jute fabric was coated with natural rubber to develop double-texture rubberized waterproof fabric and fabric-reinforced rubber sheeting for hospitals. The vulcanization of such natural-rubber-coated flexible composites at 120 degrees C for 3 h produced optimum effects. The jute/natural-rubber composite was much superior to a conventional polyester/natural-rubber composite for producing such double-texture rubberized fabric with respect to the fabricto-natural-rubber adhesion, breaking strength, tear strength, abrasion resistance, puncture resistance, and biodegradability. For fabric-reinforced rubberized sheeting, the jute/natural-rubber composite was superior to a conventionally used cotton/natural-rubber composite with respect to the fabric-to-natural-rubber adhesion, breaking strength, tear strength, and abrasion resistance. However, for both applications, the jute-based products were commonly found to be less extensible, heavier, and thicker. Unsaturation in the lignin fraction of jute established a chemical linkage with the unsaturation of natural rubber via sulfur at the jute/natural/rubber interface. An examination of the surface morphology of uncoated and coated jute fabrics by scanning electron microscopy revealed a good degree of deposition and filling even in the intercellular regions of jute by a cohesive mass of natural rubber, which remained unseparated from the fiber, when mechanical force was applied. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.