Coal mine combustion products: conveyor belts. Report of investigations, 1976

The thermal oxidative degradation characteristics of conveyor belts used in underground mines was investigated. This included the determination of smoke evolution, glow characteristics, char yields, and the identification and quantification of all volatile decomposition products in the form of gram of specific product formed per gram of belt sample tested. In addition to these investigations, degradation studies were conducted on some pure ingredients used in conveyor belt formulations. Three basic classes of belts were investigated: neoprene, polyvinyl chloride, and styrene-butadiene containing compositions. The studies indicate that styrene-butadiene based belts exhibit good flame resistance and are the least hazardous in regard to overall toxic decomposition product formation. Under this program the applicability of thermogravimetric analysis as a method of material differentiation was definitely established. (GRA)