The invisible danger
Ozone and ultraviolet light shorten the life of conveyor belts
There are many factors that determine the service life of a conveyor belt. These include constant abrasion from the material being conveyed and damage from heavy, sharp rocks falling on the belt or tearing and ripping when a hard, sharp object is caught and penetrates the belt. In addition, there are two other factors that have a major impact on the life of a rubber conveyor belt: Ozone (O3) and ultraviolet light (UV).
Regardless of the purchase price, it is primarily the length of working life that ultimately determines the true cost of a conveyor belt. Factors such as abrasion due to the material being conveyed, damage caused by noticeable heavy, sharp lumps of rock, or tearing and ripping when hard, sharp-edged chunks of material are jammed or penetrate the belt are recognised as normal wear and tear.
However, what is not well known are two other inescapable factors that have a huge influence on the operational lifetime of a rubber conveyor belt. Those factors are ozone (O3) and ultraviolet light (UV)....
