What is Heat Resistant Conveyor Belt and Why Do We Use Them?

31 Mar.,2025

 

What is a Heat Resistant Conveyor Belt and How Does It Work?

Conveyor belts play a crucial role in various industries, efficiently transporting materials across distances. But what happens when those materials are scorching hot? Enter the realm of heat resistant conveyor belts, specially designed to handle high temperatures without melting, losing strength, or compromising safety.

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What is a Heat Resistant Conveyor Belt?

A heat-resistant conveyor belt is a specialized type of conveyor belt designed to withstand high temperatures and extreme heat environments. Typically constructed from materials like rubber, silicone, or synthetic fibers, these belts are engineered to maintain their structural integrity and functionality even when exposed to temperatures ranging from 150°C to over 300°C. 

Heat resistant c are commonly used in industries such as steel manufacturing, foundries, glass production, and certain types of chemical processing where conveying materials at elevated temperatures is essential. Their robust construction and resistance to heat make them vital components in ensuring smooth and reliable material handling operations in demanding industrial settings.

Construction of Heat Resistant Conveyor Belts

  • Special Rubber Compounds: The covers (top and bottom layers) are formulated with heat-resistant polymers like EPDM and chlorobutyl rubber. These materials maintain their elasticity and strength at elevated temperatures, preventing belt degradation and ensuring smooth operation.
  • Reinforced Carcass: The core of the belt, often made of polyester fabric, is chosen for its high tensile strength and low thermal shrinkage. This ensures dimensional stability even under intense heat.
  • Multi-layered Design: Some belts incorporate additional layers, like insulation layers and porous carbonized strata, to further impede heat transfer and protect the internal structure.

How Do Heat Resistant Conveyor Belts Work?

The basic principle remains the same as any conveyor belt: a continuous loop powered by a motor transports materials along its surface. However, heat-resistant belts require extra considerations:

  • Temperature Limits: Each belt is rated for a specific maximum temperature, typically ranging from 100°C to 500°C depending on the materials and construction. Exceeding these limits can damage the belt and pose safety risks.
  • Cooling Systems: In extreme environments, additional cooling mechanisms like air knives or water sprays might be employed to dissipate heat and protect the belt.
  • Maintenance: Regular inspections and proper maintenance are crucial to ensure the belt’s integrity and prevent unexpected failures.

What are the main Benefits of Heat Resistant Conveyor Belts?

  • Durability: They are made from special rubber compounds that resist high temperatures, extending their lifespan and reducing maintenance costs.
  • Improved safety: Unlike standard belts that can melt or deform, heat-resistant belts maintain their integrity, minimizing safety risks.
  • A wider range of applications: They enable the handling of hot materials in industries like cement production, glass manufacturing, asphalt production, steel industry, and food processing.
  • Reduced downtime: They can operate continuously in high-temperature environments, minimizing downtime for maintenance or repairs.
  • Energy efficiency: Some belts are designed to reflect heat, reducing energy consumption in conveyor systems.

Applications across Industries: 

Heat resistant conveyor belts find their niche in various sectors:

  • Cement Industry: Transporting clinker, hot meals, and finished products.
  • Steel Industry: Conveying coke, slag, and molten metal byproducts.
  • Power Generation: Handling fly ash and other hot materials in coal-fired plants.
  • Asphalt Industry: Moving hot asphalt mixes for road construction.
  • Chemical Industry: Conveying hot chemicals and resins in various processes.

Conclusion: 

What is the Difference between Heat-Resistant Conveyor belts and ...

In the realm of conveyor belts, we often encounter two distinct types: heat-resistant conveyor belts and fire-retardant conveyor belts, are these two types the same? If not, what sets them apart, and where are they respectively employed?

Heat-Resistant Conveyor Belts:

Heat-resistant conveyor belts are specifically designed for use in high-temperature environments, they consist of a structure comprising heat-resistant layers, transition layers, heat-resistant EP carcass layers, and heat-resistant skim layers.

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The principle behind heat-resistant conveyor belts involves the formation of a micro-porous carbonized layer when the covering rubber encounters high temperatures. This layer exhibits resistance to burning and prevents the transfer of heat further into the belt, thereby protecting the strength of the belt’s carcass EP layers, during the belt’s operation, this carbonized layer develops irregular fine cracks, contributing to a cooling effect.


These belts are suitable for transporting materials such as hot coke, cement clinker, slag, and hot castings at temperatures up to 180°C. When using EPDM rubber, material temperatures can reach 200-300°C, with momentary spikes of up to 800°C.


According to DIN standards, heat-resistant conveyor belts are categorized as follows:
T1: Resistant to test temperatures below 100 °C, with a maximum short-term operating temperature of 150 °C.
T2: Resistant to test temperatures below 125 °C, with a maximum short-term operating temperature of 170 °C.
T3: Resistant to test temperatures below 150 °C, with a maximum short-term operating temperature of 200 °C.
T4: Resistant to test temperatures below 175 °C, with a maximum short-term operating temperature of 250 °C.

It’s important to note that due to the natural properties of rubber, strict usage conditions are required for heat-resistant conveyor belts, such as : Adequate ventilation, cooling measures, material temperatures not exceeding 5% of the design temperature, and avoiding material stoppages on the belt are essential to prevent significant reduction in belt lifespan or damage.


Fire-resistant Conveyor Belts:
Fire-resistant conveyor belts find significant use in reducing the occurrence of fires in coal mines, both above and below ground, the corresponding DIN standard is DIN-K. The complex working environment of underground coal mines, with factors such as coal dust and methane gas, necessitates caution. Given the flammable nature of the transported coal, the generation of electric sparks during transportation could lead to fires. Fire-resistant conveyor belts help minimize the possibility of static sparks and, even if they occur, these belts possess high fire-retardant properties, preventing ignition.


Fire-resistant conveyor belts incorporate fire-retardant agents in their rubber, these belts can burn when exposed to open fires, but they self-extinguish within 45 seconds after leaving the source of fire, preventing further spread. These belts do not generate static electricity or sparks when in motion and typically have a surface temperature not exceeding 200 °C, they are well-suited for underground transportation and are widely used in industries such as power generation, mining, metallurgy, and construction.

Effective selection of fire-resistant conveyor belts is crucial for managing fire hazards in coal mines. Currently, there are three main types of fire-resistant conveyor belts for coal mining: fabric-layer fire-retardant conveyor belts, steel cord core conveyor belts, and solid woven core conveyor belts. Among these, the fabric-layer fire-retardant conveyor belts, classified as the first category, enjoy widespread usage due to their strong fire-retardant properties, along with lower weight and costs.

In conclusion, heat-resistant conveyor belts and fire-retardant conveyor belts are distinct types, heat-resistant belts are designed for high-temperature environments, offering resistance to burning and cooling effects. They are suitable for transporting high-temperature materials, on the other hand, fire-retardant belts are intended for use in flammable environments like coal mines, focusing on preventing fires and static sparks. Understanding their structural differences, functionalities, and applications is essential, as heat-resistant belts are tailored for high-temperature material transportation, while fire-retardant belts address fire hazards, particularly in industries like coal mining.


Tags: DIN-K,fire resistant conveyor belt,Flame resistant conveyor belt,Heat resistant conveyor belt