Reinforced Substrates: Aerospace Technology Introduces a New Concept for Industrial Fabrics

The purpose of this research and development project was to determine if an engineered system of reinforcing substrates as developed by aerospace technology is adaptable to industrial fabrics. The creation of an entirely new breed of industrial fabrics, however, also requires solid, demonstrative proof that such fabrics will satisfy an existing need better than existing materials and practices or introduce fabricators and manufacturers to an entirely new market. Very thin films used in commercial and space aircraft for insulation covering require effective reinforcement both for fabrication and strength purposes. To keep weight at a minimum, a reinforcing system of bonded, oriented, and continuous strand yarns was developed. In this system the fill yarns are coated with an adhesive, passed over the warp, and bonded to a substrate in a continuous procedure. Fill yarn spacing is variable at will. Virtually any size, type, and combination of yarns can be used. Adhesives are selected to match the end use of the reinforced product. As a part of the project, this reinforcing system was applied to many types of plastic films and to both woven and non-woven substrates. Laboratory and field work on this project began in August 1976. Over 400 different types of fabrics were constructed and evaluated for possible use in approximately 60 industrial applications.