Bi-modulus reinforcement fabric

A fibrous web with a compound fabric modulus in each of both warp and fill directions comprising at least a first yarn type and a second yarn type woven together in each of said warp and fill directions, said second yarn type having a higher fiber modulus and greater shrinkage crimp than said first yarn type, said compound moduli comprising a first modulus low load elongation of greater than 5%@5 pli, and a second modulus fibrous web stress limit of at least 15 pli.

A woven fabric with a compound fabric modulus in the weft direction comprising a warp material woven with weft yarns consisting of greater than 10% of weft fiber by weight of a high shrinkage filament nylon fiber and less than 90% of weft fiber by weight of an aramid type fiber, said woven fabric having been thermally processed for shrinkage of said nylon fibers.

A woven fabric with a compound modulus in the CM direction comprising one yarn type in the MD direction and at least two yarn types in the CM direction, the second yarn type of said two yarn types having a higher fiber modulus and greater fiber shrinkage crimp than the first yarn type of said two yarn types, said compound moduli comprising a first modulus low load elongation of greater than 5%@5 pli, and a second modulus fabric stress limit of at least 15 pli.

A fiber reinforced elastomeric material comprising a fibrous web with a compound fabric modulus in at least one of warp and fill directions, said fibrous web comprising at least a first yarn type and a second yarn type woven together in a common direction, said second yarn type having a higher fiber modulus and greater shrinkage crimp than said first yarn type.

A method for making a woven fabric with a compound modulus in at least one of warp and weft directions comprising the steps of:

• weaving a fibrous web with at least two yarn types in at least one of said warp and weft directions, said two yarn types having different fiber shrinkage characteristics and different fiber moduli, and processing said fibrous web for fiber shrinkage.

A method for making a woven fabric of a plain, basket or pattern weave with a compound modulus in the weft direction comprising the steps of:

• weaving two or more yarn types having uniform thermal fiber shrinkage characteristics in the warp direction with two or more yarn types having different thermal fiber shrinkage characteristics and different fiber moduli into a woven web;
• and
• processing said woven web at a temperature greater than 100F until a differential fiber shrinkage is obtained in said weft direction.