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

Using ANOM of the Taguchi method, the optimum conditions for field vulcanizing a fabric conveyor belt with a better capability of elongation were obtained. The optimum conditions included: (1) curing time of 25 min, (2) curing pressure of 9 kg/cm2, (3) dismantling platen temperature of 90 °C, and (4) forced cooling of air. Under these optimum conditions, a confirmation experiment was carried out, and the average elongation of this spliced fabric conveyor belt was 503.17%. The percentage contribution of each controllable factor within the current investigation range was also determined via ANOVA of the Taguchi method. Interestingly, of the four controllable factors the cooling method was the most influential on the elongation capability of the vulcanized area, and its percentage contribution was 46.26%. This study validated the importance of the cooling method although most reports about vulcanizing a fabric conveyor belt gave more importance to the curing time and pressure.