HIGH-EFFICIENCY BELT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

A high efficiency belt having reduced bending stiffness while maintaining a high coefficient of friction is described herein. In some embodiments, the high efficiency belt includes a backing layer, a rib material layer disposed on the backing layer, and cords embedded within the rib material layer, wherein the coefficient of friction of the high efficiency belt is greater than or equal to 0.03 N/mm times the bending stiffness for belts having a thickness in the range of from 2.6 mm to 4.2 mm. Other features of the high efficiency belt can include a bending stiffness in the range of from about 30 N/mm to about 65 N/mm and an anisotropic modulus of elasticity ratio of between 1.1 and 5.0. Method of manufacturing the high efficiency belt are also described and can include forming sheets of rib material in a manner that provided parallel aligned reinforcement fibers. In some embodiments, the sheet forming method provides a sheet where the reinforcement fibers are aligned in a direction transverse to the direction of rotation of the high efficiency belt.