The cover grade is the rubber compound on the outside of the belt. It decides what the belt can survive: sharp rock, heat, oil, flame or food contact. Two belts with the same rating and covers but different grades can last very different lengths of time on the same conveyor.
Indian tenders usually name grades from IS 1891 (N17, M24, HR, SHR), export and multinational specifications usually from DIN 22102 (Y, X, W, T, G, S/K). This guide puts them side by side.
The grades at a glance
| Grade | Type | IS 1891 | DIN 22102 | Tensile, min | Elongation, min | Abrasion, max | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Y | General purpose | IS 1891 N17 | DIN-Y | 17 MPa | 400% | ≤ 200 mm³ | – |
| X | High abrasion | IS 1891 M24 | DIN-X | 24 MPa | 450% | ≤ 150 mm³ | – |
| W | Super abrasion | - | DIN-W | 18 MPa | 400% | ≤ 90 mm³ | – |
| T1 | Heat resistant T1 | IS 1891 Pt 2 HR | DIN-T | – | – | – | up to 100°C |
| T2 | Heat resistant T2 | IS 1891 Pt 2 HR | DIN-T | – | – | – | up to 125°C |
| T3 | Super heat resistant T3 | IS 1891 Pt 2 SHR | DIN-T | – | – | – | up to 150°C |
| G | Oil resistant | IS 1891 Pt 4 OR | DIN-G | – | – | – | – |
| FR | Fire resistant antistatic | IS 1891 Pt 5 | DIN-S/K | – | – | – | – |
| FG | Food grade | - | White FDA type | – | – | – | – |
General purpose: N17 and DIN-Y
The everyday grade for coal, sand, gravel, fertiliser, grain and general plant duty. Minimum 17 MPa tensile strength and 400% elongation, abrasion loss up to 200 mm³. It is the right choice when the material is not unusually sharp, hot or oily, and the most economical one.
Abrasion resistant: M24, DIN-X and DIN-W
M24 (DIN-X equivalent) has 24 MPa minimum tensile strength, 450% elongation and abrasion loss up to 150 mm³. It is the grade for crushers, quarries, ore and slag, where sharp heavy lumps cut and gouge the cover.
DIN-W (super abrasion) is built for abrasion loss of 90 mm³ or less. It wears longest under fine, highly abrasive material such as sand, sinter fines and ore fines, where the cover is worn away rather than cut.
Heat resistant: T1, T2 and T3
Heat resistant covers keep their strength and flexibility at temperature. T1 is rated for material up to 100°C continuous, T2 up to 125°C and T3 up to 150°C. Clinker, sinter, hot ash and foundry returns are the usual duties. Peak lump temperature can be higher than the average; tell us both.
Oil resistant: DIN-G
Mineral and vegetable oils make an ordinary cover swell, soften and lose grip. Oil resistant covers hold their shape and strength against oil seeds, oily scrap, wood chips, soap and chemical plant duty.
Fire resistant antistatic: FR
Fire resistant belts are self-extinguishing in the ISO 340 flame test and antistatic, for coal handling, power plants, underground and enclosed conveyors where safety codes require them.
Food grade: FG
White, hygienic covers for food contact: sugar, grain, salt, spices and packaged food lines. Clean release and easy washdown.
How the figures are tested
- Tensile strength and elongation at break: dumbbell specimens pulled to break (IS 3400 Pt 1 / ISO 37).
- Abrasion loss: volume lost against a standard abrasive drum (IS 10066 / ISO 4649). Lower is better.
- Ply adhesion: force to peel cover from ply and ply from ply, minimum 3.5 N/mm between plies.
- Hardness: Shore A, held to ±5 of the declared value.
- Ageing: oven aged specimens must keep their properties within limits.
Questions
What is the difference between M24 and N17 conveyor belts?
M24 covers have higher tensile strength (24 vs 17 MPa), higher elongation (450% vs 400%) and lower abrasion loss (150 vs 200 mm³). M24 is for sharp, heavy, abrasive material; N17 for general duty.
Is DIN-X the same as M24?
They are equivalent duties: DIN-X in DIN 22102 corresponds to M24 in IS 1891, both high abrasion grades with 24 MPa minimum tensile strength.
Which grade is best for sand?
For fine abrasive material like sand, the cover is worn away rather than cut, so a low abrasion loss matters most. DIN-W (super abrasion) lasts longest; M24/DIN-X is a strong general choice.
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Length, lift, width, speed, capacity and the material. We reply with the rating, covers and grade, a datasheet and a quotation, usually the same working day.