Abstract
The paper compares the measurements of hardness and dynamic mechanical properties of rubber cover layers performed on new belts and on belts exposed to different operating conditions over a long period. The results show that the interaction of rubber conveyor belts with the shipped material may play an important role in addition to the general aging.
Changes in physical properties of rubber cover layers are then manifested mainly in the central part of the top cover layer which is in contact with transported material. The authors demonstrate that operation-induced changes in Young modulus and hardness of the top cover layer can heavily influence the mechanical behavior of the conveyor belt as a whole, and thus critically alter its operational characteristics.