Analysis of factors affecting the tensile strength of fabric-reinforced rubber materials

In the field of materials science, fabric-reinforced rubber, as a high-performance composite material, is widely favored because it combines the flexibility of rubber with the strength characteristics of fabric. This type of material is widely used in tires, conveyor belts, seals and various structural components, and its tensile strength is one of the key indicators to measure its performance. Tensile strength not only relates to the load-bearing capacity of the material when subjected to force, but also directly affects the service life and safety of the product. This paper aims to explore the bonding method between the fabric reinforcement layer and the rubber matrix and the influence of the thickness and density of the fabric reinforcement layer on the tensile strength, in order to provide theoretical support for the research and development and application of related materials.

1. Influence of bonding method on tensile strength
The bonding method between the fabric reinforcement layer and the rubber matrix is ​​one of the key factors that determine the overall performance of the composite material. A good bonding interface is like a bond that tightly connects the reinforcement layer and the matrix to ensure that the two can work together during the tensile process and jointly bear the tensile load. The ideal bonding state means that the stress is evenly transferred between the interfaces, avoiding early failure caused by stress concentration.

The key to achieving good bonding is to select a suitable adhesive, optimize the bonding process, and ensure the cleaning and treatment of the fabric surface. For example, pre-treating the fabric surface with a specific primer can improve the wettability and chemical bonding between rubber and fabric, thereby enhancing the interfacial adhesion. In addition, hot pressing technology promotes the penetration and diffusion of rubber molecular chains by controlling temperature, pressure and time, further enhancing the interfacial interaction.

On the contrary, if the bonding is poor, it will cause slippage or debonding at the interface, making it impossible to effectively transfer the tensile load to the reinforcement layer, significantly reducing the tensile strength of the composite material. Therefore, optimizing the bonding method is an effective way to improve the tensile strength of fabric-reinforced rubber materials.

2. Influence of fabric reinforcement layer thickness and density
The thickness and density of the fabric reinforcement layer, as another important parameter, also have a profound impact on the tensile strength. Intuitively, increasing the thickness and density of the reinforcement layer means introducing more fibers to bear the load, thereby improving the overall strength and stiffness of the material. This is especially suitable for applications that need to withstand large tensile stresses, such as the carcass ply of heavy vehicle tires.

However, too thick a reinforcement layer may also have adverse effects. On the one hand, too high density and thickness will increase the overall rigidity of the material, resulting in a decrease in its flexibility when subjected to dynamic loads, affecting the comfort and shock absorption performance of the product. On the other hand, too thick a reinforcement layer may increase the weight of the material, which is not conducive to the trend of lightweight design and increases production costs.

Therefore, in practical applications, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the final use of the material, the working environment, and the cost-effectiveness, and reasonably design the thickness and density of the reinforcement layer. Through precise simulation analysis and experimental verification, the best balance point is found to achieve the optimization of tensile strength and other performance indicators.