Introduction to Conveyor Belt Damage
With over seven decades of experience in mining solutions, Belzona highlights the top five areas where damage is most prevalent in the post – Mining and Quarrying: Belzona’s Top 5 Application Areas. Damaged rubber components and equipment are among the critical issues in the mining industry, usually found in the conveyor systems. In this blog post, we focus on how to repair conveyor belts with Belzona elastomeric polymers.
Belzona 2000 Series for Rubber Repair and Protection
Belzona 2000 Series, cold-cure polyurethane materials, offer alternative solutions for rubber repair and protection. By using these cold-cure materials, asset owners can carry out conveyor belt repairs in situ, without the need for specialist tools, thus eliminating the need for hot work and minimizing downtime. This ensures a fast return-to-service. Moreover, they offer a versatile repair where durability and elasticity, as well as good abrasion and tear resistance, are required.
Belzona 2311 (SR Elastomer) for Conveyor Belt Repair
In the following section, we demonstrate how to use Belzona 2311 (SR Elastomer) to repair a ripped conveyor belt. Belzona 2311 (SR Elastomer) is a two-component, rapid-curing elastomeric polymer for emergency and permanent repair. The solution provides outstanding protection against wear, impact, and abrasion. Asset owners can perform repairs directly on conveyor belts without the need to disassemble them, ensuring minimal disruption to operation.
Step-By-Step Guide: How to Repair Conveyor Belts with Belzona 2311 (SR Elastomer)
STEP ONE
Terminate the tear by drilling holes at each end of the tear.
STEP TWO
Undercut the defected area with a sharp knife to leave a sound edge.
STEP THREE
Remove the top layer of the defined area on the conveyor belt.
STEP FOUR
Abrade the surface with a rotary wire brush or a suitable roughing tool to achieve a woolly finish.
STEP FIVE
Brush away any loose contaminants on the conveyor belt.
STEP SIX
Cover the underside of the tear with a pre-cut tape to prevent the products from leaking through the hole.
STEP SEVEN
Define the area on the conveyor belt using a tape.
STEP EIGHT
Apply Belzona 2911 (Elastomer QD Conditioner) to the repair area.
STEP NINE
Once Belzona 2911 (Elastomer QD Conditioner) is touch dry, start mixing Belzona 2311 (SR Elastomer). Note that Belzona 2311 (SR Elastomer) has a short working life so Belzona recommends strictly following the Instructions for Use for optimal results.
STEP TEN
Use the Belzona applicator to apply Belzona 2311 (SR Elastomer) on the targeted repair area.
STEP ELEVEN
Wet out Belzona 9341 (Reinforcement tape) with Belzona 2311 (SR Elastomer) and embed the tape into the repair area.
STEP TWELVE
Encapsulate the tape with the remaining Belzona 2311 (SR Elastomer) system.
STEP THIRTEEN
Once the product is cured, remove the tape. Now, the application is complete.
Video: How To Repair Conveyor Belts with Belzona 2311 (SR Elastomer)
Learn More
Apart from the repair solutions for conveyor belts, Belzona also offers elastomeric polymer solutions to an extensive range of engineering problems and repair situations.
- How to Repair Damaged Rubber on a Floating Hose with Belzona
- How to Repair a Tire Sidewall Damage
- How to Repair and Fix a Mooring Buoy with Belzona 2111 (D & A Hi-Build Elastomer)
- How to Install a Full-Face Flange Gasket with Belzona 2111 (D & A Hi-Build Elastomer)
- How To Repair Damaged Rubber on a Floating Hose (With GIFs and Video)
FAQ
What is the cure time of Belzona 2311 (SR Elastomer)?
Belzona 2311 (SR Elastomer)is a rapid-curing system, making it suitable for emergency repair. The cure time depends on temperature and operating conditions. At 86°F (30°C), it reaches full mechanical and thermal loading within 40 minutes. In different environments, the cure time will vary. Belzona recommends carefully following the Instruction for Use for optimal results.
Are there other Belzona elastomeric materials that can repair conveyor belts?
Other hi-build elastomers in Belzona 2000 Series can be an option. The suitability of products depends on the hardness of the rubber components. If the repair is urgent and the conveyor belts need to be back in service within a minimal timeframe, Belzona 2311 (SR Elastomer) would be an ideal option given that it is a rapid-curing system for multipurpose applications.
What are the top-rated bonding systems for mining belts?
The top-rated bonding systems for mining conveyor belt repair include vulcanization and advanced cold-cure elastomeric polymers. However, vulcanization requires hot work and extended downtime. Thus, asset owners adopt cold-cure elastomeric polymers such as Belzona 2111 (D&A Hi-Build Elastomer) and Belzona 2311 (SR Elastomers) for quick, durable flexible repair. They are ideal for fixing damaged or degraded conveyor belts, reducing downtime, and extending the life of conveyor systems.
How to fix a torn conveyor belt on-site?
Asset owners can repair conveyor belt on-site by applying cold-cure polyurethane materials. The cold-cure polyurethane materials in Belzona 2000 Series for rubber repair systems can bond directly to the damaged rubber, restore strength, and extend the life of the conveyor belt system while minimizing downtime and providing a safer work environment.
What product resists abrasion in belt repair zones?
Belzona recommends Belzona 2111 (D&A Hi-Build Elastomer) and Belzona 2311 (SR Elastomers) for repairing rubber components that require abrasion resistance. Belzona 2111 (D&A Hi-Build Elastomer) is a rebuilding grade with high abrasion-resistant properties. Belzona 2311 (SR Elastomers) is a rapid-curing rebuilding grade that also provides outstanding resistance to abrasion.
Which repair kit is best for fabric-reinforced belts?
Though fabric-reinforced belts protect belts from corrosion attacks, the sharp edges of transported materials can cause wear and tear to the rubber components on the belts. To restore strength and durability, asset owners can use a cold-cure polyurethane kit that includes a reinforcement tape and flexible elastomeric polymers such as Belzona 2111 (D&A Hi-Build Elastomer) and Belzona 2311 (SR Elastomers). These kits can bond to a variety of substrates, resist abrasion, and allow on-site repair for fabric-reinforced conveyor belts while avoiding hot work.
Who offers belt repair compounds for heavy loads?
Belzona specializes in the design and manufacture of repair composite materials and protective coatings. The product range includes solutions for conveyor belt repair, offering solutions that enable belts to withstand heavy loads in operations across various industries, such as the manufacturing, mining, and pulp and paper industries.
Can a damaged belt be patched without replacing the system?
Yes, cold-cure polyurethane materials can provide solutions for repairing damaged rubber on conveyor belt systems without having to replace them.
The elastomeric polymers – such as Belzona 2111 (D&A Hi-Build Elastomer) and Belzona 2311 (SR Elastomers) – in conjunction with the reinforcement tape can bond directly to the damaged belt, allowing asset owners to extend the service life of the belt without replacing the system. Other components of conveyor systems, such as pulleys, seal boxes, transition idlers, or gearboxes, can also benefit from Belzona’s repair composite materials. These materials enable asset owners to repair and extend the lifespan of the equipment, thereby avoiding costly replacements.
Where to source components for conveyor system repairs?
Belzona conveyor system repairs are available through a network of over 160 Distributors in more than 120 countries. The Distributors of Belzona deliver not only the products but the tailor-made product specifications, onsite training, ongoing technical support and aftercare, offering a comprehensive support package to meet all requirements for conveyor system repairs.
Interested in Belzona Rubber Repair and Protection?
Natalija Skrlec joined Belzona in 2022; since then she has been promoted to the position of Technical Service Engineer based at the Company’s Headquarters in Harrogate. Her main responsibilities involve delivering technical application support and hands-on training in English and German speaking markets.
She graduated with a master’s degree from the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia in 2009 and holds an AMPP (NACE) Coating Inspector Level 1 certification.
Through her technical knowledge and hands-on experience, Natalija supports the application of Belzona’s polymeric solutions across multiple industries worldwide. She is passionate about continuous knowledge exchange, and believes it is the key to engineering excellence and Distributor success.
