In tests, steel pulleys show less slippage than cast iron pulleys in which range?

Steel pulleys exhibit less slippage than cast iron pulleys primarily due to their superior mechanical properties, including higher strength, rigidity, and wear resistance. The key benefit of using steel over cast iron lies in steel's ability to maintain a greater coefficient of friction, particularly under varying load conditions.

The given range, 2.35 - 2.7, indicates conditions where the interaction between the pulley and the belt allows for optimal performance of steel pulleys when compared to cast iron. This is because as the coefficient of friction increases, the likelihood of slippage diminishes. Steel's more uniform and denser composition can support higher loads and endure greater stresses without compromising performance, making it superior in scenarios that demand reliability and efficiency.

In contrast, ranges outside of 2.35 - 2.7 may not demonstrate the same advantages due to varying conditions affecting the performance of cast iron, such as lower load-bearing capabilities or material degradation. Therefore, it is in the specified range that steel pulleys clearly show their benefits, reinforcing their choice in machinery and mechanical design applications where slippage must be minimized.