PAPERMAKER'S FORMING FABRICS INCLUDING MONOFILAMENTS COMPRISING A POLYESTER BLEND
Papermaker's forming fabrics including extruded thermoplastic monofilaments formed from a polymer blend consisting of from about 51% - 90% pbw (parts by weight) of a poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN) polymer having a melt point of from 249°C to about 278°C, most preferably between about 262°C and 273°C, and an intrinsic viscosity of from 0.45 to about 0.95, preferably from about 0.65 to about 0.85, along with from about 49% - 10% pbw of a poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) polymer having an intrinsic viscosity of between about 0.55 to about 1.05, preferably from about 0.85 to 1.0. Monofilaments formed from the novel polymer blend exhibit physical properties differing from those obtained from monofilaments formed of 100% PEN polymer, making them particularly suitable for use in weaving and processing the forming fabrics of the present invention.