The invention relates to a flexible planar element (1), in particular a conveyor belt or treadmill belt, and consists of a tension element (2) and a thermoplastic effective layer (3). Expandable hollow microspheres (4) are bonded in the effective layer (3), which are activated individually or in groups via high-energy radiation (5) in the infrared spectrum, in which a casing of the hollow microspheres (4) is heated to above their softening temperature. The expansion of the hollow microspheres (4) leads to changed mechanical properties of the planar element (1), which can therefore be initially adapted in a targeted manner to the respective intended application. The hollow microspheres (4) can also contain active substances, which are released with the application of the high-energy radiation (5), leading to a reaction with the surrounding material or to a visually discernible colour effect.
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