A conveyor belt is a major investment for many solids handling operations. Consequently, a great deal of effort is devoted to the engineering and selection of the belt. But relatively little effort is put into analysis of the life of the belt and the reasons why a belt does not reach its optimal life. In this paper, the author will review the types of belt damage, and their various causes. These causes include impact damage, entrapment damage, belt edge damage, top cover damage, and junction joint failures. In addition, the author will then examine the steps that can be undertaken to prevent this premature belt replacement, by preventing avoidable damage and minimizing "normal" wear to improve belt life and plant profitability.
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