Are your conveyor belts wearing out in high temperature applications?
Do you often struggle with torn or cracked rubber conveyor belt when it is exposed to chemicals or UV?
Unhappy with your business loss from frequent production downtime? Not sure if a rubber belt conveyor or a PVC belt would suit your business applications?
A conveyor belt is an essential bulk handling equipment, making transportation of bulk materials from one place to another easier. While a rubber conveyor belt is the most convenient and economical option for several industrial applications, a PVC belt might be more suitable for them.
What do the rubber conveyor belt suppliers say about this? A rubber conveyor belt or a PVC conveyor belt- which is better?
This blog contains their strengths, limitations, and types of environments that suit each of them the most. Keep on reading to become a smart buyer of conveyor belts:
Getting the Basics Clear: Defining a Rubber Belt Conveyor and PVC Belt
What is a Rubber Conveyor Belt?
A rubber belt conveyor or a rubber conveyor belt is a bulk material handling equipment made of multiple layers of natural rubber. According to the rubber conveyor belt manufacturers, these layers can also be made of synthetic rubber. The layers or plies of a rubber conveyor belt are reinforced with insertions. The insertions provide the rubber covers with added durability and strength.
Therefore, rubber belts perform well in heavy-duty industrial applications.
Features of a Rubber Conveyor Belt
There can be several conveyor belt types. Some of them (M24 rubber conveyor belts) can have superb abrasion resistance properties. Additionally, there are FR-grade (fire resistant), HR-grade (heat resistant), and Oil resistant conveyor belts.
Thus, the rubber conveyor belt specification varies accordingly. Below are the key properties of a rubber conveyor belt:
- Better Grip and Friction: Rubber conveyor covers provide a better grip, reducing the chances of belt slippage and ensuring stable movement of products on an incline.
- Abrasion Resilience: Rubber has good abrasion resistant properties naturally. Therefore, a rubber conveyor belt can withstand wear and tear even when transporting materials with cut and gouge properties. However, there might be different types of abrasion resistant conveyor belts. At Duratuf we have LiteGuard for transporting slightly abrasive materials, Guardian for medium abrasion, and MaxGuard for highly abrasive materials.
- Flexibility: Rubber has remarkable flexibility. It can be a 3-ply conveyor belt or a rubber conveyor belt with more layers; you can expect a flexible rubber cover.
What is a PVC Conveyor Belt?
A PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) conveyor belts are made from thermoplastic polymer. There can be fabric insertions in between the layers of a PVC conveyor belt as well.
Features of a PVC conveyor belt
- Cost-effective: A PVC conveyor is cheaper than a rubber belt conveyor. They are also easy to clean and maintain.
- Waterproof and Low Moisture absorption: While a rubber belt conveyor is also waterproof, PVC belts are especially known for their superior water and moisture resilience.
- Lightweight: A PVC conveyor belt is light in weight. PVC has a lower material density than rubber, and they are thinner compared to rubber.
Rubber Conveyor Belt: Where Do they Stand Out?
Rubber conveyor belts are trusted in mining, metal processing, manufacturing, and construction sectors specifically. They add value to these industries in these ways:
Heavy-duty Work
A rubber conveyor belt can sustain mechanical stress. They excel in industrial applications that demand durability and resilience- particularly where there is exposure to abrasive materials, heat, flame, or oil.
These belts can handle the demands of:
- Mining: Transporting rocks, ores, and other heavy materials.
- Quarries: Handling gravel, sand, and other abrasive substances.
- Cement Plants: Withstanding high heat and harsh conditions.
- Metal Processing: Enduring high heat and heavy-duty load-carrying capacities.
High-Temperature
High temperatures and harsh climates of the UAE and GCC countries call for extra toughness.
An HR-grade or an FR-grade rubber belt conveyor can resist temperatures up to 200°C, according to some top rubber conveyor belt suppliers in the world.
They are suitable for:
- Furnace Operations
- Hot Casting Systems
- Glass Manufacturing
Impact Absorption
Impact or mechanical stress refers to abrasion, tearing, or weathering effects. In applications where materials repeatedly hit the belt at high speed, rubber provides a superior level of durability and flexibility to absorb the impact.
PVC Conveyor Belts: Where do they Excel
PVC conveyor belts are economical. Nevertheless, it is not the only reason why PVC conveyor belts are preferred. Other reasons include:
Light and Medium Duty Work
If your industrial application is not heavy-duty, why would you buy a rubber conveyor belt? A PVC conveyor belt suits industries like:
- Food Processing: In bakeries, dairies, and meat processing plants.
- Pharmaceuticals: In clean environments where hygiene is a top priority.
- Packaging: For conveying packaged goods in warehouses, distribution centers, and production lines.
Chemical Resistance
PVC is more chemically resistant than rubber. Many acids, solvents, amines, alcohols, and alkalis do not affect PVC belting significantly.
Energy Savings
PVC belts are cheaper than rubber belt conveyors- not in terms of product cost but energy-saving cost. Being lightweight, they undergo lower friction. Hence, PVC belts require less power to operate, which can reduce operational costs significantly over time.
Rubber Conveyor Belt vs PVC Conveyor Belt: Which One is Better?
Have a look at this table to know who the winner is:
| Criteria | Rubber Conveyor Belt | PVC Conveyor Belt |
|---|---|---|
| Durability | Better suited for rugged environments that involve high abrasion, heat, or heavy loads. | More suitable for less abrasive, low- to medium-load applications. |
| Temperature Resistance | Performs better in extreme temperature ranges, particularly high heat. | Tends to warp or crack in very high-temperature environments. |
| Chemical Resistance | Good resistance to oils and chemicals but can degrade with prolonged exposure to certain substances. | Superior resistance to a wide range of chemicals, oils, and fats. |
| Cost and Maintenance | More expensive upfront and requires regular maintenance in certain environments. | Cheaper to purchase, install, and maintain, making it ideal for cost-conscious industries. |
| Environmental Factors | Offers better resistance to UV rays, outdoor weather, and ozone. | May degrade faster when exposed to outdoor elements. |
To sum it up
A rubber conveyor belt and a PVC conveyor belt have their own sets of unique features and benefits. If you want a durable conveyor belt for your heavy-duty application where there is constant exposure to high heat and weathering elements, a high-quality rubber belt can only keep the production wheels running. However, still, you would need to buy the right conveyor belt type for maximum performance.
In case you need help, we can arrange a free virtual consultation session with our specialists. Reach out today!