Dear Shri Rakesh Jaiswal,

You can think of using Stainless Steel of appropriate grade / composition, suitably heat treated for the components which are getting worn out. There are many grades of stainless steel with varying composition or added elements.

While changing the material; the components may need slight adjustment in dimensions if there is difference in strength and hardness, which can be achieved for SS, compared to the present materials.

Refer reputed chain manufacturers for specific information and solution.

Regards,

Ishwar G Mulani.

Author of Book : Engineering Science and Application Design for Belt Conveyor.

Advisor / Consultant for Bulk Material Handling System & Issues.

Email : parimul@pn2.vsnl.net.in

Tel.: 0091 (0)20 5882916 ■

In a similar application in a pellet plant division of a major steel mill, we have very good results with our technology.

In order to prevent three body abrasive wear we redesigned the chain : bushes in a special treated manganese steel alloy

shafts in 42CrMo4 with adapted heat treatment

Based on your drawing and specifications we will send you more technical details ■

I would think carefully before using 304 or 316 stainless steel for chains in elevators. Stainless steel round link chain used in a bucket elevator I know of had a very short life due to wear. ■

It is indeed worthy of note that 304/316 stainless steels are less abrasion resistant than carbon steels. ■

The query is the chain corrosion and consequent failure / short life. As all of you know, when handling corrosive material, it corrodes the chain surface. The corroded surface is not capable to withstand the wear and it gets worn out. Thus the fast wear of chain.

So, simply wear resistant material will not suit. Firstly it needs to be corrosion resistant and then wear resistant.

On this ground possibly, carbon steel may not suit (refer metallurgist).

Two decades back we had imported chain for fertiliser application from very famous name in USA with some components of heat-treated SS, and as I know it worked. This is the background of my reply.

However, I have already stated that consider / examine the opinion of chain manufacturers instead of going by my information alone.

Regards,

Ishwar G Mulani.

Author of Book : Engineering Science and Application Design for Belt Conveyor.

Email : parimul@pn2.vsnl.net.in

Tel.: 0091 (0)20 5882916 ■

To those working in materials handling using chains the problems of acclerated wear due to corrosion are well known. Chains based on hardened carbon and carbon/alloy steels can withstand mechanical wear but can suffer badly from the effects of corrosion. Equally, 304/316 stainless steel components can resist corrosive attack but are susceptable to mechanical wear.

It is therefore essential to select the correct material when experiencing the combined effects of wear and corrosion. The physical design of the chain and its contact surfaces is also important in obtaining optimum life. ■

After studying carefully the different replies, we are pleased to inform you about the results with our technology.

Our experiences in corrosive environment (dredging in sea water and applications in corrosive environment ) show following solutions :

corrosion on the shafts : we recommend a steel quality adapted for nitriding and special corrosion protection treatment (up to 750 hours salt spray test values)

hardness : HV 900

bushes : special manganese steel with work hardening

If we have to make a choice between corrosion and "three body wear", then there are not many solutions.

When taking stainless steel there will be premature wear by hard abrasive particles between shaft and bushes.

When taking our shafts with corrosion protection combined with special manganese steel bushes, there will only be a corrosion problem on the bushes ,and the wear problem is solved.

Our experiences over 15 years prove that it works ■

Our company having lot ofexperience in wear problems can certainly solve it.

But we need full drawing of it item.

Please check our home page www.danalco.dk

and contact us.

dhamu chodavarapu

denmark ■

To those who want to see how we lubricate chain please post your email address

Best regards, ■