Fabric conveyor belts

Fabric Conveyor Belts

Fabric conveyor belts are essential in various industries, designed to meet specific requirements, such as durability and flexibility. According to recent Google searches, these belts are composed of textile materials that can offer high resistance against wear, impact, and moisture, making them suitable for a variety of applications.

Trellex Textile Conveyor Belts

For more information, please visit our website.

Reinforcement Properties

Composed of multiple layers of synthetic fabrics, these belts ensure low elongation (1 to 3.5%) and strong adhesion to rubber. The lengthwise threads (warp) utilize polyester, while polyamide is used in the crosswise (weft) sections.

This plain-woven structure guarantees an excellent tensile strength-to-weight ratio, remarkable flexibility, and impressive troughing properties, coupled with a high resistance to impacts and chemicals.

Other thread materials and weaves can be provided upon request.

Cover Grades

Various high-quality rubber cover grades are available, showing exceptional resistance to abrasion, shearing, and impact. Selecting the appropriate belt according to the application's requirements leads to reduced waste, assisting in the pursuit of sustainability.

Your choice of cover grade is dictated by the intended application, which will also influence the belt's working life.

Wear-resistant Options

Available in grades X, Y, and W, these options are optimal for heavy-wear contexts, including the transport of bulky, sharp materials like abrasive rocks. High-quality cover grades are advisable for optimum protection of the belt carcass.

Heat-resistant Features

Specific grades are tailored for high-temperature applications (T120 and T200), suitable for materials such as clinker, coke, foundry sand, and slag. These belts can transport materials at continuous temperatures reaching 190 °C, with peaks up to 200 °C.

Flame-resistant Capabilities

Available in configurations that meet safety categories for both above-ground and underground operations, flame-resistant belts provide an additional layer of safety.

Contact your Metso expert for tailored advice regarding the best choice of belt and cover grade for your operation.

Application of Technical Textiles: Conveyor Belts

History of Conveyor Belts

Primitive conveyor belts appeared as early as the 19th century. Thomas Robins' inventions led to a conveyor belt designed for transporting coal, ores, and other products. Later developments included the production of steel conveyor belts by Sandvik, and Richard Sutcliffe's invention of the first coal mine conveyor belts, which transformed the mining industry.

The original design was heavily influenced by mining requirements, establishing a trend that would inspire improvements across various industries over the years. As the need for increased tensile properties and abrasion resistance evolved, manufacturers worked closely with users to enhance the durability and efficiency of conveyor belts.

Basic Properties Required

Conveyor belts must fulfill differing requirements based on their specific applications, including:

• High strength and flexibility
• Low extension under service
• Resistance to abrasion
• Impact and tearing resistance
• Moisture, oil, and chemical resistance
• Temperature resistance
• Fire resistance

Besides these properties, they should also be hygienically safe, exhibit good adhesion among plies, minimize electrostatic charges, and be cost-effective.

Conveyor Belt Construction

Fabric conveyor belts typically contain three primary components:

1. Carcass
2. Skims
3. Covers (carry cover and pulley cover)

Carcass

The reinforcement inside a conveyor belt, known as the carcass, is vital for:

• Providing the required tensile strength to move loaded materials.
• Absorbing impact from materials being loaded.
• Supporting bulk and lateral stiffness.
• Holding bolts/fixings securely.

Primary Belt Materials

Conveyor belts integrate several materials, including:

• Aramid: Excellent impact resistance and durability.
• Cotton / Canvas: Heavy-duty canvas or cotton weaves.
• Rubber: Quality synthetic rubber safeguards the belt's components.
• Nylon: A robust general-purpose fabric that withstands pressure.
• Polyester: Known for its high tensile strength and chemical resistance.

Skims

Skims are crucial for internal adhesion, enhancing impact resistance while significantly influencing load support and trough-ability. Improper skims can negatively affect overall belt performance.

Covers

Covers protect the base carcass and extend service life while providing beneficial properties, including:

• Texture for friction enhancement
• Improved cleanability
• Fire, oil, and chemical resistance

Challenges Faced by Fabric Conveyor Belts

Common challenges include:

• Width and speed of the conveyor belt
• Strength and versatility

Solutions such as increasing ply count tend to reinforce strength but might lead to stiffness and tracking issues. Alternatively, new textile-reinforcing designs can handle higher loads while improving belt flexibility.

SPLICING OF THE CONVEYOR BELT

Sealing the belt is crucial, as splicing often represents the weakest point. The V-butt splice is conventional, but alternative designs, like the single lap joint splice, can significantly enhance splice strength, minimizing the risk of failure.

Applications

Fabric conveyor belts find diverse applications, including:

• General-purpose belting for various commercial needs.
• Agricultural and construction belts for specific industry requirements.
• Food processing belts designed to meet strict safety standards.
• Custom conveyor belts for specialty applications.

Conclusion

When compared to steel reinforcement, fabric materials offer superiority in flexibility and energy efficiency. The appropriate choice of fiber and weave type directly influences the performance of conveyor belts, establishing them as essential components in modern material handling.