Importance

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Abstract

A seamless endless belt formed of a polyether-ether-ketone resin subjected to a specific simultaneous inflation-and-biaxially stretching treatment followed by an optional specific thermosetting/relaxation treatment as well as a process for manufacturing same is disclosed. This belt is manufactured by biaxially stretching a tube of a polyether-ether-ketone resin while inflating the tube at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the resin but below the melting point of the resin, optionally and preferably thermosetting the stretched tube at 150.degree.-320.degree.C. while relaxing it at a rate of relaxation of 5-30% and then cutting the resultant tube in round slices. The stretched tube may be laminated with a tube of a thermoplastic polyurethane resin so as to form a laminate tube formed of a polyether-ether-ketone resin in the outer and inner tubes with, interposed therebetween, an intermediate tube of a thermoplastic polyurethane resin. A seamless endless tube is manufactured also from the laminate tube in such manner that the laminate tube is heated above the melting point of the polyurethane resin whereby the outer and inner tubes of the polyether-ether-ketone resin are thermoset while being relaxed and the intermediate tube of the polyurethane is melted and integrally bonded to the outer and inner tubes to form an integrally bonded laminate tube which is cut to form a seamless endless belt. The belt thus obtained is excellent in heat-resistance, dimensional stability at a high temperature and mechanical strength and can be used as a conveyer belt or the like especially in electronic apparatus where the belt moves smoothly without any elongation or contraction, even in severe service.

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First Claim