Planning about investing in a rubber conveyor belt for your assembly line? It’s important to select a conveyor that best fits your company’s needs. When we look at rubber conveyor belts, they all seem very similar on the surface. But, when properly built and manufactured, each different specification of rubber conveyor belting can have a unique feature to accommodate specific applications. Expanding the service life of a conveyor belt by selecting the most appropriate belt material will offer tremendous possible savings. Taking into account the most desirable features when choosing which ones to use would greatly increase the service life of the conveyor belt and reduce the maintenance period.
Grade A – Abrasion Resistant
Abrasion-resistant rubber (Grade A) is used where the conveyed material is very rugged and abrasive and makes the rubber wear out of the belt too easily. The conveyor’s specific cleaning system, like brushes, scrapers, and conveyor skirting, can also contribute to conveyor belt wear.
It(Grade A) is used where the wear of the conveyor belt happens too easily when general-purpose grades are used. Although Grade A rubber is more expensive than general-purpose grades, the expense of removing and installing new belts can also be excessive. Therefore, it may be more cost-effective to use higher-wear rubber.
GradeA belt is used on an iron ore conveyor since it is an abrasive material that will easily wear standard rubber. Grade A rubber will allow the conveyor belt a longer lifespan on the conveyor and more uptime.
Grade E – Static Electricity Conducting
A common use of Grade E rubber belting is at an aluminum refinery. Aluminum can commonly discharge excess electrons which can cause static electricity build-up. Static electricity conducting belts are used to absorb the excess electrons and discharge them safely.
As the name suggests, static electricity conducting rubber conveyor belting conducts static electricity generated during the transport and conveying process and dissipates the electric charge usually into a grounding path. Minimizing sparks from static electricity is a necessity when in the presence of potentially explosive materials such as gases, liquids, powder, and dust because the risk of explosion can be deadly.
Grade F – Fire Resistant
Fire-resistant belting is typically used for the transport of hot materials. Rubber has natural properties that can be ignited and charred. Grade F rubber belting has incorporated properties that increase the temperature of the ignition and increases fire resistance.
The use of Grade F rubber belts is at underground mining, coal mines, and power stations. If a rubber conveyor belt was to be trapped underground, the smoke and air hazards could be potentially lethal, so fire-resistant belts are typically used to minimize the risk. This helps to reduce the risk of the heated process causing the conveyor belt to ignite.
Grade M & N – General Purpose
Compared with Grade M, Grade N rubber is of inferior consistency. Grade M rubber has a greater hardness, is more abrasion-resistant, and is superior in strength when compared to Grade N. The only difference between them is the quality of the rubber.
Grade S – Static Electricity Conducting and Fire Resistant
This is a blend of both Grade E and F rubber. Grade S rubber conveyor belts are both static electricity conducting and fire-resistant. The reason this combination persists is that the combination is widely used.
Grade Z – Special Properties
Grade Z rubber belting is a specifically built conveyor belt for a specific purpose. It is used where the rubber properties do not fit in any of the other categories.
We are one of the leading Rubber conveyor belt suppliers in India. To find out which grades and special properties are most matched to your application, please contact the Rubber conveyor belt Indian Engineering representative today.
