Fabric treatment for reinforced elastomeric articles

1. A power transmission belt, the belt comprising an elastomeric body and at least one fabric layer, wherein the fabric layer is comprised of a fabric and a vulcanized elastomeric material, wherein the fibers in the fabric layer extend in at least one direction of the belt, wherein there are interstices between the fibers in the fabric, and wherein the belt is characterized by the interstices between the fibers in the fabric of the fabric layer containing a vulcanized elastomeric material, wherein the fabric layer is made by the vulcanization within the interstices of the fibers of an elastomeric material comprising 20-80 phcm of a liquid elastomer and a cross-linkable functionalized polyethylene, and wherein the elastomeric material has a complex dynamic viscosity of less than 5 McP (5,000 N*s/m 2 ) for at least 2 minutes at a maximum flow temperature T F .

2. The belt of claim 1 wherein the cord or fabric layer is pretreated with an adhesive.

3. The belt of claim 1 wherein the belt has a cord layer and a fabric layer.

4. The belt of claim 1 wherein the fabric layer forms at least one outer surface of the belt.

5. The belt of claim 1 wherein the liquid elastomer has a complex dynamic viscosity less than 5 McP (5,000 N*s/Mm 2 ) at a temperature between 20° C. and the maximum flow temperature T F .

6. The belt of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material comprises 25-60 phcm of liquid elastomer.

7. The belt of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material comprises 2-15 phcm of peroxide.

8. The belt of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material has an ethylene content of greater than 65%.

9. The belt of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material comprises 25 phcm liquid EPM, 25 phcm solid EPDM, and 50 phcm oxidized polyethylene homopolymer.

10. The belt of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material comprises 21.5 phcm liquid EPM, 21.5 phcm solid EPDM, and 57 phcm oxidized polyethylene homopolymer.

11. The belt of claim 1 wherein the cross-linkable functionalized polyethylene is an oxidized polyethylene homopolymer.

12. The belt of claim 11 wherein the oxidized polyethylene homopolymer has a Brookfield viscosity of about 85,000 cps at 150° C.

13. A power transmission belt, the belt comprising an elastomeric body and at least one cord layer, wherein the cord layer is comprised of at least one cord and a vulcanized elastomeric material, wherein cords in the cord layer extend in at least one direction of the belt, and wherein the belt is characterized by the cords in the cord layer being encapsulated by the vulcanized elastomeric material, wherein the cord layer is made by the vulcanization of an elastomeric material that encapsulates the cords of the cord layer, wherein the elastomeric material is comprised of 20-80 phcm of a liquid elastomer and a cross-linkable functionalized polyethylene, and wherein the elastomeric material has a complex dynamic viscosity of less than 5 McP (5,000 N*s/m 2 ) for at least 2 minutes at a maximum flow temperature T F .

14. The belt of claim 13 wherein the cord or fabric layer is pretreated with an adhesive.

15. The belt of claim 13 wherein the fabric layer forms at least one outer surface of the belt.

16. The belt of claim 13 wherein the elastomeric material consists of a liquid EPM, a solid EPDM, an oxidized polyethylene homopolymer, and from 2-15 phcm of a peroxide.

17. The belt of claim 13 wherein the elastomeric material comprises about 25 phcm liquid EPM, about 25 phcm solid EPDM, and about 50 phcm oxidized polyethylene homopolymer.

18. The belt of claim 13 wherein the elastomeric material comprises about 21.5 phcm liquid EPM, about 21.5 phcm solid EPDM, and about 57 phcm oxidized polyethylene homopolymer.

19. The belt of claim 13 wherein the cross-linkable functionalized polyethylene is an oxidized polyethylene homopolymer.

20. The belt of claim 19 wherein the oxidized polyethylene homopolymer has a Brookfield viscosity of about 85,000 cps at 150° C.