive surfaces and out of
balance conditions.
• Handling and operational damage – chips, cracks, parting lines with
plastic.
