Conveyor Belt Compounds

Natural rubber (polyisoprene) offers an excellent balance of properties which result in outstanding performance in many demanding mechanical applications. It offers high resilience, high tensile strength, and excellent flexibility at low temperatures. When properly compounded with appropriate additives, natural gum can exhibit excellent abrasion/wear resistance, and good oxygen, ozone and sunlight resistance. It does have drawbacks however, such as: lack of oil resistance, and poor heat aging characteristics.

Natural gum is recommended for those applications requiring superior resistance to cutting, gouging, and abrasion. It is particularly effective for use when conveying heavy logs, hard rock ores, glass cullet, trap and other sharp, abrasive materials.

SBR (styrene butadiene rubber) is a polymer which has been the general purpose rubber of the belting industry for many years. it is recommended for the majority of above ground applications, including aggregate, log handling from the wood yard to debarkers, run of mine and sized coal, coal mine refuse, crushed ores, phosphate, potash, salt, sand, crushed materials and general mining applications.

It is a tough rugged, compound which ideally meets the demands of the mining industry. However, it does have a limitation of poor oil resistance but is compounded for medium heat resistance and good oxygen, ozone and sunlight resistance.

Same as above but compounded to be sunlight and ozone resistant. Will retain flexibility at the lower temperatures anticipated in above ground applications.

A premium formulation which will meet the current flame retardant requirements and which will provide oil resistance for applications like oil treated coal in power plants. It is ideal for above ground coal preparation plants, coal fired steam plants, etc.

A premium formulation designed to provide moderate oil resistance. It will withstand attack in moderate oil environments such as wood chips, oil treated coal, and whole grains like corn and soybeans.

SOR (special oil resistant) is a premium formulation made especially for applications requiring extreme oil resistance. It has excellent abrasion, tear, ozone, and water resistance and is highly resistant to mineral oil and most other oils that cause swelling and sponginess in other elastomers. SOR is recommended for handling oily metal parts, crushed soybeans, and other materials where animal or vegetable fats are a deteriorating factor.

Classic Grain Handler is a specially formulated rubber which has been specifically engineered for handling grain products including wheat, corn, whole soybeans, cotton seed, flax seed, and sunflower seeds. When exposed to oily grains, CGH will not soften, peel, or flake. CGH is fire resistant (per MSHA-2G and ASTM 0- 378), as well as moderately oil resistant and static conductive. Electrical resistance is less than 1 megohm – exceeds RMA standards substantially.

A premium compound designed to convey oil treated grain, crushed soybeans and other materials where mineral, animal or vegetable fat are a deteriorating factor and where combustion properties are a concern. UGH also meets MSHA 2-G and ASTM D-378 flame retardant requirements and OSHA requirements.

Nitrile (Butadiene Acrylonitrile) is a copolymer recommended for applications requiring excellent resistance to petroleum oils, mineral oils, and vegetable oils. Nitrile’s resistance to the more aromatic distillants of petroleums is better than neoprene, but it offers relatively poor resistance to the swelling action of oxygenated solvents such as acetone, and ketones. It resists acids and bases with the exception of those having strong oxidizing effects. Resistance to heat aging is good.

Nitrile is frequently compounded with other polymers such as PVC. It does well in food belt applications.

Neoprene has good all around properties. It is a tough elastomer with good aging characteristics, chemical resistance, good ozone resistance, good sunlight resistance, good resistance to oxidation, and is highly resilient. Certain compounds of Neoprene are flame retardant and will not support combustion – per current MSHA requirements

Butyl has outstanding dielectric properties, good resistance to tearing, good aging properties at elevated temperatures (to 350° Fahrenheit), and good chemical stability. Butyl resists weathering, sunlight, ozone, mineral acids, ketones, alcohols, water absorption, and animal and vegetable oils. However, butyl rubber has low resilience.