Rubber conveyor belts are generally considered for demanding applications involving heavy bulk materials, abrasion, impact, or high conveying capacity.

Typical examples include wood chips, bark, recovered paper, and other demanding raw-material handling sections.

For these applications, the rubber conveyor belt should be selected according to tensile capacity, cover grade, belt thickness, temperature, chemical exposure, conveyor geometry, and loading conditions.

PVC conveyor belts can be suitable for light-to-medium conveying duties. Their relatively low weight and flexible construction can be useful in product-transfer and packaging sections.

Typical applications include finished-paper transfer, carton handling, packaging, and other lighter conveying duties.

The selected PVC belt should still be checked for load, speed, temperature, chemical exposure, pulley diameter, and other operating requirements.

Heavy bulk materials place greater demands on belt strength, reinforcement, splicing, and the conveyor drive system.

Impact is particularly important where material falls from a chute or hopper onto the belt. Wood chips, bark, and contaminated recycled material can also increase abrasion.

For demanding loading and abrasive conditions, an appropriate rubber construction is generally a stronger starting point. PVC can be suitable when mechanical stress remains within its specification.

Wet-process areas can expose conveyor belts to water, pulp, and frequent cleaning.

PVC can be suitable for some wet conveying applications, while rubber can also perform well when the appropriate compound and construction are selected.

Moisture alone should not determine the belt choice. Cleaning method, temperature, chemicals, drainage, and belt construction should also be considered.

The actual material and ambient temperatures should be compared with the operating range of the selected belt.

Some rubber compounds are available for elevated-temperature applications, while standard PVC constructions generally have more limited temperature capability.

Paper manufacturing can involve process chemicals, coatings, oils, cleaning agents, and other substances.

Chemical compatibility depends on the substance, concentration, temperature, exposure time, and belt formulation. The selected belt should therefore be checked against the manufacturer's material data.

Higher belt speeds and longer conveyors can increase demands on belt tension, tracking, splicing, pulleys, and other conveyor components.

Pulley diameter should also remain within the requirements of the selected belt construction.

Cover material is only one part of belt selection. Carcass type, reinforcement, belt thickness, cover grade, splice method, and pulley requirements should also match the conveyor duty.

Two belts made from the same basic material can perform differently because of their construction.

Wood Chips

Wood chips can create repeated impact and abrasion, especially at loading and transfer points.

For heavy wood-chip conveying, rubber is generally the first material direction to evaluate. Capacity, drop height, belt speed, and cover requirements should also be considered.

Wet Pulp

Wet pulp requires more than a simple rubber-versus-PVC comparison.

Pulp consistency, temperature, chemical exposure, cleaning method, load, and conveyor design should be evaluated before selecting the belt.

Recovered Paper

Recovered paper can contain wire, plastics, cardboard fragments, and other contaminants that increase the risk of cuts, impact, and abrasion.

Rubber may be preferable for demanding recovered-material handling, while lighter sections can use another suitable belt construction.

Finished Paper and Paper Rolls

Finished paper is generally less abrasive than raw bulk materials, but paper rolls can create concentrated loads.

Selection should consider roll weight, belt width, speed, loading conditions, pulley diameter, and surface requirements.

PVC can be suitable for light-to-medium finished-paper conveying when its specifications match the application.

Some paper-manufacturing applications may require a belt construction other than standard rubber or PVC.

Special consideration may be necessary for very high temperatures, specific chemical exposure, high-speed paper converting, unusual surface requirements, or severe cut and gouge conditions.

Specialty-coated belts, machine tapes, PU belts, and other constructions can be considered when standard rubber or PVC does not meet the application requirements.