Abstract: The present invention relates to an industrial fabric, in particular press fabric or transfer belt, for use in a papermaking machine. The industrial fabric includes a porous composite structure, having a batt fiber structure and particulate polymeric material. The batt fiber structure has an upper surface and a lower surface extending parallel to the upper surface and spaced from the upper surface along a thickness direction extending perpendicular to the upper and lower surface. The particulate polymeric material is partly fused together and bonded with fibers extending on at least one of the surfaces of the batt fiber structure and with fibers inside the batt fiber structure such that the polymeric material partly impregnates fibers of the batt structure and partly fills interstices between fibers of the batt structure to form the porous composite structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an industrial fabric, in particular press fabric or transfer belt, for use in a papermaking machine. The industrial fabric includes a porous composite structure, having a batt fiber structure and particulate polymeric material. The batt fiber structure has an upper surface and a lower surface extending parallel to the upper surface and spaced from the upper surface along a thickness direction extending perpendicular to the upper and lower surface. The particulate polymeric material is partly fused together and bonded with fibers extending on at least one of the surfaces of the batt fiber structure and with fibers inside the batt fiber structure such that the polymeric material partly impregnates fibers of the batt structure and partly fills interstices between fibers of the batt structure to form the porous composite structure.

Abstract: A transfer belt for carrying a fibrous web and a papermaking or similar machine. The transfer belt consists of a supporting substrate of a polymer foam and a reinforcement layer of aramid or glass fiber in either fabric or layer foam and a release layer that overlies and is bonded to the supporting substrate. The release layer is formed from a material promoting release of the fibrous web. The release layer may be selected from a variety of materials. The layers each contribute their own function to the operation of the belt to provide superior performance.

Abstract: A paper machine belt that includes at least one layer having parallel yarns. Additionally, a ratio of a volume of the parallel yarns in the at least one layer to a void volume in the at least layer is greater than 1:1.