Optimum conditions for field vulcanizing a fabric conveyor belt with a better capability of elongation

Optimum conditions for vulcanizing a fabric conveyor belt with better adhesive strength and less abrasion

“…Following the results described in Chou et al [2], Table 1 lists four controllable factors and their three levels, and Table 2 lists the experimental conditions for vulcanizing a fabric conveyor belt, which were obtained by combining Table 1 and the L 9 (3 4 ) orthogonal array. This study aimed: (1) to maximize the adhesive strength of the spliced area in a vulcanized fabric conveyor belt, whose signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio with HB (higher is better) characteristics was required; its mean square deviation (MSD) was given by 1 [10][11][12][13][14], in which n was the number of repetitions under the same test condition and Y Ad i represented the measured adhesive strength of the spliced area (Table 3A); and (2) to minimize the abrasion of the patched and spliced areas in a vulcanized fabric conveyor belt, whose S/N ratio with LB (lower is better) was required; its MSD was given by 1 n P n i¼1 ðY Ab i Þ 2 [15], in which Y Ab i represented the measured abrasion of the patched (or spliced) area (Table 3B).…”

“…Detailed procedures of vulcanizing the ends of two pieces of the fabric conveyor belt had been described in our previous work [2]. Aside from this, the temperature of vulcanizing the ends of two pieces of the fabric conveyor belt was 140°C [18].…”

“…Due to the fact that conveyor belts are simple in construction, flexible in transport system configuration, and versatile in use [1], they are usually used to transport raw materials (such as ores and grains) over a short or medium conveying distance. Compared with a steel cord conveyor belt, a fabric conveyor belt is more widely used because of its advantages (such as low cost and easy maintenance) [2].…”

“…Aside from these, Chou et al presented optimum conditions for field vulcanizing a fabric conveyor belt with a better capability of elongation using the Taguchi method [2]. However, a conveyor belt is usually used to transport raw materials with sharp edges and corners over a long period of time, and it always causes abrasive wear of the board and rubber cover, breakage of fabric, or separation of joints in a fabric conveyor belt.…”

“…Extending the method proposed by Chou et al [2], the time of curing, the pressure acting on the fabric conveyor belt, the temperature of dismantling platen from the fabric conveyor belt, and the cooling method were used as the controllable factors. The optimum conditions for vulcanizing a fabric conveyor belt with better adhesive strength in the spliced area and the optimum conditions for vulcanizing a fabric conveyor belt with better abrasion resistance in the spliced and patched areas were determined using the Taguchi method [10].…”