Rubber Wear Parts for Mining Applications


Equipment used in the mining and resource extraction industries is subjected to high rates of wear and tear. This takes its toll on the equipment, causing damage and accelerated wear, reducing equipment lifespan and driving costs through increased maintenance and capital expenditures.

Parts designed to protect equipment from shocks, impacts, and abrasion can be custom fabricated from wear-resistant rubbers. These parts increase equipment longevity as well as lowering the frequency and costs for parts replacement and maintenance interventions. In this blog, we look at some of the rubber wear parts that can be fabricated to protect equipment used in mining and resource extraction from wear and tear.

About wear-resistant rubbers

Wear-resistant rubbers are specially formulated to counter the forces of impacts, shocks, and abrasion. These super-tough rubbers will resist tearing or abrading, even under extreme operating conditions. Available in a wide variety of formulations, hardness, and thickness, these rubbers can be converted into finished parts which can protect equipment from accelerated wear and tear. Examples of wear-resistant rubbers which we often work with at CRG include the following:

Conveyor Belting

Conveyor belting is a tough rubber possessing lateral stiffness and high wear resistance. Conveyor belting is available in a range of thicknesses and formulations. Grades are available that are reinforced with polyester, nylon, or Kevlar® to give exceptional resistance to punctures and tearing. Given its high wear properties, conveyor belting is an ideal material from which to produce rubber wear parts for mining applications.

CRG also fabricates wear parts from Enlast™ conveyor belting. This material is an excellent masticated alternative to standard conveyor belting, and is impervious to water, heat, aging and cracking, yielding a longer service life when placed in the field. Enlast™ belting is designed for heavy-duty uses and is used to produce wear parts for equipment used within the forestry, mining, and aggregates industries, including sand and gravel applications.

SBR Rubber with Synthetic Fabric

This styrene-butadiene rubber has a synthetic fabric backing which makes the material extremely durable and resistant to tearing and stretching. It is often used as an abrasion and tear resistant liner on mining and resource extraction equipment.

DURASHIELD**®, DURASHIELD**® A+, and SKIRT-SHIELD**®**

These abrasion-resistant rubbers offer optimal abrasion and tear resistance, and are able to withstand attack from a wide variety of chemicals. DURASHIELD® A+ is the preferred material for extremely severe abrasive service conditions, including those involving wet or slurried materials. DURASHIELD® and DURASHIELD A+ materials are a great choice for protective wear parts in equipment used in mining resource extraction.

SKIRT-SHIELD® conveyor skirting from DURASHIELD® material is the supply staple for applications in conveyor belt dominant industries such as mining, aggregates, cement, concrete, and others. Skirting board made from SKIRT-SHIELD® is available in two available formulations:

  • SKIRT-SHIELD® – Red. SKIRT-SHIELD® Red delivers optimum performance in dry applications where superior resistance to cuts and tears is required.

  • SKIRT-SHIELD® Orange A+ (for enhanced abrasion resistance). A+ stands for “abrasion plus”, defining the ultimate in abrasion-resistant natural rubber. Wet, gritty materials such as cement, concrete, and other slurries are no match for this enhanced formula.

Santoprene™ thermoplastic rubber

Santoprene™ is a vulcanized rubber alloy that consists mostly of fully cured EPDM particles that are encapsulated within a polypropylene matrix. Santoprene™ offers superior dimensional stability and resistance flex fatigue and aging. The material is resistant to temperature extremes, chemical exposure, and abrasion, making it a very good choice for producing wear resistant parts.

Rubber wear parts for mining applications from CRG

CRG can custom fabricate rubber wear parts for mining applications using the materials described above. Examples of wear parts that we can produce include the following:

  • Gaskets and seals

  • Wear liners

  • Buffers and bumpers

  • Skirting

  • Covers and guards

  • Floor protection mats

  • Mud flaps

  • Wheel chocks

  • Equipment pads

If you are in the mining or resource extraction industries, CRG can help protect your valuable equipment assets with rubber wear parts. You can rely on CRG’s experienced team for guidance on selecting the best material for your part and application. Our team will guide all aspects of production, including prototyping, testing, and final part manufacture.

To find out more about how CRG can assist with your need for rubber wear parts for mining applications, please contact our sales team at crg@canadarubbergroup.com.