Paper machine clothing with auxetic fibers and/or yarns

Abstract

A paper machine includes a clothing carried by a plurality of rolls. At least one of the rolls is movable to exert a selected tension load on the clothing. The clothing includes auxetic fibers. By moving one of the rolls to exert a selected tension and/or press load on the clothing, a thickness of the auxetic fibers is modified to become thinner under a lesser load or thicker under a greater load.

1 . A paper machine clothing, comprising at least one layer of fibers, at least some of said fibers being auxetic fibers. 
     
     
         2 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 1 , wherein said clothing comprises one of a press fabric, a forming fabric, a drying fabric and a belt. 
     
     
         3 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 2 , wherein said clothing comprises a press fabric including at least one base layer, and batt fiber coupled with said base layer, said batt fiber including at least one of auxetic particles and said auxetic fibers. 
     
     
         4 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 3 , wherein said batt fiber is at least one of physically and chemically coupled with said base layer. 
     
     
         5 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 4 , wherein said batt fiber is physically coupled with said base layer via needling. 
     
     
         6 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 1 , wherein said auxetic fibers have one of a circular and flattened cross section. 
     
     
         7 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 1 , wherein said auxetic fibers have a Poisson's ratio of between 1:2 to 1:5 when subjected to tensile loading. 
     
     
         8 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of yarns, at least some of said yarns being auxetic yarns. 
     
     
         9 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 8 , wherein said clothing includes a base layer, and at least some of said yarns are physically coupled with said base layer. 
     
     
         10 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 9 , wherein said yarns extend in a machine direction of said clothing and are needled to said base layer. 
     
     
         11 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 1 , wherein said auxetic fibers are comprised of an auxetic polymeric material. 
     
     
         12 . A paper machine, comprising a clothing carried by a plurality of rolls, at least one of said rolls being movable to exert a selected load on said clothing, said clothing including auxetic fibers which become thicker in cross section as said load increases. 
     
     
         13 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 12 , wherein said clothing comprises one of a press fabric, a forming fabric, a drying fabric and a belt. 
     
     
         14 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 13 , wherein said clothing comprises a press fabric including at least one base layer, and batt fiber coupled with said base layer, said batt fiber including said auxetic fibers. 
     
     
         15 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 14 , wherein said batt fiber is physically coupled with said base layer. 
     
     
         16 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 15 , wherein said batt fiber is physically coupled with said base layer via needling. 
     
     
         17 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 12 , wherein said auxetic fibers have one of a circular and flattened cross section. 
     
     
         18 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 12 , wherein said auxetic fibers have a Poisson's ratio of between 1:2 to 1:5 when subjected to tensile loading. 
     
     
         19 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 12 , further including a plurality of yarns, at least some of said yarns being auxetic yarns. 
     
     
         20 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 19 , wherein said clothing includes a base layer, and at least some of said yarns are physically coupled with said base layer. 
     
     
         21 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 20 , wherein said yarns extend in a machine direction of said clothing and are needled to said base layer. 
     
     
         22 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 12 , wherein said auxetic fibers are comprised of an auxetic polymeric material. 
     
     
         23 . A method of operating a paper machine, comprising the steps of:
 carrying a clothing with a plurality of rolls, said clothing including auxetic fibers; and   moving one of said rolls to exert a selected load on said clothing, thereby modifying a thickness of said auxetic fibers to become one of thinner under a lesser load and thicker under a greater load.   
     
     
         24 . The method of operating a paper machine clothing of  claim 23 , wherein said clothing comprises one of a press fabric, a forming fabric, a drying fabric and a belt. 
     
     
         25 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 23 , wherein said clothing includes a plurality of yarns, at least some of said yarns being auxetic yarns. 
     
     
         26 . The paper machine clothing of  claim 25 , wherein said clothing includes a base layer, said yarns extending in a machine direction of said clothing, at least some of said yarns being needled to said base layer.