The technical importance of flexible composite structures needs no emphasis nor has there been any lack of material descriptive of their manufacture or properties. The starting points of such descriptions have invariably been from the viewpoint of the rubber industry and the presence of a suitable textile has been taken for granted, its strength properties indicated and the technological content confined to the manufacturing process within the rubber industry. An attempt is made here to work from the textile outwards. Industrial fabrics are far heavier than garment textiles, are not produced...