For several years we have woven textiles (belts) to operate at high temperatures and initially these were used almost exclusively in the aluminium extrusion industry as conveyor belts, slat-top covers and roller sleeves. A natural progression from this was to extend the use of high temperature woven textiles (belts) into glass manufacturing and as well as the existing products such as Triton in various forms, new products are now available woven from PBO, one of a family of sophisticated fibres perhaps better known for its use in such applications as personal body armour.
Triton
is a fabric woven from a blend of aramid and pan/carbon fibres and in loom
state can withstand contact temperatures of around 450ºC. As a conveyor belt it
is used on applications involving the conveying of glass items to the Lehr
after some initial cooling has taken place. It is also woven in tubular form
where it is used, for example, for covering tongs for lifting hot products,
especially in the hand-made glass & crystal type of application. It is also
supplied with an impregnation of an inorganic, environmentally benign, solution
capable of withstanding temperatures well in excess of 600ºC., thus increasing
the contact temperature capabilities of Triton to around 500ºC. In this
semi-rigid form it is used as a facing material on such applications as
push-bars.
PBO (polybenzoxazole) yarn has a temperature resistance well in excess of that of aramid yarns and will not start to decompose until an air temperature of 650ºC is reached. With a light impregnation such as that used for Triton, it is used for such applications as wipe-out arms, guide bars and, when woven in tubular form, as sleeves for metal rollers. It is also supplied as a conveyor belt where it can be used for carrying pressed glass items.
Other specialised applications that can be catered for include scoop liners in glass bulb production and tractor pads in glass tube production. PBO is also in use as a direct replacement for asbestos pads on a hand-drawn glass rod and tubing rig.
