In the mining industry, effective bulk material handling is crucial for operational efficiency for mobile and fixed plant applications. Carryback is a common problem where sticky bulk materials adhere to the surfaces of mobile mining equipment, resulting in several operational challenges. This residual material reduces payload capacity, necessitates additional trips, increases fuel consumption, and exacerbates equipment wear. Hangup refers to bulk material accumulated in fixed mining equipment. Both challenges result in frequent cleaning and maintenance, leading to unplanned downtime and potential safety hazards.
The Polystone Matrox range of polymer engineered plastics is a highly effective lining material known for its superior sliding properties and durability. Matrox offers the lowest coefficient of friction of any liner material for the handling of sticky bulk materials. This characteristic ensures that bulk materials move smoothly and do not adhere excessively to equipment surfaces. By minimising friction with its proprietary release agent, Matrox reduces the amount of material that clings to trucks and hoppers by up to 30%. This reduction not only enhances payload capacity but also reduces the frequency of cleaning and maintenance, contributing to cost savings and more efficent operation
One of the key characteristics of the Matrox range the outstanding abrasion resistance and retention of properties during wear, resulting in longer service life compared to other UHMWPE liner materials.
Traditional materials like steel, while strong, are prone to abrasion and wear over time, especially in harsh mining environments. Matrox, is engineered to withstand significant wear and tear, maintaining its integrity and performance far longer than steel. Utilising a sacrificial liner such as Matrox means that the service life of the steel to which the Matrox is fastened is extended, and given that Matrox is 1/8th the weight of steel means that larger liner panels can be used, reducing the number of joins where bulk material can typically adhere.
This translates to fewer replacements and reduced maintenance costs, making Matrox an economically sound choice for mining operations where surfaces are subjected to continuous abrasion.
Lined Vs Unlined Bucket
Building on the benefits of traditional Matrox, Smart Matrox introduces a new level of innovation by integrating intelligent sensors into the lining material installed in fixed plant applications. Smart Matrox is designed to monitor various conditions, such as wear and temperature. These sensors provide real-time data, enabling predictive maintenance. Mining operations can use the insights from Smart Matrox to anticipate equipment needs based on actual conditions. This proactive approach helps prevent unexpected failures, reduces downtime, and ensures that equipment remains in optimal condition.
Dotmar offers the largest assortment of engineering plastics across Australia and New Zealand, developed to thrive in the demanding conditions of mineral ore, oil and gas, and hard rock mining operations.
Dotmar not only supplies Matrox flow promotion liner panels that are custom cut and profiled to match the specific geometry of your fixed or mobile plant, but also offers professional installation services using their skilled and highly experienced team.
Choosing Dotmar for installation offers several advantages:
High-quality UHMWPE lining products like Matrox are specialised investments, and their effectiveness can be compromised by poor installation.
Dotmar has successfully installed Matrox for varying applications across ANZ and even internationally.
Polystone Matrox liners were proven to be a huge success in;
