Roller Chain Operating Temperature

When the chain is exposed to temperatures beyond the recommended operating range, various issues may arise, such as reduced strength, increased wear, deformation, loss of lubrication properties, and potential failure of chain components.

Chain Used at High Temperature may cause

1. Thermal expansion causes deformation leading to tight joint, slackness, and sprocket engagement issues.
2. Formation of oxidation layers causing tight joint and accelerated wear.
3. High-temperature metamorphism or carbonization of lubricating oil causing abnormal lubrication.
   The main ingredients of lubricating oil are hydrocarbons.
   When exposed to high temperatures, the oil carbonizes, forming carbon deposits, and loses its lubricating function (refer to the image below).
   
   
4. (Carbon steel chains) hardness reduced leads to increased wear and decreased strength.
   The high-temperature tempering effect causes a reduction in the hardness of chain components.
   When hardness decreases, the wear resistance and strength also decrease.
   

Chain Used at Low Temperature may cause

1. (Carbon steel chains) fatigue strength reduced due to low-temperature brittleness.
2. Lubricating oil failure or solidification at low temperatures causing tight joint
3. Tight joint caused by frost or snow freezing.
4. Low-temperature contraction causing the chain to shorten, resulting in chain tautened and sprocket engagement issues.

Chain Application Temperature Recommended

Below are the suggested environmental temperatures for MCC chains.
Chains should be used within the recommended temperature range.
Otherwise, regular chain replacements may be necessary.
If there's no alternative and the chain must be used beyond the recommended temperature, it's advised to use specialized high-temperature (or low-temperature) oil to extend the chain's lifespan as much as possible.

Chain type	Ambient Temp Range (Recommended)	Maximum High/Low Temps (Note: allowable load may decrease.)
Standard Steel (Carbon Steel)	-10 °C Up To 150 °C	Lowest -40 °C Highest 250 °C
Stainless Steel	-40 C° Up to 400 °C	Lowest -40 °C Highest 815 °C

When used beyond the applicable environmental temperature, both carbon steel chains and stainless steel chains will experience a reduction in allowable load.
The reduction ratio for carbon steel chains will vary depending on the chain's size.

The Impact of Temperature on Allowable Load for Carbon Steel Chains

Ambient Temp.

Allowable Load (%)

Out of use

100%

75%

50%

Out of use

Up to ANSI 60	Beyond ANSI 80	Double Pitch Chain
- 40°C below
-30°C ~ - 40°C	Out of use	25%	Out of use
-20°C ~ - 30°C	25%	33%	25%
-10°C~ - 20°C	33%	50%	33%
-10°C ~ + 150°C
150°C ~ 200°C
200°C ~ 250°C
Beyond 250°C

Note: High temperature requires the use of high-temperature lubricating oil.