Belt

1. Preparation of the belt ends
   In the first step for a fabric carcass belt" the ends are cut at the correct angle and then stripped or pulled apart to expose the various plies to be joined. Care must be taken not to damage the plies or cords. The process for a steel-cable belt involves cutting back the rubber cover.

1. Application of cement, gum, or other intermediary material
   The second step provides the buildup of the layers, much like the making of a sandwich, which will form the completed splice. For steel-cable belts, the cords are overlapped, and then appropriate bonding agents are applied to the exposed cables. Fill and cover rubbers are then laid in place, and the belt is cured in the same manner for both steel-cable and fabric belts.

1. Curing of the splice
   The assembled materials are pressed together and cured, through the application of heat, pressure, and/or time, to form the finished splice. Typically, the materials used for a vulcanized splice-cement, tie gum, strings of rubber called noodles, or cover stock, all depending on belt style and construction-are available in kit form. Kits from the belt manufacturer are sometimes preferred, although there are generic kits available for the most common belt grades. The materials in the kit are perishable; they have a specified shelf life in storage and a limited "pot life" when they are mixed into the ready-to-apply state.

In hot vulcanization, the layers of a belt are stripped in a stair-step or finger fashion and overlapped with glue and rubber. A heated press or "cooker" then applies heat and pressure to "vulcanize" the belt into an endless loop. In cold vulcanization (technically called chemical bonding), the belt's layers are joined with an adhesive or bonding agent that cures at room temperature. Vulcanization, particularly hot vulcanization, is usually performed by outside contractors who have the specialized equipment and expertise to perform the required procedure.