Monofilament yarn for a paper machine clothing fabric

Abstract

A paper machine clothing (PMC) fabric includes a plurality of monofilament yarns, at least some of which have a composition which is a thermoplastic resin. The thermoplastic resin yarns have physical properties including a water absorption of less than approximately 6% and a loop tenacity of greater than approximately 8.0 grams/denier.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A paper machine clothing (PMC) fabric including a plurality of monofilament yarns, at least some of said yarns having a composition comprised of a thermoplastic resin, each of said yarns having physical properties including a water absorption of less than approximately 6% and a loop tenacity of greater than approximately 8.0 grams/denier. 
     
     
         2 . The PMC fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein said thermoplastic resin is a polyamide resin. 
     
     
         3 . The PMC fabric according to  claim 2 , wherein said polyamide is polyamide 6/6T (PA6/6T) copolymer resin. 
     
     
         4 . The PMC fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition has a knot tenacity which is greater than 3.0 grams per denier. 
     
     
         5 . The PMC fabric according to  claim 4 , wherein said knot tenacity is greater than 5.0 grams per denier. 
     
     
         6 . The PMC fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition has a tenacity which is greater than 5.5 grams per denier. 
     
     
         7 . The PMC fabric according to  claim 6 , wherein said composition has a tenacity greater than 6 grams per denier. 
     
     
         8 . The PMC fabric according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one stabilizer. 
     
     
         9 . The PMC fabric according to  claim 8 , wherein said stabilizer is selected to improve a plurality of antioxidant properties of said monofilament. 
     
     
         10 . The PMC fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein said yarns having said thermoplastic resin composition have a diameter between approximately 0.05 and 0.70 millimeters (mm). 
     
     
         11 . The PMC fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein said loop tenacity is greater than 10 grams per denier. 
     
     
         12 . The PMC fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein said yarns having said composition comprised of said thermoplastic resin have an abrasion resistance which is greater than polyamide 6,12 (PA6,12) alone. 
     
     
         13 . The PMC fabric according to  claim 12 , wherein said yarns having said composition comprised of said thermoplastic resin have an abrasion resistance which is 50% greater than polyamide 6,12 (PA6,12) alone. 
     
     
         14 . The PMC fabric according to  claim 13 , wherein said yarns having said composition comprised of said thermoplastic resin have an abrasion resistance which is 100% greater than polyamide 6,12 (PA6,12) alone. 
     
     
         15 . A paper machine clothing (PMC) fabric yarn for use in a PMC fabric, said PMC yarn having a composition comprised of a thermoplastic resin, each of said yarns having physical properties including a water absorption of less than approximately 6% and a loop tenacity of greater than approximately 8.0 grams/denier. 
     
     
         16 . The PMC fabric yarn according to  claim 15 , wherein said thermoplastic resin is a polyamide resin. 
     
     
         17 . The PMC fabric yarn according to  claim 16 , wherein said polyamide resin is a polyamide 6/6T (PA6/6T) copolymer resin. 
     
     
         18 . The PMC fabric yarn according to  claim 15 , wherein said composition has a knot tenacity which is greater than 3.0 grams per denier. 
     
     
         19 . The PMC fabric yarn according to  claim 15 , wherein said composition has a tenacity which is greater than 5.5 grams per denier. 
     
     
         20 . The PMC fabric yarn according to  claim 15 , said PMC fabric yarn having a diameter between approximately 0.05 and 0.70 millimeters (mm). 
     
     
         21 . The PMC fabric yarn according to  claim 15 , wherein said composition has a water absorption which is less than polyamide 6 (PA6) alone. 
     
     
         22 . A method of manufacturing a paper machine clothing (PMC) fabric yarn for use in a PMC fabric, said method comprising the steps of:
 extruding a polyamide 6/6T (PA6/6T) copolymer resin;   spinning said PA6/6T copolymer resin into a filament; and   drawing said filament into a monofilament PMC fabric yarn having physical properties including a water absorption of less than 6 percent (%) and a loop tenacity of greater than 8.0 grams per denier.