Background
An Argentine lithium company operating in the Puna region of Jujuy Province β the high-altitude salt flat area β was specifying conveyor belts for its lithium carbonate processing plant. Lithium brine is pumped from underground aquifers into evaporation ponds, then the concentrated lithium is processed through a series of chemical steps to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate.
The belts required were for the product handling section of the plant β conveying lithium carbonate powder from the dryer to packaging and bagging lines.
Application Characteristics
Lithium carbonate (LiβCOβ) is a white powder with specific properties relevant to belt specification:
- Mildly alkaline β pH of LiβCOβ aqueous solution is approximately 11.2
- Fine powder β particle size typically 5β50 microns
- Low abrasion β lithium carbonate is a soft material (Mohs hardness ~3)
- Hygroscopic β absorbs moisture from air, which can cause clumping
- Battery-grade purity requirements β contamination by rubber particles or metallic debris would affect product quality
Altitude and climate: The Puna region sits at 3,500β4,200 meters above sea level. Temperatures range from -20Β°C overnight to +25Β°C during the day. UV radiation at this altitude is intense. This is a physically challenging environment for rubber compounds.
Belt Specification Considerations
Chemical resistance: Mildly alkaline product contact requires a cover compound resistant to alkaline pH. EPDM rubber has good alkaline resistance. Standard SBR has limited alkaline resistance and would degrade over time.
Cover cleanliness: For battery-grade lithium carbonate, any rubber particles shed from the belt cover would be contamination. A hard, smooth, non-friable cover surface minimizes particle shedding. A polyurethane cover was considered β PU sheds fewer particles than rubber in fine powder applications.
Cold-flex: Overnight temperatures reaching -20Β°C require cold-flex compound.
UV resistance: High-altitude UV at 3,800m is approximately 50% more intense than at sea level. UV-stabilized compound essential.
Final specification: - EP150 (light duty β lithium carbonate is not heavy) - 650mm wide - Top cover: 5mm PU-coated smooth surface (non-particle-shedding, alkaline resistant) - Bottom cover: 4mm EPDM cold-flex compound - Cover compound: UV-stabilized throughout
The PU-coated top surface was the key specification element β it provided both chemical resistance and the smooth, non-friable surface needed for product purity compliance.
Outcome
The belts ran for the first production season (approximately 8 months, as operations pause during the southern hemisphere winter for pond management). At inspection, the PU surface showed no cracking or delamination, and no rubber contamination was detected in product quality checks from the belt area.
The cold-flex compound on the bottom cover maintained flexibility during cold morning start-ups without cracking.
Key Points
Battery mineral processing has purity requirements that affect belt selection. This is increasingly relevant as lithium, cobalt, and nickel production for battery supply chains grows. Belt cover material selection must consider not just wear resistance but also contamination risk.
Altitude means UV. The Puna, Atacama, and Tibetan Plateau are among the world's highest-UV industrial environments. Standard rubber cover compounds without UV stabilizers fail significantly faster than at sea level. Cold-flex AND UV-stabilized compounds are the correct baseline for high-altitude operations.
Fine powder applications need smooth surfaces. Textured or rough belt covers shed more particles into fine powder products than smooth surfaces. For food-grade, pharmaceutical, or battery-grade powder handling, smooth covers minimize contamination risk.
Elephant Rubber supplied the conveyor belts for this project.