Steel Cord Conveyor Belt

What is a Steel Cord Conveyor Belt?

Steel cord conveyor belt is a heavy-duty rubber conveyor belt with embedded steel cords as its carcass, delivering ultra-high tensile strength for long-distance, high-capacity bulk material transportation. A steel cord conveyor belt uses longitudinal steel cords embedded in rubber as the primary tension-bearing reinforcement. The steel cords run continuously along the belt and are bonded with core rubber to form a high-strength carcass.

This construction is commonly selected for conveyors where belt tension, conveying distance and material capacity are significant factors.

The correct specification should be determined by considering belt width, conveyor length, material capacity, belt speed, maximum belt tension, pulley diameter, material characteristics and operating temperature.

Key Advantages of Steel Cord Conveyor Belt

High Tensile Strength — Suitable for conveyor systems operating under high belt tension.

Low Elongation — Steel cord reinforcement helps maintain stable belt movement under operating tension.

Long-Distance Conveying — Suitable for long conveyor routes requiring controlled elongation.

Application-Specific Covers — Cover rubber can be selected according to abrasion, temperature, oil, fire and other operating conditions.

Construction of Steel Cord Conveyor Belt

The belt consists mainly of a top cover, steel cord carcass, core rubber and bottom cover.

Steel Cord Carcass: Longitudinal steel cords carry the main tensile load. Cord diameter, spacing and arrangement depend on the selected strength grade.

Core Rubber: Core rubber surrounds the steel cords and helps maintain adhesion between the reinforcement and rubber layers.

Top and Bottom Covers: The rubber covers protect the carcass from abrasion, impact and environmental conditions. Cover thickness and rubber compound should be selected according to the conveying material and operating environment.

Technical Specificationsof Steel Cord Conveyor Belt

Steel cord belts are commonly specified by ST grade, cord diameter, cord pitch, cord structure, cover thickness, working tension and pulley requirements.

The exact specification varies according to belt construction, so final values should be confirmed against the actual product specification before production.

Parameter	Specification
ST Grade	According to project requirements
Tensile Strength	According to ST grade
Cord Diameter	According to belt construction
Cord Pitch	According to belt construction
Cord Structure	According to belt design
Working Tension	According to ST grade
Cover Thickness	According to application
Belt Width	Customized according to conveyor requirements
Minimum Pulley Diameter	According to belt construction
Belt Length	Customized

Belt Width and Steel Cord Quantity

Belt width and steel cord quantity should be considered together when selecting the belt construction.

A wider belt generally requires an appropriate steel cord arrangement to distribute longitudinal tension across the belt. The required cord quantity depends on belt width, ST grade, cord diameter and construction.

For accurate selection, provide the required belt width and ST grade when requesting a quotation.

How to Select the ST Grade？

ST indicates the nominal longitudinal tensile strength of the belt in N/mm. A higher ST grade is not automatically the best choice.

The selection should begin with the maximum operating belt tension and then consider the complete conveyor system.  The final specification should consider ST grade, belt width, steel cord construction, cover properties and pulley arrangement together.

Conveyor Requirement	Main Selection Factor
Long conveyor	Maximum belt tension
High conveying capacity	Belt width and belt speed
Heavy or abrasive material	Strength and cover properties
Small pulley arrangement	Minimum pulley diameter
High temperature	Cover compound and temperature
Replacement belt	Existing belt specification and splice requirements

Cover Rubber Options

Steel cord belt cover rubber options including abrasion, heat, fire, cold, oil and chemical resistant grades are available to suit different conveyed materials and working environments.

Cover selection should be based on the actual conveying material and operating conditions.

Cover Requirement	Typical Application
Abrasion Resistant	Ore, coal, stone and aggregates
Heat Resistant	Hot conveyed materials
Fire Resistant	Systems requiring fire resistance
Cold Resistant	Low-temperature environments
Oil Resistant	Oil-containing materials
Chemical Resistant	Specific chemical exposure

Applications of Steel Cord Conveyor Belt

Mining: For ore, coal and other bulk minerals where high tension and abrasion resistance are important.

Cement: For limestone, clinker and other heavy bulk materials.

Ports: For long-distance and high-capacity bulk material conveying systems.

Power Plants: For continuous transportation of bulk fuels and raw materials.

Steel Plants: For heavy-duty material handling under demanding operating conditions.

Quarries and Aggregates

For abrasive crushed materials where belt strength and cover durability are important.

Minimum Pulley Diameter

Pulley diameter should be compatible with the selected belt construction.

Repeated bending around pulleys that are too small can increase bending stress and affect belt performance and service life. Pulley dimensions should therefore be checked together with belt strength, cord construction and splice requirements.

Splicing

Hot vulcanized splicing is commonly used for joining steel cord belts. The splice must transfer belt tension through the joint while maintaining the required belt geometry.

Splicing requirements depend on:

Belt strength, Belt width, Steel cord arrangement, Cord diameter, Splice configuration, Installation conditions.

The splice design should be determined according to the actual belt construction.

Customization of Steel Cord Conveyor Belt

Dahan can provide specifications according to project requirements, including:

Belt width, Belt length, ST strength grade, Steel cord construction, Cover thickness, Rubber properties, Operating temperature requirements, Splicing requirements.

For replacement applications, provide the existing belt marking, technical specification and conveyor parameters whenever available.

Replacement Belt

For replacement projects, the existing belt specification can help determine a compatible construction.

Useful information includes:

Existing belt width, ST grade, Belt length, Cover thickness, Material conveyed , Belt speed, Pulley diameter , Existing splice requirements.

Providing the existing belt information can reduce specification errors during replacement.

Information Required for a Quotation

Belt width, Belt length, Conveyor center distance, Material being conveyed, Material capacity, Belt speed, Conveyor inclination, Maximum belt tension, Pulley diameter, Operating temperature, Required cover properties, Required ST grade or existing belt specification.

If the ST grade is unknown, the available conveyor parameters can be submitted for preliminary specification evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ST mean?

ST indicates the nominal longitudinal tensile strength of the belt in N/mm.

How do I choose the correct ST grade?

Start with the maximum operating belt tension, then consider belt width, conveyor length, pulley arrangement and material conditions.

What belt width should I choose?

Belt width depends mainly on conveying capacity, material characteristics, belt speed and conveyor configuration.

What cover thickness should I choose?

Cover thickness should be selected according to material size, impact, abrasion, temperature and operating conditions.

What information is needed for a quotation?

Belt width, length, capacity, speed, conveyor length, pulley diameter, belt tension and material characteristics are useful starting information.

How is the belt spliced?

Hot vulcanized splicing is commonly used, with the splice design matched to the belt construction.