Rubber sheets are rubber molded into flat sheets with an even thickness. They are often sold on a roll of a specific length for easy handling. Common thicknesses of rubber sheets vary from very thin to very thick. The thickness of the sheets combined with the type of rubber used in the sheets determine their use. One of the many uses of rubber sheets (as well as reinforced rubber sheets) is for gaskets cut in different shapes. The gaskets cut from rubber sheets keep fluids and gases from penetrating substances or keep them contained within vessels or high/low-temperature mechanical systems.
Cloth inserted or reinforced rubber sheet is made of rubber with a specific cloth added incrementally throughout the thickness of the material. Reinforced rubber sheet exhibits all the characteristics of straight rubber sheet but has the benefit of improved mechanical strength taken from the supporting substrate. The fabric, textile or alternative substrate is ‘inserted’ or ‘engineered’ into the rubber sheet during the manufacturing process. This process gives the rubber added durability and a higher degree of strength under hot or cold loads. Fabric reinforced rubber is primarily used in gasket applications as a high strength diaphragm between high pressure or low pressure junctions. This product is used for extra strength in conveyor belts and gaskets that will stand up to moisture and harsh weather conditions.
Cloth reinforcement improves dimensional stability in flange gasket applications with high compression loads, helping to reduce tearing when fastened. Reinforcing materials have an advantage over unsupported items as the fabric substrate takes the stress from the rubber.
On the market is offered a wide range of reinforced rubber sheets, including uncured and semi-cured variants, smooth or cloth finish rubber insertion sheet. The most common types of cloth inserted sheets are reinforced rubber sheets with inserts of:
- Rayon
- Nomex
- Kevlar
- Glass cloth
- Steel mesh
- Aramid
- Polyester
- Polyamide (Nylon)
- Cotton
Cloth inserted rubber sheets in their basic compounds are not different in anything from unreinforced rubber sheets. They are divided into 2 main types – natural and synthetic rubbers. The most widely used are reinforced rubber sheets of:
- Butyl
- EPDM
- Hypalon / Chlorosulphonated Polyethylene (CSM)
- Natural rubber (NR)
- Neoprene / Polychloroprene (CR)
- Nitrile (NBR)
- Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR)
- Silicone
- Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE)
- Vamac® / Ethylene acrylic
- Viton® FKM / Flouroelastomer
Application of Reinforced Rubber Sheets
Reinforced sheets are used in many industries like energetic, chemical, food, footwear, marine, railways, automotive, defense, etc.
They also can be used for sealing, as sealing strips, gaskets, high strength diaphragms, buffer rubber rings, etc. Cloth inserted sheets are also suitable for rubber mats, floor coverings, industrial liners, a decoration of ground of hotels, port boats and ships, vehicles, conveyor belts, etc. Diaphragm rubber sheets are also applied in automotive carburetors, gas control and valve equipment, L.P.G./methane gas actuators and regulators, diesel and other fuel pumps, gas and fuel metering equipment, etc.
Reinforced rubber sheet is an improved version of the general rubber sheet. The longer service life, strength, resilience and the ability to take high compression loads are just some of the advantages that makes it one of the most favored products in the industrial sectors.
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