What Materials Are Conveyor Belts Made Of?

Conveyor belts are essential for transporting materials across industries like manufacturing, mining, food processing, agriculture, and logistics. The efficiency, durability, and safety of these systems depend heavily on the materials used to construct the belts. Choosing the right material ensures optimal performance, compliance with industry standards, and cost-effectiveness. In this guide, we explore the most common materials used in conveyor belts, their applications, and how Rentone Belt, a leading conveyor belt manufacturer in China, delivers high-quality solutions tailored to diverse needs.

Why Conveyor Belt Material Matters

The material of a conveyor belt determines its strength, flexibility, resistance to environmental factors, and suitability for specific applications. For example, a belt in a food processing plant must prioritize hygiene, while one in a mining operation needs to withstand heavy loads and abrasive materials. Selecting the appropriate conveyor belt material can:

• Enhance Durability: Resistant materials reduce wear and extend belt lifespan.

• Ensure Compliance: Food-grade materials meet FDA and ISO 22000 standards.

• Improve Efficiency: Low-friction materials minimize energy consumption.

• Reduce Costs: Durable belts lower maintenance and replacement expenses.

Rentone Belt's ISO14001 and CE-certified conveyor belts are engineered with premium materials to meet these demands, offering solutions like Fabric, Steel Cord, Solid Woven, Special, and Tubular Conveyor Belts.

Common Materials Used in Conveyor Belts

Conveyor belts are made from a variety of materials, each with unique properties suited to specific industries. Below, we outline the most common materials used in Rentone Belt’s products and their applications.

1. Rubber

Rubber is one of the most widely used materials for conveyor belts due to its versatility and durability.

Properties: High tensile strength, excellent resistance to abrasion, impact, and weathering.

Applications: Mining, cement, recycling, ports, and bulk material handling.

Advantages: Customizable for heat, fire, oil, or chemical resistance.

Rentone Belt Offering:

Our Steel Cord Conveyor Belts and Fabric Conveyor Belts are primarily made with reinforced rubber, including Heat Resistant, Fire Resistant, Oil Resistant, and Acid-Alkali Resistant variants for demanding environments.

2. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

PVC is a lightweight, economical material used in light to medium-duty applications.

Properties: Smooth surface, resistant to moisture and certain chemicals, flame retardant.

Applications: Coal handling, warehousing, packaging, and underground mining.

Advantages: Cost-effective and easy to maintain.

Rentone Belt Offering:

Our Solid Woven Conveyor Belts include PVC Conveyor Belt, widely used in logistics and mining due to their anti-static, flame-resistant properties.

3. Fabric (Polyester/Nylon)

Fabric materials serve as the core reinforcement of many belts, enhancing strength and flexibility.

Properties: Lightweight, high tensile strength, good elongation control.

Applications: Light to heavy-duty conveying in construction, agriculture, and industrial sectors.

Advantages: Excellent adaptability to curved and inclined conveying.

Rentone Belt Offering:

We offer EP Conveyor Belts (Polyester/Nylon) and NN Conveyor Belts (Nylon/Nylon), customizable with coatings for resistance to heat, fire, oil, or chemicals.

4. Metal

Metal conveyor belts, such as steel cords, are strong and durable, capable of withstanding high temperatures and heavy loads. Combined with rubber, fabric layers, etc. to achieve advanced performance.

Properties: High tensile strength, long service life, superior impact and tear resistance.

Applications: Long-distance transport in mining, ports, and heavy-duty industries.

Advantages: Tailored for performance, low elongation, high load capacity.

Rentone Belt Offering:

Our Steel Cord Conveyor Belts, including General, Anti-tear, and Fire Resistant types, utilize composite structures for optimal durability and load handling.

5. Special Surface Textures and Structures

Some belts incorporate textured surfaces or sidewalls to meet unique conveying needs.

Properties: Enhanced grip, material containment, and incline handling.

Applications: Inclined or vertical conveying in mining, construction, and agriculture.

Advantages: Prevents rollback, contains loose materials, customizable structure.

Rentone Belt Offering:

Our Patterned Fabric Conveyor Belts, Sidewall Conveyor Belts, and Steep Angle Sidewall Conveyor Belts are designed for specialized applications with difficult conveying angles or flow control requirements.

Key Performance Properties of Conveyor Belt Materials

When choosing or comparing conveyor belt materials, it's not just about what they're made of, but how they perform under specific conditions. Here are the key material properties that determine suitability for various industrial applications:

• High Tensile Strength

This is essential for supporting heavy loads over long distances without stretching or breaking. Materials like steel cords and reinforced fabric are renowned for their exceptional tensile strength, providing long-lasting support even in high-stress environments like mining and bulk handling.

• Abrasion Resistance

Continuous contact with abrasive materials causes wear and tear. Rubber and fabric-reinforced belts are engineered to withstand heavy friction, making them ideal for quarrying, cement, and recycling industries.

• Impact Resistance

In operations where materials are dropped onto the belt, such as loading zones in mining or agriculture, rubber belts offer excellent shock absorption, helping to prevent cracks or structural damage.

• Flexibility

To run smoothly around pulleys and rollers, belts must maintain flexibility without compromising strength. Rubber and some fabric-reinforced materials provide a balance of resilience and pliability, ensuring efficient system operation.

• Chemical & Heat Resistance

In chemical processing, metal smelting, or food manufacturing, belts may be exposed to aggressive substances or high temperatures. Heat-resistant rubber compounds and stainless steel belts are engineered to maintain integrity in extreme conditions, reducing the risk of degradation and contamination.

Performance Characteristics of Common Conveyor Belt Materials

Choosing the right conveyor belt material is not just about matching applications—it's about understanding how performance properties align with your operating conditions. Below is a comparison of the key characteristics of common conveyor belt materials:

How to Choose the Right Conveyor Belt Material

Selecting the appropriate conveyor belt material is crucial for optimizing performance, reducing downtime, and ensuring cost-efficiency. To choose the right belt, consider the following critical factors:

1. Type and Weight of Materials to be Transported

• Light loads (e.g., e-commerce parcels): Opt for lightweight fabric or PVC belts that offer flexibility and adequate strength.

• Medium loads (e.g., packaged goods): EP or oil-resistant belts provide a balance between strength and durability.

• Heavy/abrasive loads (e.g., bulk minerals): Use Steel Cord Conveyor Belts reinforced with rubber for extreme tensile strength.

• Ultra-heavy loads (e.g., automotive components): Consider Bucket Elevator Belts or reinforced rubber solutions.

  
  

2. Operating Temperature and Environmental Exposure

• High temperatures (e.g., cement, metallurgy): Choose Heat Resistant Conveyor Belts.

• Cold environments (e.g., refrigerated storage, outdoor): Use low-temperature resistant rubber or PVC belts.

• Wet or humid environments (e.g., sewage treatment, agriculture): PVC or PVG solid woven belts provide excellent moisture resistance.

• Chemical exposure (e.g., chemical manufacturing): Acid-alkali resistant rubber belts are ideal.

• Dusty conditions (e.g., cement plants): Use wear-resistant rubber belts that resist clogging and abrasion.

  
  

3. Application Type

• Mining and Quarrying: Requires anti-tear Steel Cord Belts or flame-resistant PVG belts to handle abrasive and heavy materials.

• Food Processing: Needs oil-resistant fabric belts or PVC belts for hygiene and easy cleaning.

• Logistics and Parcel Handling: Uses EP or PVC belts for their lightweight flexibility and speed.

• Automotive Manufacturing: Demands reinforced fabric belts with excellent oil and grease resistance.

• Agricultural Use: Uses Tubular Conveyor Belts for enclosed transport of grain, fertilizer, and seed, preventing spillage and contamination.

  
  

4. Required Strength and Durability

Consider operational demands:

• For long-distance conveying: Use Steel Cord Conveyor Belts.

• For flexible routing or steep angles: Choose Patterned or Steep Angle Sidewall Conveyor Belts.

• For highly abrasive conditions: Opt for high-durability rubber belts with appropriate coatings.

  
  

5. Industry Standards and Compliance

• Ensure the belt meets FDA, ISO, or CE standards if required by your industry, especially in food, pharmaceutical, and export markets.

• For underground applications, fire-retardant PVG belts may be legally required.

  
  

Industry-Specific Applications

Different industries rely on specific types of conveyor belts—each engineered to meet unique performance and safety standards:

Understanding what materials conveyor belts are made of is key to optimizing efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness in your production line. Whether you're moving lightweight packaging or transporting bulk materials across long distances, there's a perfect belt for every job.

Let Rentone Belt help you choose the right solution. Contact us today for customized conveyor belt options that match your industry needs.