Selecting the Right Conveyor Belt Type and Specification
Choose the optimal reinforcement material based on your specific operational requirements. Each material offers unique advantages in strength, flexibility, and environmental resistance, ensuring peak performance in your application.
| Type of Reinforcement Material | Cotton Fiber | Polypropylene (PP) | Nylon (N6) | Nylon (N66) | Polyester (PET) | Fiberglass | Aramid | Steel Wire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elongation at Break (%) | 3–7 | 20–80 | 16–30 | 16–28 | 35–50 | 3–5 | 30 | 1.7–2.5 |
| Dry/Wet Strength Ratio | 110–130 | 100 | 84–92 | 85–90 | 100 | 85–95 | 90–95 | 100 |
| Softening Temperature (°C) | 120°C (turns yellow after 5h) | 140–165 | 180 | 230–235 | 238–240 | — | — | — |
| Melting Temperature (°C) | 150°C (decomposes) | 160–177 | 215–220 | 250–260 | 235–260 | 846 | 500°C (decomposes) | — |
| Heat Resistance | Poor | Poor | Poor | Fair | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Acid Resistance | Resistant to cold dilute acid | Excellent | Resistant to weak acid | Resistant to weak acid | Excellent | Fair | Excellent | Poor |
| Alkali Resistance | Resistant to dilute alkali | Excellent | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Excellent | Good |
| Solvent Resistance | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Excellent | — |
| Elastic Recovery | 74% at 2% elongation | 96–100% at 3% elongation | 98–100% at 3% elongation | 100% at 4% elongation | 95–100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Material Codes, Characteristics, and Applications
| Material Name | Code | Performance Characteristics | Main Conveyed Materials & Working Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton Canvas | CC | Low strength, high moisture absorption, poor corrosion resistance, weak fatigue resistance; belt body is thick and heavy. | Suitable for conveying loose, low-density, and low-abrasion materials such as grain, fiber, wood chips, sand, coal dust, cement, etc. Also used for materials with temperatures not exceeding 150°C. |
| Polyester-Cotton Canvas | TC | Higher strength than cotton canvas; thinner and lighter belt weight. | Similar applications to CC belts, but with improved strength and lighter structure. |
| Nylon Canvas | NN | High strength, good impact resistance, flexibility, and troughability; large elongation during use. | Suitable for conveying heavy and dense materials such as ores of various sizes, high-impact and high-wear materials, as well as general temperature materials carried by CC and TC belts. |
| Polyester Canvas | PP | High modulus, low elongation, high strength, excellent bending and fatigue resistance, resistant to various media, but poor troughability. | Same as NN conveyor belts. |
| Polyester-Nylon Canvas | EP | High modulus, good troughability, excellent bending and fatigue resistance, resistant to chemicals and media. | Same as NN conveyor belts, but with better dimensional stability. |
| High-Modulus Low-Shrinkage Polyester-Nylon Canvas | EP-TNG | 1. Same as EP; 2. Excellent troughability; 3. Superior dimensional stability. | 1. Same as NN conveyor belts; 2. Can transport high-temperature materials (up to 450°C); 3. Suitable for conveyors requiring extremely high dimensional accuracy, can replace steel cord belts. |
| Fiberglass Fabric | GG | High modulus, poor flexibility, low elongation, excellent heat resistance, poor adhesion properties. | 1. Suitable for conveying high-temperature materials; 2. Used where dimensional accuracy is critical; 3. Not suitable for materials with high impact loads. |
| Aramid Fabric | AA | High strength, high modulus, excellent heat resistance, and good dimensional stability. | Suitable for conveying various materials. |
Need help selecting the perfect material for your application?
Consult Our Experts Now →Selection of the Number of Carcass (Reinforcement) Plies
Optimizing belt construction for extended service life and enhanced performance through proper ply configuration and pulley compatibility.
The number of carcass plies in a conveyor belt places strict requirements on the diameter of the pulleys used in the conveyor system. If the pulley diameter is too small, the bending stress on the belt increases when it passes over the pulley. This leads to:
- Greater flexural strain
- Accelerated fatigue wear of the cover rubber
- Increased fatigue of the reinforcement materials, carcass rubber, and cover rubber layers
- Shortened service life of the conveyor belt
Standard Requirements for Pulley Diameter (D)
| Type of Conveyor Belt | Minimum Pulley Diameter Requirement | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton Canvas Belt | D ≥ 80s | mm |
| Nylon Belt | D ≥ 90s | mm |
| EP (Polyester-Nylon) Belt | D ≥ 108s | mm |
| Steel Cord Belt | D ≥ 145s | mm |
Note:
"s" represents the thickness of the carcass or the diameter of the steel cord.
If the pulley diameter is small and cannot be changed, it is recommended to use a higher-strength reinforcement material as the carcass. This allows for fewer fabric plies, reducing bending stress and improving compatibility between the belt and pulley.
General Guidelines:
- The number of carcass plies in a conveyor belt should not exceed 6 layers
- For EP belts, the number of plies should not exceed 5 layers
Get professional guidance on optimal ply configuration for your system
Request Technical Support →Selection of Cover Rubber Types and Thickness
Maximize belt longevity by selecting the appropriate cover rubber that matches your operational conditions and material characteristics.
Since the service life of a conveyor belt is closely related to its cover rubber, large-area wear, aging, or damage to the cover rubber signals the end of the belt's useful life. Therefore, selecting the appropriate type and thickness of cover rubber ensures that the cover rubber and carcass have comparable service lives, maximizing the belt's value and performance efficiency.
Types and Applications of Cover Rubber
| Type | Application |
|---|---|
| Flame Resistant | Used for conveying materials with potential fire hazards, or in working environments where the conveyor belt is difficult to access. |
| General Purpose | For materials with low abrasion, such as coal, grain, cement, sand, and coke. |
| Wear Resistant | For conveying materials such as ore, limestone, coke, and slag. |
| Tear Resistant | Suitable for conveying heavy ores, strongly impacting ores, and crushed glass. |
| Heat / High Temperature Resistant | Used for conveying cement clinker, sintered ore, and other materials at high temperatures. |
| Oil Resistant | Suitable for transporting pine wood, food, and items with oily or greasy surfaces. |
| Acid and Alkali Resistant | For conveying materials such as fertilizer and lime. |
| Cold Resistant | Used for conveying low-temperature materials or in cold and freezing regions. |
| Heat and Wear Resistant | Designed for conveying large quantities of high-temperature materials and for reversible operating conditions. |
Unsure which cover rubber type suits your materials best?
Get Expert Recommendations →Selection of Rubber Cover Thickness
Achieve optimal wear protection and operational efficiency by matching cover thickness to your material characteristics and operating conditions.
Recommended Rubber Cover Thickness (Unit: mm)
| Wear Condition | Slight Wear | General Wear | Heavy Wear | Extreme Wear / High Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representative Materials | Grain, ash powder, fiber chips, cement | Sand, coal, salt, etc. | Limestone, gravel, coke, low-temperature sintered ore | Ore, slag, crushed glass |
| Operating Cycle / Particle Size (mm) — Top Cover Thickness (mm) | ||||
| ≤1 mm | 1.5–3 | 3–4.5 | 4.5–6.0 | 4.0–6.0 / 6.0–8.0 / 8.0–10.0 |
| 1–3 mm | 1.5–3 | 3–4.5 | 4.5–6.0 | 3–6.0 / 6.0 / 4.5–6.0 / 8.0 |
| 3–5 mm | 1.5–3 | 3–4.5 | 4.5–6.0 | 3–4.5 / 6.0 / 4.5–6.0 / 8.0 |
Notes:
- For heat-resistant conveyor belts operating above 200°C, increase the top cover thickness by 1.5–3.0 mm.
- When the conveying angle is greater than 10°, increase the top cover thickness by 1.5 mm.
- When the conveying angle is greater than 15°, increase the top cover thickness by 3.0 mm.
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