Conveyor Belt Testing

Rubber conveyor belts are widely used for the movement of various bulk material and unit load over both short and long distances, also as process belts, for example in the gypsum industry as plasterboard-belts.

Manufacturing conveyor belts is a surprisingly complex science. Modern-day belts have to cope with an enormous variety of potentially destructive materials, operating conditions, environmental and health & safety factors. High temperature materials and working environments cause an acceleration of the ageing process that results in a hardening and cracking of the rubber covers of the belts. While, as the temperature falls, the rubber continues to lose flexibility and its ability to resist abrasion, impact and cutting. Eventually the belt is unable to trough and pass around pulleys and the belt covers and the rubber in the carcass begins to crack. Ultimately, the belt will break because frozen rubber becomes as brittle as glass. Oil (including fats and greases) contained in the household waste can penetrate rubber and cause it to swell and distort, which results in serious tracking and steering problems, premature wear and ultimately premature replacement. Besides, exposure to ozone and UV light can increase the acidity of carbon black surfaces and cause reactions to take place within the molecular structure of the rubber. This has several consequences, such as surface cracking and a marked decrease in the tensile strength of the rubber. So, it is important to evaluate the ability of the conveyor belt to resist against abrasion, heat, oil, fire, etc. to ensure that it is suitable for its intended use.

STEMart provides a variety of conveyor belt testing services used for product development, compound de-formulation / formulation, service life prediction, quality assurance, and conveyor belt failure analysis.

Test Capabilities

For more information about our conveyor belt testing services, please contact us.