Planar elements for use in papermaking machines

Abstract

A planar element for use in a papermaking machine comprising a synthetic construction incorporating nanoparticles in a polymeric resin matrix.

1 . A planar element for use in a papermaking machine, said planar element comprising a synthetic construction incorporating nanoparticles in a polymeric resin matrix.  
     
     
         2 . The planar element of  claim 1  wherein said nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of powders, grains, fibres and platelets.  
     
     
         3 . The planar element of claims  1  or  2  wherein said nanoparticles are metallic and selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, carbides or nitrides, metallic complexes, ionic structures and covalent bonds.  
     
     
         4 . The planar element of claims  1  or  2  wherein said nanoparticles are non-metallic and/or covalent and selected from the group consisting of clay particles, silicates, ceramic materials, glass particles, carbon black, fumed silica, calcium carbonate, carbon nanotubes and nanospheres of ceramic powders.  
     
     
         5 . The planar element of  claim 1  wherein said nanoparticles comprise between about 0.5 to 75% by weight of said polymeric resin matrix.  
     
     
         6 . The planar element of  claim 5  wherein said nanoparticles comprise between about 5 to 20% by weight of said polymeric resin matrix.  
     
     
         7 . The planar element of  claim 6  wherein said nanoparticles comprise between about 10 to 15% by weight of said polymeric resin matrix.  
     
     
         8 . The planar element of  claim 1  comprising a composite of multiple fabric substrates impregnated with said polymeric resin matrix.  
     
     
         9 . The planar element of  claim 1  comprising a composite of multiple fabric substrates with film layers interposed therebetween, at least one of said fabric substrates and film layers being impregnated with said polymeric resin matrix.  
     
     
         10 . The planar element of claims  8  or  9  wherein said fabric substrates comprise fibres selected from the group consisting of glass, carbon and aramid fibres.  
     
     
         11 . The planar element of  claim 10  wherein said fibres are woven.  
     
     
         12 . The planar element of  claim 10  wherein said fibres are non-woven.  
     
     
         13 . The planar element of  claim 10  wherein said fibres are unidirectional.  
     
     
         14 . The planar element of  claim 10  wherein said fibres are multidirectional.  
     
     
         15 . The planar element of claims  8  or  9  wherein said fabric substrates incorporate carbon fibres made from carbon nanotubes and polyacrlonitrile.