Parametric studies of coated fabric shear behavior: Fabric construction and coating penetration effects

This work includes a detailed experimental and theoretical parametric studies of the effect of various parameters such as weave pattern, yarn size, coating thickness and coating penetration on rubber-reinforced fabric shear response. Nine types of woven PET fabrics were fabricated. The PET fabrics were subjected to one, two and three coats of neoprene latex using a dip-coating process, with and without coagulant agent. Both coated and uncoated fabrics were shear tested with the use of a trellis frame. Microscopy images were taken from the coated specimens to improve the understanding of the interaction between the fabric structure and the rubber coating. Results suggest that with a limited amount of coating the shear behavior of the rubber-reinforced fabric is rubber-dominated at low shear angles and fabric-dominated at higher shear angles. With an increase in coating penetration and thickness, however, the shear deformation becomes similar to that of a cord/textile embedded in rubber. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...