High density press fabric

Abstract

A press fabric for use in a papermaking machine, the press fabric including a base fabric and a layer of fine fibers combined with a polymer reinforcement. The layer being associated with the base fabric. The layer being no more than 125 grams/m 2 . The press fabric being pre-compacted to a density greater than 750 kg/m 3 .

1 . A press fabric for use in a papermaking machine, the press fabric comprising:
 a base fabric; and   a layer of fine fibers combined with a polymer reinforcement, said layer being associated with said base fabric, said layer being no more than 125 g/m 2 , the press fabric being pre-compacted to a density greater than 750 kg/m 3 .   
   
   
       2 . The press fabric of  claim 1 , wherein said fibers are finer than 3.1 dtex for a shoe press application. 
   
   
       3 . The press fabric of  claim 1 , wherein said fibers are finer than 6.7 dtex for a roll press application. 
   
   
       4 . The press fabric of  claim 1 , wherein said base fabric has a lateral and transversal intrinsic flow resistance of less than 120*10 10 /m 2  at 8 MPa pressure. 
   
   
       5 . The press fabric of  claim 4 , wherein said base fabric is woven from single strand monofilaments. 
   
   
       6 . The press fabric of  claim 5 , wherein said base fabric has machine direction yarns not coarser than 0.30 mm. 
   
   
       7 . The press fabric of  claim 6 , wherein said base fabric is woven in one layer. 
   
   
       8 . The press fabric of  claim 7 , further comprising a non-woven component positioned between said layer and said base fabric. 
   
   
       9 . The press fabric of  claim 8 , wherein said non-woven component is a Vector component. 
   
   
       10 . The press fabric of  claim 8 , wherein the fabric is needled. 
   
   
       11 . The press fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is needled and pre-compacted to a density greater than 850 kg/m 3 . 
   
   
       12 . The press fabric of  claim 11 , wherein said polymer includes one of polyamide and polyurethane. 
   
   
       13 . A papermaking machine using a press fabric, the press fabric comprising:
 a base fabric; and   a layer of fine fibers combined with a polymer reinforcement, said layer being associated with said base fabric, said layer being no more than 125 g/m 2 .   
   
   
       14 . The papermaking machine of  claim 13 , wherein said fibers are finer than 3.1 dtex for a shoe press application. 
   
   
       15 . The papermaking machine of  claim 13 , wherein said fibers are finer than 6.7 dtex for a roll press application. 
   
   
       16 . The papermaking machine of  claim 13 , wherein said base fabric has a lateral and transversal intrinsic flow resistance of less than 120*10 10 /m 2  at 8 MPa pressure. 
   
   
       17 . The papermaking machine of  claim 16 , wherein said base fabric is woven from single strand monofilaments. 
   
   
       18 . The papermaking machine of  claim 17 , wherein said base fabric has machine direction yarns not coarser than 0.30 mm. 
   
   
       19 . The papermaking machine of  claim 18 , wherein said base fabric is woven in one layer. 
   
   
       20 . The papermaking machine of  claim 19 , further comprising a non-woven component positioned between said layer and said base fabric. 
   
   
       21 . The papermaking machine of  claim 20 , wherein said non-woven component is a Vector component. 
   
   
       22 . The papermaking machine of  claim 20 , wherein the fabric is needled and pre-compacted to a density greater than 750 kg/m 3 . 
   
   
       23 . The papermaking machine of  claim 13 , wherein the fabric is needled and pre-compacted to a density greater than 850 kg/m 3 . 
   
   
       24 . The papermaking machine of  claim 23 , wherein said polymer includes one of polyamide and polyurethane.