Purpose of Textiles in Conveyor Belting

• Provides Strength for Tensioning
• Provides Strength for Handling the Load
• Adds Rigidity or Stiffness, “Gives it Body”
• Improves Mechanical Fastener Retention
• Improves Wear Against the Conveyor Bed
• Reduces Sliding Drag on Product or Conveyor Bed

Types of Textiles/Fibers Used in Conveyor Belting

Natural:

Cotton & Wool

Solid woven cotton is often used in baking applications where belts must “breathe”, absorb, and/or handle warm products. It is also used in applications to handle warm, green rubber products. Cotton is used in length, width, or in both directions of multiple plied conveyor belting to increase the bulk of the overall product on applications that require resistance to impact without requiring high strength.  Most commonly, it is placed either on the top or bottom ply of multiple plied belts to provide lower drag against the conveyor bed or some conveyed products – like cartons.

Characteristics & Properties

• Moderate Strength
• High Bulk – a course, thick fiber
• High absorbing
• Low modulus – high elongation
• Low cut and abrasion resistance
• Moderate temperature resistance
• Low mildew resistance

Man-Made:

Synthetic – Aramid, Nylon, Polyester 

Nylon:

A nylon core is used to provide high strength as required in some flour, paper, box, and wood applications for conveying products or transmission of power. It is used as the width fiber (fill yarn) in conveyor belting to increase rip resistance and fastener retention as well as to resist abrasion from building material products.

Characteristics & Properties

• High Strength
• High Elasticity – Stretch and Shrink
• Moderately Absorbing
• Moderate elongation
• High Cut and Abrasion Resistance
• High Mildew Resistance

Polyester: 

Solid woven polyester is used as a durable and low-cost option for general conveyance, with specific uses in the parcel, package, and baggage applications. Polyester is used in the length (warp), width (fill), or in both directions of the weave as an inexpensive carcass for multiple plied conveyor belting. Spun polyester generates less noise and is used when higher speeds are used on long(er) slider bed applications.

Characteristics & Properties

• High Strength
• Low Elasticity – Stretch and Shrink
• Moderately Absorbing
• Moderate Elongation
• Moderate Cut and Abrasion Resistance
• Low-Temperature Resistance
• High Mildew Resistance

Aramid (Kevlar):

Kevlar is used in glass applications where belts must withstand hot temperatures and retard flames, in heavy applications near industrial furnaces or conveying hot products being discharged from heat processes, and in heavy applications where resistance to high or heavy impact is important.

Characteristics & Properties

• High Strength
• High Bulk – A Coarse, Thick Fiber
• High Modulus – Low Elongation
• High Flame Resistance
• High Impact Resistance
• High-Temperature Resistance

Blending of Textiles

A blend of textiles is often used to gain the benefits of a variety of features that provide solutions and enhance belt performance or extend belt life.