TPU Roller / Wheel Material | High-Strength and Abrasion-Resistant TPU for Industrial Rollers and Cast Wheels
TPU Conveyor Belt Material
TPU material systems engineered for industrial conveyor belts (light/medium duty), where performance depends on balancing
continuous abrasion resistance with repeated flex fatigue durability—especially for belts running on small pulley radii and high cycle counts.
This page focuses on the most common failure modes in belt surfaces and composite structures, and how grade positioning and processing choices reduce trial risk.
Many conveyor belt trials fail not because “abrasion is not enough”, but because the system is not balanced for
wet/dust abrasion, repeated bending fatigue, and lamination heat history—which can trigger surface glazing, cracking at the flex zone, or shrink-driven warpage after bonding.
wet/dust abrasion, repeated bending fatigue, and lamination heat history—which can trigger surface glazing, cracking at the flex zone, or shrink-driven warpage after bonding.
Dry / Wet / Dust Abrasion
Flex Fatigue Resistance
Small Pulley Radius
Traction vs Wear Balance
Oil / Cleaner Exposure
Sheet & Coating Compatibility
Heat History & Shrink Stability
Flex Fatigue Resistance
Small Pulley Radius
Traction vs Wear Balance
Oil / Cleaner Exposure
Sheet & Coating Compatibility
Heat History & Shrink Stability
Typical Applications
- General light/medium duty conveyor belts – dry abrasion and dust exposure with stable wear life and surface integrity.
- Wet or wash-down environments – belts facing wet abrasion, cleaning agents, and hydrolysis risk (project-dependent).
- High-cycle, small-radius pulley systems – repeated bending where fatigue cracking and edge damage are common failure modes.
Quick Grade Selection (Shortlist)
Choose “Balanced Wear-Fatigue” when
- Light/medium duty lines need reliable wear life plus bending durability
- Dry abrasion or dust abrasion is primary, with stable surface appearance
- You want a wider processing window for sheet/coating and composite bonding
Choose “High Traction / Wet-Safe” when
- Slip risk is high and you need traction while keeping wear acceptable
- Wet abrasion or wash-down cleaning is frequent (project-dependent)
- Belts run on smaller pulleys with high cycles and higher fatigue risk
Note: Final grade selection depends on belt structure (sheet vs coating vs composite), pulley diameter, load/speed, environment (dry/wet/dust), and bonding/lamination heat history.
Common Failure Modes (Cause → Fix)
In conveyor belt projects, issues often come from an imbalance between wear strategy, traction needs, flex fatigue durability, and heat history during bonding. Use the table below as a quick diagnostic:
| Failure Mode | Most Common Cause | Recommended Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid wear in dust / abrasive media | Wear package not matched to real abrasive environment; surface too soft or too “grippy” | Move to wear-focused belt TPU family; validate wear under your real dust/wet condition and contact pressure |
| Surface glazing becomes slippery after running-in | Friction strategy not stable; heat build-up and surface polishing under load | Rebalance traction vs wear; verify friction stability after cycling at real speed/load and temperature rise |
| Cracking at flex zone (small pulley radius) | Fatigue margin too low; stiffness too high at service temperature; stress concentration in composite zone | Switch to fatigue-focused belt TPU; check minimum pulley diameter, bending radius, and cyclic validation |
| Delamination / weak bonding in composite belts | Coating/lamination compatibility mismatch; insufficient bonding window; contaminated substrate | Match TPU to bonding method; control lamination temperature/pressure/time; validate peel under wet/aged condition |
| Softening, tackiness, or property loss after wash-down | Hydrolysis risk or cleaner exposure not considered; heat history accelerates degradation | Choose hydrolysis-aware system (project-dependent); standardize drying and reduce overheating; validate after wet aging |
| Warping / shrink after hot press or lamination | Heat history drives shrink; cooling and tension control inconsistent | Use shrink-stable belt TPU family; tighten cooling, tension, and post-anneal logic (project-dependent) |
A reliable conveyor belt TPU system is designed to maintain
abrasion resistance, fatigue durability, and traction stability while keeping bonding and processing repeatability under control.
abrasion resistance, fatigue durability, and traction stability while keeping bonding and processing repeatability under control.
Typical Grades & Positioning
| Grade Family | Hardness | Design Focus | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| TPU-IND BELT Balanced Wear-Fatigue | 85A–95A | Balanced dry/dust abrasion resistance with stable flex fatigue durability and practical processing window | Light/medium duty belts, general lines, stable service life with fewer trial iterations |
| TPU-IND BELT High Wear | 90A–55D | Wear-focused positioning for abrasive media and higher contact pressure while maintaining toughness | Dusty environments, abrasive conveying, higher wear risk surfaces |
| TPU-IND BELT High Traction / Wet-Safe | 80A–92A | Traction strategy balanced with wear for wet surfaces and anti-slip behavior (project-dependent) | Wet conveying, wash-down lines, slip-sensitive conveying conditions |
| TPU-IND BELT Hydrolysis-Aware | 80A–95A | Hydrolysis risk positioning for humid/wet environments and frequent cleaning exposure (project-dependent) | Wet environments, repeated cleaning, water exposure where long-life stability matters |
Note: Final grade selection depends on belt structure (sheet/coating/composite), pulley diameter, speed/load, abrasion media, bonding method, and verification plan.
Key Design Advantages
- Continuous abrasion resistance designed for dry abrasion, wet abrasion, and dust-driven wear environments.
- Flex fatigue durability to reduce cracking risk under small pulley radii and high cycle conditions.
- Traction vs wear balance to reduce slip without sacrificing practical wear life (project-dependent).
- Composite compatibility for sheet extrusion, coating, and lamination routes with heat history awareness (project-dependent).
Processing & Recommendations (3-Step)
1) Dry
Dry TPU thoroughly before sheet extrusion or coating. Moisture increases hydrolysis risk and can destabilize surface quality and bonding consistency.
2) Control Heat & Shear
Limit overheating and excessive shear to protect wear/fatigue balance. Heat history also impacts shrink behavior and lamination stability.
3) Validate on Real Belt Structure
Verify abrasion, traction stability, and fatigue on your real belt structure, pulley diameter, and environment. Composite bonding should be validated after wet/aged exposure when relevant.
- Environment matters: Dry abrasion results may not predict wet abrasion or dust-driven wear behavior.
- Pulley radius sensitivity: Small pulleys amplify flex fatigue cracking risk; validate by cycles, not only short runs.
- Lamination stability: Manage temperature, pressure, dwell time, cooling, and tension to reduce shrink/warpage and delamination risk.
Is this page for you?
You will benefit most if:
- Your belt surface wears too fast in dry/wet/dust environments
- Your belt cracks at the flex zone on small pulley radius systems
- You need anti-slip behavior but traction changes after running-in
- Your composite belt delaminates or warps after lamination / hot press
- You want a clear grade shortlist to reduce trial and retesting risk
Request Samples / TDS
If you are developing an industrial conveyor belt and want to reduce trial risk,
contact us for a recommended grade shortlist and technical data sheets based on your belt structure,
pulley radius, environment (dry/wet/dust), and processing route (sheet extrusion, coating, lamination).
To get a fast recommendation, send:
- Belt type and structure (sheet / coating / composite; fabric type if applicable)
- Minimum pulley diameter, speed, load, and target service life
- Environment: dry / wet / dust; slip risk and friction needs
- Exposure: oils, grease, cleaning agents, hot water (project-dependent)
- Process route: sheet thickness, coating method, lamination temperature/pressure/time, cooling and tension control
