Maintenance Methods for Chains Made of Different Materials

　　Chains made from different materials serve different purposes, and their maintenance methods vary accordingly.

　　Self-lubricating chains: Certain components are made from sintered metal impregnated with lubricant, giving these chains excellent wear and corrosion resistance, maintenance-free operation, and a long service life. They are widely used in applications subject to high loads, requiring superior wear resistance, and where frequent maintenance is impractical—such as automated production lines in the food industry, high‑end racing bicycles, and low‑maintenance, high‑precision drive systems.

　　O-ring chain: An O‑ring seal is installed between the inner and outer plates of the roller chain to prevent dust ingress and grease leakage at the hinges. The chain undergoes rigorous pre‑lubrication. Thanks to its exceptionally robust components and reliable lubrication, it is suitable for open‑type drives such as those used in motorcycles.

　　Stainless steel chain: Made of stainless steel, this type of chain is suitable for use in the food industry and in environments subject to chemical or pharmaceutical corrosion; it can also be employed in high- and low-temperature applications.

　　Nickel‑plated chains, galvanized chains, and chrome‑plated chains: All chains made from carbon steel can undergo surface treatment. After nickel plating, zinc plating, or chrome plating, the parts are suitable for outdoor use in environments exposed to rainwater erosion; however, they do not provide protection against corrosion by concentrated chemical solutions.

　　Agricultural Machinery Chain: Agricultural machinery chains are suitable for field‑operating equipment such as walk‑behind tractors, threshers, and combine harvesters. These chains must be cost‑effective while withstanding impact and resisting wear; moreover, they should be lubricated with grease or equipped with an automatic lubrication system.

　　High‑strength chain: a specially engineered roller chain that, through optimized link‑plate geometry, thickened link plates, precision‑stamped pin holes, and heat‑treated pins, achieves a 15–30% increase in tensile strength while maintaining excellent impact and fatigue performance.

　　Side‑bend chain: This type of chain features relatively large hinge and link‑plate clearances, providing high flexibility and making it suitable for curved‑path drives and conveying applications.

　　Escalator chain: Used in escalators and moving walkways. Given the long operating hours, stringent safety requirements, and smooth operation of escalators, this step chain must meet specified minimum ultimate tensile loads, as well as tolerances for the total length deviation of a matched pair of chains and for the step pitch deviation.

　　Motorcycle chains: Classified by function, they fall into two types—roller chains and bushing chains. By their application on the motorcycle, they are further divided into in‑engine and out‑of‑engine uses. Chains used inside the engine are predominantly of the bushing‑chain design, while those mounted externally to drive the rear wheel are typically roller chains. Special attention should be paid to ensuring adequate fatigue performance for these chains.