--- title: "Conveyor Belt Damage: Avoid Grooves" description: Misconceptions about sealing systems abound. Key factors for edge seals include abrasion resistance, not material hardness, and proper belt support to prevent wear. --- [Skip to content](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge/avoiding-grooves-in-the-conveyor-belt#main-content) [![Martin Engineering Signature Logo](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MartinEng_Sig_2c_RGB.png?height=40&name=MartinEng_Sig_2c_RGB.png)](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge?hsLang=en) - Topics Show submenu for Topics - [Belt Conveyor System Basics](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/basics-of-belt-conveyor-systems) - [Mistracking](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/conveyor-belt-mistracking) - [Conveyor and Component Damage](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/belt-conveyor-and-component-damage) - [Carryback and Belt Cleaning](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/material-carryback-and-belt-cleaning) - [New Technology](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/new-technology-and-innovation) - [Material Flow](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/material-flow) - [Safety](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/belt-conveyor-safety) - [Dust Management](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/dust-management) - [Maintenance](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/belt-conveyor-system-maintenance) - [Spillage](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/material-spillage) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Topics Show submenu for Topics - [Belt Conveyor System Basics](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/basics-of-belt-conveyor-systems) - [Mistracking](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/conveyor-belt-mistracking) - [Conveyor and Component Damage](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/belt-conveyor-and-component-damage) - [Carryback and Belt Cleaning](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/material-carryback-and-belt-cleaning) - [New Technology](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/new-technology-and-innovation) - [Material Flow](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/material-flow) - [Safety](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/belt-conveyor-safety) - [Dust Management](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/dust-management) - [Maintenance](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/belt-conveyor-system-maintenance) - [Spillage](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/migration/en/knowledge/material-spillage) - [Request Assistance](https://info.martin-eng.com/request-assistance) [Request Assistance](https://info.martin-eng.com/request-assistance?hsLang=en) Hi! How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Foundations™ Learning Center](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge?hsLang=en) 2. [Belt Conveyor and Component Damage](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge/belt-conveyor-and-component-damage?hsLang=en) - [Basics of Belt Conveyor Systems](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge/basics-of-belt-conveyor-systems?hsLang=en) - [Conveyor Belt Mistracking](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge/conveyor-belt-mistracking?hsLang=en) - [Belt Conveyor and Component Damage](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge/belt-conveyor-and-component-damage?hsLang=en) - [Material Carryback and Belt Cleaning](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge/material-carryback-and-belt-cleaning?hsLang=en) - [Material Spillage](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge/material-spillage?hsLang=en) - [Belt Conveyor Safety](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge/belt-conveyor-safety?hsLang=en) - [Dust Management](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge/dust-management?hsLang=en) - [Material Flow](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge/material-flow?hsLang=en) - [New Technology and Innovation](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge/new-technology-and-innovation?hsLang=en) - [Belt Conveyor System Maintenance](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge/belt-conveyor-system-maintenance?hsLang=en) # Conveyor Belt Damage: Avoid Grooves ## Understanding the Role of Abrasion Resistance in Belt Sealing Systems [![MartinEng_Sig_2cO_RGB_226px](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5156573/interactive-186360102157.png)](https://cta-service-cms2.hubspot.com/web-interactives/public/v1/track/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLKLVgi9OkPUGHHysz8e79TGyPsOc0lvDSUEClZRCZ2obmtRBq%2FEXBCg76rOK0jEwrnBl6msHU9BTF5Nssz0gDdca1K1xBUUgDelASG0BpRgzXb9zJhb2rsU23vOM%2Feer6hCl6atGNy2jT6skJdck2vIPoNHqaL5f2jRcyeUWZ2JDAsJt4DEYLULXbrhkzuOYVrcSm1wT72sNJ6PvZneNg%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=186360102157&portalId=5156573) It is a common misconception that the sealing system must be "softer" than the belt cover to ensure the seal wears before the belt. However, a [wide range of materials can be appropriate for edge seals](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge/engineered-belt-conveyor-sealing-systems?hsLang=en). The key factor to consider is not whether the material is harder or softer than the top cover, but whether it has a lower abrasion resistance than the belt. [Abrasion resistance](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge/tackling-abrasion-damage-in-conveyor-belts?hsLang=en) is not measured by a durometer, which rates hardness, but by an abrasion index, such as Pico, Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN), or Taber ratings. Often, belts will develop signs of wear at a fixed distance from their edge that appear to be caused by overly abrasive or poorly adjusted belt seals. Generally, [this wear is the result of fines or other materials trapped underneath the seal](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge/conveyor-belt-entrapment-damage?hsLang=en). This entrapped material is most often seen on belts without [proper belt support](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge/belt-conveyor-edge-seal-support-cradles?hsLang=en) or on conveyors where material loading begins while the [belt is in transition](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge/conveyor-belt-transition-distance?hsLang=en), as the changes in belt shape make it easy for material to be trapped under the skirtboard. It is also important to examine other nearby chutes and conveyors for [leakage or spillage](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge/minimizing-the-escape-of-fugitive-material?hsLang=en) that could fall onto the belt.       [![Martin Engineering Signature Logo](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MartinEng_SigLogo_2c_150px_Padded.png?width=196&height=55&name=MartinEng_SigLogo_2c_150px_Padded.png "Martin Engineering Signature Logo")](https://foundations.martin-eng.com/en/knowledge?hsLang=en) Foundations™ Learning Center Copyright © 2025, Martin Engineering