Full definition
Polychloroprene (CR) rubber sheet with one or more plies of woven fabric (nylon PA6/PA66 or polyester PET) embedded within the rubber body during the calendering or press-curing process. The fabric reinforcement dramatically increases tensile strength (from 8-15 MPa unreinforced to 20-40 MPa reinforced), tear resistance, and dimensional stability while reducing elongation (from 300-500% to 50-150% — the sheet resists stretching). Construction: 1-ply (standard — one fabric layer with rubber covers on both sides) or 2-ply (heavy-duty — two fabric layers for maximum strength). Total thickness: 1.5-12 mm. Fabric treatment: RFL (resorcinol-formaldehyde-latex) dip for strong rubber-to-fabric adhesion. Applications: diaphragms for pumps and actuators (the primary use — fabric prevents ballooning under pressure while CR provides chemical compatibility), expansion joints for piping and ducting, reinforced gaskets for flanged connections under higher bolt loads, bellows, and flexible connectors. Compared to unreinforced sheet, fabric-reinforced neoprene holds shape under sustained pressure and resists creep/cold flow, making it essential for diaphragm and expansion joint applications.