Roller chains can be manufactured from carbon steel, high-strength steel and stainless steel, as well as ceramics and plastic. Carbon steel chains perform well where temperatures are from zero to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. For temperatures from 350 degrees to 500 degrees, carbon steel chains made with a special design to increase internal clearances can be used. Stainless steel roller chain has wider tolerances for heat and cold and may be a good choice if the operating temperature will drop below zero or get hotter than 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
The American National Standards Institute, or ANSI, established a chain numbering system for roller chain. The first number designates the pitch in eighths of an inch. The second number is the type of chain. Normal roller chain is given the number "0" and lightweight chain the number "1." For example, an ANSI standard chain number of 41 tells you that the pitch is 4/8, or 1/2, inch and the chain is lightweight. The number "5" indicates chains that have bushings instead of rollers. An "H" indicates heavyweight chain, and a hyphenated number following the weight code indicates the number of strands in the chain. The number "2" is for double-strand and the number "3" for triple-strand. If your chain is marked 80-2, its pitch is 8/8, or 1 inch. It is normal roller chain with two strands.
Conveyor chain sometimes is made of nickel-plated steel or stainless steel with polyacetyl resin rollers. The chain and rollers resist corrosion, run quietly and wear longer than traditional chain. Self-lubricating plastic sleeves between the bushings and roller pins can reduce maintenance further.
Some conveyors use double-pitch chain, which is chain with a pitch exactly twice the length of standard chains. Pins, bushings and rollers usually have the same dimensions as the corresponding standard chain. Double-pitch chain works well where loads and speeds are relatively low.
Large-pitch roller chain, measured in millimeters instead of inches, may be used as conveyor chain. The sprocket for this type of chain has fewer teeth, and the attachments on the chain are stronger than on normal-pitch chain. Large-pitch chain costs less to purchase, but the chain system tends to create more noise, and the pins and bushings wear out faster than normal-pitch chain.
Chainsaws use modified roller chains with projecting drive links that fit into a groove on the saw bar. The thickness of the drive links where they fit into the groove is called the gauge. The gauge of the guide bar and the chain must match.