How to Choose the Right Conveyor Belt Cleaner for Different Materials

1. Why Belt Cleaner Selection Matters

In mining, cement, aggregate, and bulk material handling industries, the right conveyor belt cleaner is essential to reduce carryback, prevent belt misalignment, and extend equipment life. An optimized belt cleaning system can reduce downtime, improve safety, and cut maintenance costs. This guide covers how to choose primary, secondary, and return cleaners for wet & sticky, dusty, and corrosive materials.

Primary secondary and tertiary cleaners

2. Types of Conveyor Belt Cleaners

Belt cleaners are categorized by blade material and installation position.

By Blade Material

- Polyurethane Scraper: One-piece or segmented, belt-friendly, durable, suitable for light/medium duty.
- Tungsten Carbide Scraper (Segmented): High hardness, ideal for high-speed and heavy-duty applications.
- Ceramic Scraper: Excellent abrasion resistance and chemical stability, long service life in harsh environments.

Belt cleaner types

By Installation Position

- Primary Cleaner: Removes most carryback at the head pulley.
- Secondary Cleaner: Scrapes fine residues left by the primary cleaner.
- Return Cleaner (V-Type/I-Type): V-type removes large lumps; I-type removes fine particles on the return belt.

Belt cleaner position

Blade Material Lifespan & Maintenance

Blade Material	Typical Lifespan	Maintenance Frequency	Best For
Polyurethane	6-12 months	Low	Light/medium duty, belt protection
Tungsten Carbide	12-24 months	Medium	Heavy-duty, high-speed belts
Ceramic	18-36 months	Low	Abrasive or corrosive environments

3. Cleaner Selection by Material Type

A. Wet & Sticky Materials

Example: Clay, wet coal, bauxite.

Primary: Polyurethane scraper (one-piece)
Secondary: Segmented tungsten carbide scraper
Return: V-type cleaner

B. Dusty & Fine Powder Materials

Example: Cement, limestone, fly ash.

Primary: Polyurethane scraper (segmented)
Secondary: Ceramic scraper
Return: I-type cleaner

C. Corrosive & Chemically Aggressive Materials

Example: Fertilizers, salts, acidic ores.

Primary: Chemical-resistant polyurethane scraper
Secondary: Ceramic scraper
Return: V-type cleaner with stainless steel frame

4. Real-World Case Studies

- Wet & Sticky: A coal mine in Indonesia reduced carryback by 70% after switching to a polyurethane + tungsten carbide combination.
- Dusty: A cement plant in Vietnam extended belt life by 40% using ceramic secondary cleaners.
- Corrosive: A fertilizer plant in Saudi Arabia minimized blade replacements by using chemical-resistant polyurethane.

5. Recommended Cleaner Combinations Table

Material Type	Primary Cleaner	Secondary Cleaner	Return Cleaner
Wet & Sticky	Polyurethane (One-piece)	Tungsten Carbide (Segmented)	V-Type
Dusty / Powder	Polyurethane (Segmented)	Ceramic	I-Type
Corrosive	Chemical-Resistant Polyurethane	Ceramic	V-Type (SS Frame)

6. Maintenance Tips

- Match cleaner width to belt width.
- Monitor belt speed & tension.
- Use segmented blades for easier replacement.
- Inspect cleaners regularly and replace when worn.

7. Why Choose YIQI Belt Cleaners

YIQI Conveyor offers a complete belt cleaning system range, including polyurethane, tungsten carbide, and ceramic scrapers; primary, secondary, and return cleaners; V-type and I-type designs. Our solutions are used in mining, cement, aggregate, and port industries worldwide.