RUBBER-FIBER COMPOSITE MATERIAL AND RUBBER ARTICLE USING THE SAME

A rubber-fiber composite material of the present invention comprises a non-woven fabric and a rubber which coats the non-woven fabric. At least a part of the non-woven fabric is made of an organic fiber having a single fiber diameter of 10 to 35 mu m, a fiber length of 30 to 100 mm and a tensile modulus of 50 GPa or higher. By the use of the non-woven fabric at least a part of which is made of the organic fiber having the above properties, a sufficient impregnation of rubber into the inside of the non-woven fabric is ensured to enable the production of the rubber-fiber composite material having a high stiffness. Using the rubber-fiber composite material of the present invention as the reinforcing material for rubber articles, the resultant rubber articles have enhanced stiffness, improved durability and reduced weight.