Conveyor belt is a mechanical apparatus consisting of a moving belt that carries any material from one place to another in a continuous motion. Belt systems are built to exact specifications and standards to serve many useful functions. Belts are both traction power and load bearing element. As the length of the conveyor belt increases, the cost also increases.

Conveyor belts are manufactured using a wide variety of materials, many with various features, details and benefits. There are 5 main types of conveyor belt materials: thermoplastics, metal, rubber, fabric and leather.

What are Conveyor Belt Materials? Correct Material Selection

Conveyor belt material types vary according to the characteristics of the load to be transported. Several important considerations must be considered when choosing a suitable conveyor belt. For example, the buyer must decide whether to use steel belts that can handle heavy loads or fireproof fabric belts that can safely transport flammable materials. If your product is a chemical abrasive belt material, if it is a high quality material, a high temperature resistant thermal material will be needed.

 

Things to Consider Before Choosing Conveyor Belt:

The first thing to consider is which conveyor belt material to use. To choose the right one, the buyer should consider the transported bulk material as the starting point.

• Fabric tapes are widely used in many industries such as mining, wood, paper and pulp, sugar and food, recycling and chemical and fertilizer factories.

• Metal for its maximum strength and durability, making it ideal for any industry. You don't have to worry about the belt deforming over time as it's not easy to bend or shape.

• Thermoplastic is another tape coating material commonly used in the food processing industry. The flexible thermoplastic material is lightweight while being produced with hygiene in mind, making it ideal for heavy-duty industries such as textile manufacturing and metal transfers.

• Primitive conveyor belts were made of leather for its accessibility and durability. Leather conveyor belts have a good grip and are therefore impact resistant.

• Rubber conveyor belt is the most popular material in this market, although it has issues with cleanliness and heat tolerance. Thanks to its seamless, elastic, durable and smooth surface, rubber is the most preferred option.

 

Paying attention to the correct dimensions for your belt is another requirement in the conveyor belt material selection process. Technically, the conveyor belt size differs depending on the pile angle of the material, as well as the proportion of the largest part or piece of fine material in the material to be conveyed. If you do not want your product to stick to the conveyor, the length and width of the tape should be balanced on the product. Long story short, if you don't want your product to stick to the conveying machine, the dimensions of the tape should be such that the product is balanced on the belt.

The next consideration when purchasing a belt is conveyor belt weighing. While materials such as fabric and rubber have many positive advantages, they may not be an ideal choice for transporting heavy industrial products or large mining products. If you do not want the belt to wrap or twist the product when carrying a heavy material, you should consider the weight factor when choosing the right belt.