Paper machine clothings constructed of interconnected bicomponent fibers

摘要

The present invention is directed towards paper machine clothings comprised of interconnected bicomponent fibers. In one embodiment of the invention, the paper machine clothing is comprised entirely of bicomponent fibers in both the machine and cross machine direction. Advantage is taken of the unique bicomponent fiber structure, which permits selection of different materials for the sheath and core components. For instance, the sheath material may have a melting point lower than the melting point of the core material. Accordingly, a fused, bonded structure of bicomponent fibers can be formed where the sheath component has a melting point lower than the core component. By heating a fabric constructed of bicomponent fibers to a temperature greater than the melting point of the sheath component and lower than the melting point of the core component, with subsequent cooling of the fabric to below melt temperature of the sheath component, a fused, bonded structure will result.