Cross Reference To Related Applications

This application is based on United States Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 16/129,371, filed September 12, 2018, which is based on United States Provisional Patent Application No. 62/577,985, filed October 27, 2017. The priorities of the foregoing applications are hereby claimed and their disclosures incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

The present application discloses methods of making improved cellulosic products using split base core wet press felt designs and improved cellulosic products resulting therefrom. The present application further discloses methods of making improved cellulosic products using press felts designs having an apertured polymeric sheet-side surface and improved cellulosic products resulting therefrom.

Background Wet press felts are known to be useful in the process of manufacturing cellulosic products, for example, paper, tissue, and towel products. Cellulosic products are conventionally manufactured by conveying an aqueous slurry of cellulosic fibers on a moving forming fabric along a papermaking machine. As the aqueous slurry is conveyed, water is drained and an embryonic cellulosic web begins to form. Press felts may be used in the press section of the papermaking machine in order to facilitate withdrawal of additional water from the embryonic cellulosic web following formation. This process is also called dewatering. The dewatering process typically involves transporting the cellulosic web through a nip or series of nips, along with one or more press felts, in order to apply pressure in the nip and facilitate removal of water from the cellulosic web and transfer to and out of the press felt. This dewatering process causes the fibers in the cellulosic web to further adhere to one another and to form a cellulosic sheet for further processing in the dryer and other sections of the papermaking machine. It is, therefore, desirable that the press felt be able to accept the water extracted from the wet cellulosic web in the press section. Relatedly, the press felt should be able to prevent the removed water from returning to the cellulosic web. The press felt must also be able to support and carry the cellulosic web through the dewatering process. Press felts may also participate in the finishing of the surface of the cellulosic sheet, creating smooth or textured surfaces.

There are a variety of press felt designs used in the art, and a particular press felt may be chosen based on its ability to impart desirable properties to the cellulosic sheet being manufactured. Traditional press felt designs comprise a single, unified woven base core material with a sheet- side fibrous batting material attached thereto. As used herein, the term sheet-side refers to the side of the press felt that is adjacent to the cellulosic web during dewatering. Conversely, the term roll-side refers to the side of the press felt that is adjacent to the press roll during dewatering. In some traditional press felt designs, the base core material may be surrounded by fibrous batting on both the sheet-side and the roll-side of the press felt.

Different press felt designs have been studied with the goal of increasing the caliper or bulk of the resulting cellulosic sheet. Sheets with increased caliper or bulk exhibit a number of benefits, including (a) a reduction in basis weight (meaning less fiber usage to save cost), (b) bigger roll diameter with the same amount of fiber material, (c) the ability to apply additional calendering to improve surface feel while maintaining target thickness, and (d) sheet count reduction while maintaining target roll diameter. Unfortunately, prior press felt designs that led to an increase in caliper or bulk were found to come at the expense of other properties, for example, sheet strength, softness, paper machine speed, and/or less efficient drying.

One such prior felt design aimed at improving bulk, known as a "differential wet press felt" or "DWP," utilized a much lower amount of sheet-side batting material covering the base core than traditional press felts, thus allowing the base core material, and associated yarn knuckles therein, to move closer to the surface of the cellulosic web and to press through the sheet-side batting when compressed in a nip along with the cellulosic web. Unfortunately, use of such press felts with reduced sheet-side batting material resulted in a weakened (reduced strength) sheet. In addition, as a consequence of lowering the amount of sheet-side batting material, such felt designs also failed to dewater uniformly and required the paper machine to be slowed down in order to reach sufficient dryness. This caused unacceptable decreased productivity. A comparison of a traditional press felt design and a prior "differential wet press felt" design may be seen in Figures 1 and 2, respectively.

There is thus a need for a method of making a cellulosic sheet using a press felt design on a conventional wet press machine capable of producing a sheet with increasing caliper or bulk, but without concomitant losses in sheet strength, softness, paper machine speed, and/or drying capability.

This need has been met by the methods of making improved cellulosic products using split base core and/or apertured polymeric sheet-side surface press felt designs disclosed herein, and the improved cellulosic products resulting therefrom. Summary

The disclosed embodiments herein provide inventive press felts capable of making improved cellulosic products having increasing caliper or bulk, but without concomitant losses in sheet strength, paper machine speed, and/or drying capability. In some embodiments, the inventive felts disclosed herein are characterized by having at least a first woven base core material section and a second woven base core material section, wherein the first and second base core material sections are separated by at least one fibrous batting material section.

Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that, by providing a second woven base core material closer to the sheet-side of the press felt than traditional felt designs, an increase in caliper or bulk of the resultant sheet may be obtained. In addition, by providing at least one fibrous batting material in between the at least first and second woven base core materials, drying effectiveness and efficiency may be maintained. Surprisingly, the resultant sheets made from the split base core design were also found to be as strong as, or stronger than, sheets made with similar traditional press felts without the split base core design.

The present application further discloses methods of making improved cellulosic products using press felts designs having an apertured polymeric sheet-side surface, which designs are believed to lead to increased caliper and/or softness compared to cellulosic products made using traditional press felts lacking an apertured polymeric surface layer. In some embodiments, the inventive press felt may comprise both a split base core and an aperture polymeric surface layer. Brief Description Of The Figures

Figure 1 depicts an exemplary comparative traditional press felt design.

Figure 2 depicts an exemplary comparative "differential wet press felt" design.

Figure 3 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a split base core press felt designs according to the present application, with a first base core material having a single layer of woven yarn.

Figure 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a split base core press felt designs according to the present application, with a first base core material having two layers of woven yarn.

Figure 5 depicts sheet side surface, roll side surface, CD cross-section, and MD cross-section Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) photographs of a comparative traditional press felt design.

Figure 6 depicts sheet side surface, roll side surface, CD cross-section, and MD cross-section Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) photographs of an exemplary split base core press felt design according to the present application.

Figure 7 depicts sheet side and roll side surfaces of a press felt that has had holes drilled into the sheet-side surface of the sheet-side batting layer, forming an aperture polymeric surface on the sheet-side surface of the press felt, in accordance with some embodiments of inventive press felts disclosed herein.

Figure 8 depicts a comparison of bulk attributes of basesheets made using a Control felt and felts according to the present disclosure (Ex. 1-5). Figure 9 depicts a comparison of geometric mean tensile strength attributes of basesheets made using a Control felt and felts according to the present disclosure (Ex. 1-5).

Figure 10 depicts a comparison of caliper attributes of uncalendered basesheets made using a Control felt and felts according to the present disclosure (Ex. 6-11).

Figure 11 depicts a comparison of caliper attributes of calendered converted cellulosic products made using a Control felt and felts according to the present disclosure (Ex. 6-11). Figure 12 depicts a comparison of softness attributes of converted cellulosic products made using a Control felt and felts according to the present disclosure (Ex. 6-11).

Figure 13 depicts an image taken by CT scanning microscopy of the sheet-side surface of a basesheet made using a comparative traditional press felt design. Figure 14 depicts an image taken by CT scanning microscopy of the sheet-side surface of a basesheet made using a split core press felt design according to the present disclosure (Ex. 10).

Figure 15 depicts an image taken by CT scanning microscopy of the sheet-side surface of a basesheet made using a press felt design with an apertured polymeric surface according to the present disclosure (Ex. 11). Figure 16 depicts an image profiled to show the surface topography of the CT scanning microscopy image from Figure 13 of the sheet-side surface of a basesheet made using a comparative traditional press felt design.

Figure 17 depicts an image profiled to show the surface topography of the CT scanning microscopy image from Figure 14 of a basesheet made using a split core press felt design according to the present disclosure (Ex. 10).

Figure 18 depicts an image profiled to show the surface topography of the CT scanning microscopy image from Figure 15 of a basesheet made using a press felt design with an apertured polymeric surface according to the present disclosure (Ex. 11).

Detailed Description In some embodiments, the methods for making improved cellulosic products according to the disclosed embodiments comprise dewatering a cellulosic web in the press section of a papermaking machine with a split base core press felt, wherein the split base core press felt comprises a sheet-side and a roll-side; a first base core material comprising a woven yarn; a second base core material comprising a woven yarn located closer to the sheet-side of the press felt than the first base core material; and a fibrous batting material located between the first and second base core materials.

In some embodiments, the split base core press felt may comprise a fibrous batting material on the sheet-side of the second base core material. In some embodiments, the split base core press felt may comprise a fibrous batting material on the roll-side of the first base core material. In some embodiments, the split base core press felt may comprise a fibrous batting material on the sheet-side of the second base core material and a fibrous batting material on the roll-side of the first base core material. In some embodiments, the split base core press felt may comprise a third base core material comprising a woven yarn located closer to the sheet-side of the press felt than the second base core material, wherein the fibrous batting material on the sheet-side of the second base core material is located between the second base core material and the third base core material. In such embodiments, an additional fibrous batting material may further be located on the sheet- side of the third base core material.

The woven yam of the base core material may be either the same throughout the split base core press felt or varied. In some embodiments, the type of yam used in the first base core material may be the same as the type of yarn used in the second base core material. In some embodiments, the type of yam used in the first base core material may be different from the type of yam used in the second base core material. In some embodiments, where a third base core material is employed, the type of yarn used in the third base core material may be the same as, or different from, the type of yarn used in either the first or second base core materials.

The woven yarn of the base core material may be any type of yarn conventionally used in the base core of press felts, including natural yams, synthetic yams, or combinations thereof. The yam may be monofilament, multifilament, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the yams may be hollow. The yam may have any conventionally used cross-sectional shape, for example round, oval, elliptical, rectangular, flat, or the like, as well as combinations thereof. The yams may further be subject to any conventional heat treatment, chemical treatment, or the like. The yarn of the base core material may be arranged in any woven structural arrangement conventionally used in the base core of press felts, for example woven screen structures and the like. In some embodiments, the base core material may comprise cross-machine-direction oriented ("CD") yams. In some embodiments, the base core material may comprise machine- direction oriented ("MD") yams. In some embodiments, the base core material may comprise both CD yarns and MD yams. In some embodiments, the base core material may comprise CD yarns that are woven together with MD yarns to form a "woven layer." In such embodiments, the woven layer of CD yarns and MD yarns may have any conventional weave pattern configuration as between the CD yarns and the MD yarns, for example single layer, double layer, two and one-half layer, triple layer, or the like. In some embodiments, the base core material may also comprise, in addition to the woven yarn, fibrous batting entangled therethrough.

In some embodiments, one or more of the base core materials may comprise a single woven layer of CD and MD yarns. In some embodiments, at least one of the first base core material and the second base core material may comprise more than one woven layer of CD and MD yarns. In some embodiments, the first base core material may comprise more than one woven layer. In some embodiments, the second base core material may comprise more than one woven layer. In some embodiments, where a third base core material is present, the third base core material may comprise more than one woven layer. In some embodiments, comprising a first and a second base core material, the first base core material may comprise two woven layers and the second base core material may comprise one woven layer. In some embodiments comprising a first and a second base core material, the second base core material may comprise two woven layers and the first base core material may comprise one woven layer.

In some embodiments, the yarn used in the base core material may vary in coarseness (diameter). In some embodiments, the yarn in the first base core material may be coarser than the yarn in the second base core material. In some embodiments, the yarn in the second base core material may be coarser than the yarn in the first base core material. In some embodiments, where a third base core material is used, the yarn in the third base core material may be coarser than the yarn in both the first and second base core materials. In some embodiments, where a third base core material is used, the yarn in the third base core material may be less coarse than the yarn in both the first and second base core materials.

The fibrous batting material used in the split base core press felt may be any type of fibrous material conventionally used in the batting layers of press felts, including nylon, wool, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the fibrous batting material may be nylon. In contrast to the base core material sections, the fibrous batting material sections of the split base core press felt do not contain any woven yarn. The fibrous batting material may be either the same throughout the split base core press felt or varied. In some embodiments, the type of fibrous material used in the roll-side fibrous batting may be different from the type of fibrous material used in the batting located between the first and second base core materials. In some embodiments, the type of fibrous material used in the batting located between the first and second base core materials may be different from the type of fibrous material used in the sheet-side fibrous batting. In some embodiments, the type of fibrous material used in the roll-side fibrous batting may be different from the type of fibrous material used in the sheet-side fibrous batting.

In some embodiments, one or more of the fibrous batting material sections may comprise more than one layer of fibrous material, which layers may differ in fiber type, coarseness, or both. In some embodiments, the fibrous batting material located on the roll-side of the first base core material may comprise two or more layers, for example two, three, or four layers. In some embodiments, the fibrous batting material located between the first and second base core materials may comprise two or more layers, for example two, three, or four layers. In some embodiments, the fibrous batting material located on the sheet-side of the press felt may comprise two or more layers, for example two, three, or four layers. In some embodiments, where a third base core material is used, the fibrous batting material located between the second base core material and the third base core material may comprise two or more layers, for example two, three, or four layers. In some embodiments, the caliper (thickness) of the fibrous batting material located between the first and second base core materials may comprise at least 10% of the caliper (thickness) of the entire split base core press felt, for example at least 20%, at least 35%, at least 50%, or at least about 70%.

In some embodiments, the coarseness of the fibrous material used in the batting sections of the split base core press felt may be either the same throughout or varied. In some embodiments, the fibrous batting material on the roll-side of the first base core material may be coarser than the fibrous batting material on the sheet-side of the second base core material. In some embodiments, the fibrous batting material located between the first and second base core materials may be coarser than the fibrous batting material on the sheet-side of the second base core material. In some embodiments, where the fibrous batting material located between the first and second base core materials comprises two or more layers, the coarseness of the layers may decrease as they get closer to the second base core material. For example, the fibrous batting material located between the first and second base core materials may comprise two layers, wherein the fibrous layer closest to the first base core material is coarser than the fibrous layer closest to the second base core material. Similarly, for example, the fibrous batting material located in between the first and second base core materials may comprise three layers, wherein the fibrous layer closest to the first base core material is coarser than the middle fibrous layer, which is coarser than the fibrous layer closest to the second base core material. In embodiments where the fibrous batting material located between the first and second base core materials comprises two or more layers, the coarseness of the layer closest to the second base core material may be the same as the coarseness of the fibrous batting material on the sheet-side of the second base core material. In embodiments where the fibrous batting material located between the first and second base core materials comprises two or more layers, the layer closest to the second base core material may be coarser than the fibrous batting material on the sheet-side of the second base core material.

The alternating base core materials and fibrous batting materials may be connected to one another by any conventional method known in the art, for example stitching, needling, adhesives, and the like. In some embodiments, only fibrous batting material is located between the first and second base core materials. In such embodiments, no additional materials or layers, such as polymeric laminate, film, or foam layers, are located between the first and second base core materials.

In some embodiments, the split base core press felt may comprise layers other than woven base core layers and fibrous batting layers. In some embodiments, the split base core press felt may comprise one or more polymeric laminate, film, or foam layers. In some embodiments, the polymeric laminate, film, or foam layer may be a surface treatment or coating on the sheet-side of one or more of the base core material layers and fibrous batting layers. In some embodiments, the polymeric layer may be an independent polymeric laminate, film, or foam layer interposed between one or more of the base core layers and the fibrous batting layers. In some embodiments, the polymeric layer may be formed in-situ on one or more of the base core layers and the fibrous batting layers by the application of heat, melting the surface yarn in a base core layer or the surface batting in a fibrous batting layer to form a polymeric layer.

In some embodiments, the total grammage and caliper of the split base core press felt may be similar to that employed in traditional press felt designs, but with the base core material in a split configuration with part of the base core material moved up closer to the sheet-side of the press felt than the single base core in traditional designs. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that, by altering the design of the felt in this manner, while keeping the caliper and grammage of the felt the same, there is improved room for water to flow out of the sheet and into the felt without the need to slow the machine down. In addition, by moving a second base core material up closer to the sheet-side surface, the knuckles of the woven second base core material yarn are able to more significantly interact with the cellulosic sheet surface, thus impacting the topography of the sheet surface by creating more defined areas of high and low density, which are visible as raised dome-like structures and lowered dimple-like structures. This is believed to lead to the formation of cellulosic sheets with increased caliper and/or bulk, without loss of drying effectiveness, efficiency, or resultant sheet strength or softness.

In some embodiments, the polymeric layer may have a perforated or apertured structure to allow for the pass-through of water. In some embodiments, the first base core material may comprise a polymeric laminate on the sheet-side. In some embodiments, the second base core material may comprise a polymeric laminate on the sheet-side. In some embodiments, the fibrous batting material closest to the sheet side may have a polymeric laminate on the sheet- side of the batting material.

The present application further discloses improved cellulosic products and methods of making improved cellulosic products using press felts design having an apertured polymeric sheet-side surface. In some embodiments, holes may be drilled into the fibrous batting material closest to the sheet-side of a press felt, causing heat friction to melt or cauterize the surface fibers and to create an "apertured polymeric surface" layer in-situ on the sheet-side of the press felt. According to some embodiments, a press felt is disclosed with an apertured polymeric surface layer on the sheet side of the felt, wherein the felt is a split base core press felt. According to some embodiments, a press felt is disclosed with an apertured polymeric surface layer on the sheet side of the press felt, wherein the felt contains only a single base core material section. In such embodiments, the single base core material section may be surrounded by a roll-side fibrous batting material section, and a sheet-side fibrous batting material section with an apertured polymeric surface layer on the sheet-side surface of the press felt. In such embodiments, the present inventor has found that both caliper and softness may be improved compared to the use of a traditional press felt that lacks an apertured polymeric surface layer on the sheet-side of the press felt.

The present application discloses embodiments for making cellulosic products using the inventive press felts disclosed herein. The inventive press felts disclosed herein may be used in any conventional type of papermaking machine that utilizes a press felt. In some embodiments, the inventive press felts may be used in the press section of a papermaking machine. In some embodiments, the inventive press felts may be used in the press section, following the forming section. In some embodiments, the method of making a cellulosic product comprises conveying a wet cellulosic web through at least one press nip along with an inventive press felt as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the inventive press felt carries the wet cellulosic web through the at least one press nip where pressure is applied to the cellulosic web and press felt, and wherein water is removed from the web and transferred to the press felt. In some embodiments, the wet cellulosic web may be conveyed through at least one press nip with an inventive press felt on both sides of the web. In some embodiments, the wet cellulosic web may be conveyed through more than one press nip with at least one inventive press felt as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the cellulosic products may further undergo additional operations following the press section, including drying, creping, finishing, converting, calendering, embossing, and the like.

The methods described herein may be used to manufacture, for example, consumer cellulosic products, such as tissue, towel, napkin products, and the like. In some embodiments, the product may be a tissue product, such as a bath tissue, facial tissue, baby tissue, or the like. In some embodiments, the product may be a towel product, such as a paper towel, wipe, or the like. In some embodiments, the product may be a napkin, a table cover, or the like.

In some embodiments, the cellulosic products may exhibit increased caliper or bulk, with the same or higher tensile strengths as compared to cellulosic products made with traditional press felts. The methods described herein using the inventive split base core and/or apertured polymeric sheet-side surface press felts may further be conducted without reducing drying efficiency or machine speed as compared to use of a traditional press felt. In particular, it was found that the inventive press felts resulted in similar solids after pressing, as compared to the use of traditional press felts.

In some embodiments, the cellulosic products made using the inventive press felts may exhibit an increase in caliper from about 5% to about 30%, as compared to the caliper of an identical cellulosic product made with a press felt comprising the same felt caliper and grammage, but without an aperture polymeric surface and with only a single base core material. In some embodiments, the increase in caliper may be at least about 5%, for example at least about 10%, at least about 15%, at least about 20%, or at least about 25%. In some embodiments, the cellulosic products made using the inventive press felts may exhibit an increase in bulk from about 5% to about 30%, as compared to the bulk of an identical cellulosic product made with a press felt comprising the same felt caliper and grammage, but without an aperture polymeric surface and with only a single base core material. In some embodiments, the increase in bulk may be at least about 5%, for example at least about 10%, at least about 15%, at least about 20%, or at least about 25%.

In some embodiments, the cellulosic products made using the inventive press felts may exhibit a ratio of caliper (mils/8 sheet) to basis weight (lb/3000 ft2) of at least about 3, for example at least about 3.5, at least about 4, at least about 4.5, at least about 5, or at least about 5.5. In some embodiments, the ratio of caliper (mils/8 sheet) to basis weight (lb/3000 ft2) may range from at least about 3 to at least about 6, for example, from at least about 3.5 to at least about 6, from at least about 4 to at least about 6, or from at least about 5 to at least about 6.

In some embodiments, the method of making the cellulosic product may further comprise calendering the cellulosic product following the press section of the papermaking machine. Calendering may be used to improve sheet softness, smoothness, or both. In general, calendering also leads to a decrease in bulk or caliper. In accordance with the methods of the present application, a calendered cellulosic product may be made which exhibits increased softness or smoothness, but still with comparable or increased bulk or caliper due to the gains achieved by using the split base core press felts of the present application. Likewise, increased levels of embossing may be achieved with comparable or increased bulk or caliper due to the gains achieved by using the split base core press felt. In some embodiments, the cellulosic products made using the inventive press felts may exhibit an increase in bulk or caliper, while maintaining or increasing tensile strength, as compared to an identical cellulosic product made with a press felt comprising the same felt caliper and grammage, but without an aperture polymeric surface and with only a single base core material. In some embodiments, the cellulosic products made using the inventive press felts may exhibit a machine direction dry tensile strength ("MD" or "MDT") of at least about 600 g/3 in, for example, at least about 700 g/3 in, at least about 800 g/3 in, at least about 900 g/3 in. In some embodiments, the cellulosic products may exhibit a cross-machine direction dry tensile strength ("CD" or "CDT") of at least about 300 g/3 in, for example, at least about 400 g/3 in, at least about 500 g/3 in. In some embodiments, the cellulosic products may exhibit a geometric mean dry tensile strength ("GM" or "GMT") of at least about 400 g/3 in, for example, at least about 500 g/3 in, at least about 600 g/3 in. MD and CD tensile strengths may be measured with a standard Instron® test device or other suitable elongation tensile tester that may be configured using 3 inch (76.2 mm) or 1 inch (25.4 mm) wide strips of tissue or towel, conditioned in an atmosphere of 23±1°C. (73.4±1° F) at 50% relative humidity for 2 hours. The tensile test is run at a crosshead speed of 2 in/min (50.8 mm/min). GM tensile strength may be calculated from the CD and MD tensile strengths by taking the square root of the result of the MD tensile strength multiplied by the CD tensile strength.

In some embodiments, the cellulosic products made using the inventive press felts may exhibit a ratio of caliper (mils/8 sheet) to basis weight (lb/3000 ft2) of at least about 3.5, with a GM tensile strength of at least about 500 g/3 in. In some embodiments, the cellulosic products may exhibit a ratio of caliper (mils/8 sheet) to basis weight (lb/3000 ft2) of at least about 3.5, with a GM tensile strength of at least about 550 g/3 in. In some embodiments, the cellulosic products may exhibit a ratio of caliper (mils/8 sheet) to basis weight (lb/3000 ft2) of at least about 4.5, with a GM tensile strength of at least about 500 g/3 in. In some embodiments, the cellulosic products made using the inventive press felts may exhibit a ratio of caliper (mils/8 sheet) to basis weight (lb/3000 ft2) of at least about 5, with a GM tensile strength of at least about 500 g/3 in.

In some embodiments, the cellulosic products made using the inventive press felts may exhibit a softness comparable to, or better than, comparable products made with a traditional press felt. In some embodiments, the cellulosic products may exhibit a softness of at least about 18, for example at least about 18.5, for example at least about 19. Softness can be determined by using a panel of trained human subjects in a test area conditioned to TAPPI standards (temperature of 71.2° F. to 74.8° F, relative humidity of 48% to 52%). The softness evaluation relies on a series of physical references with predetermined softness values that are always available to each trained subject as they conducted the testing. Angel Soft® was assigned a softness of 17.3, Quilted Northern Ultra Soft® a value of 18.2, and Charmin Ultra Soft® a value of 18.7. The trained subjects directly compare test samples to the physical references to determine the softness level of the test samples. The trained subjects then assign a number to a particular paper product, with a higher sensory softness number indicating a higher perceived softness. A product must have a softness of at least 16 to be considered a "premier product."

Figure 1 depicts a comparative traditional press felt design and Figure 2 depicts a comparative "differential wet press felt" design. Each of the comparative traditional and comparative "differential wet press felt" designs comprise a sheet side (10) and a roll side (11). Each of the comparative traditional and comparative differential wet press felt designs comprise only a single base core material (15 in Figure 1 and 25 in Figure 2). In the examples in Figures 1 and 2, the single base core material is made up of two layers of woven CD and MD yarn (17 and 18 in Figure 1 and 27 and 28 in Figure 2), surrounded by a roll-side fibrous batting material (16 in Figure 1 and 26 in Figure 2), and a sheet-side fibrous batting material (12 in Figure 1 and 22 in Figure 2). The differential wet press felt design (Figure 2) contains a decreased amount of sheet-side fibrous batting (22) as compared to the traditional press felt design (12 in Figure 1), and thus a lower grammage and felt caliper.

Figures 3 and 4 depict exemplary embodiments of a split base core press felt designs according to the present application. The exemplary split base core press felt embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 4 contains a sheet-side (10) and a roll-side (11), a first base core material (35 in Figure 3 and 45 in Figure 4), a second base core material (33 in Figure 3 and 43 in Figure 4), and a fibrous batting material located between the first and second base core materials (34 in Figure 3 and 44 in Figure 4). The exemplary split base core press felt embodiments shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 further comprise a fibrous batting material on the sheet-side of the second base core material (32 in Figure 3 and 42 in Figure 4) and a fibrous batting material on the roll- side of the first base core material (36 in Figure 3 and 46 in Figure 4). In the exemplary split base core press felt in Figure 4, the first base core material is made up of two layers of woven CD and MD yarn (47 and 48). In some examples, the second base core material, either instead of or in addition to the first base core material, may also have two or more layers of woven yarn. Similarly, in some embodiments, one or more of the batting material sections may have one or more layers of fibrous batting material.

Figure 5 depicts sheet side surface, roll side surface, CD cross-section, and MD cross-section Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) photographs of a comparative traditional press felt design.

Figure 6 depicts sheet side surface, roll side surface, CD cross-section, and MD cross-section Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) photographs of an exemplary split base core press felt design according to the present application.

Figure 7 depicts sheet side and roll side surfaces of a press felt that has had holes drilled into the sheet-side surface of the sheet-side batting layer, forming an aperture polymeric surface on the sheet-side surface of the press felt, in accordance with some embodiments of inventive press felts disclosed herein.

Descriptions of the disclosed embodiments are not exhaustive and are not limited to the precise forms or exemplary embodiments disclosed. Modifications and adaptations of the exemplary embodiments will be apparent from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed embodiments. Examples

Example 1

Six handsheets were formed in a British sheet mould using standard Tappi procedures but with some modifications to pressing. The furnish for this study was an unrefined 100% southern softwood kraft. Sheets were formed on the wire on the sheet mould and then transferred onto two thick blotter stock in preparation for pressing. A felt which had been previously prepared and soaked in water for more than 24 hours was placed on the sheet noting the machine direction and cross machine direction as determined by the felt direction on the sheet. The felt and a sheet were placed in a mechanical press and subjected to a pressing load of approximately

870 psi for 30 seconds. The felt was removed and the sheet was dried on a drum dryer, conditioned, and tested for physical properties. The procedure was repeated for each of the six felts, one comparative and five in accordance with the present application.

The control press felt utilized in this study was a Hydromax™ II felt made by Albany International with a DYNATEX® 25-25 nylon fibrous material as the batting material on the sheet-side of the base core. The control press felt had only a single base core material and no aperture polymeric surface. SEM cross sections of the control felt are shown in Figure 5. Four inventive press felts according to the present disclosure (Ex. 1 - 4) were made using the same base core material and roll-side fibrous batting material as the control, but with a split base core design, and with the sheet-side fibrous batting and fibrous batting material located between the first and second base core materials made from one of DYNATEX® 25125, DYNATEX® 3.3, AperTech™ 3, AperTech™ 5, or AperTech™ 7 nylon fibers. Inventive Ex. 5 was a press felt according to another embodiment of the present invention, with an apertured polymeric surface layer on the sheet side of the press felt as shown in Figure 7, and containing only a single base core material section. The handsheets made using each of the six press felts were then tested for caliper/bulk and strength. Single sheet caliper was calculated as bulk, the results of which are shown in Figure

8 and Table 1 below. Strength was measured per the direction of the press felt as machine direction tensile strength ("MDT") and cross-machine direction tensile strength ("CDT"). The geometric mean tensile strength ("GMT") was calculated and normalized for the differences in basis weights of the handsheets. The results of the strength measurements are shown in Figure

9 and Table 1 below.

Table 1

The results in Table 1 and Figure 8 show a significant difference in the bulk properties of the handsheets made with the inventive press felts of the present application, as compared to the control felt. Each of the handsheets made with the inventive split base core press felts of the present application (Ex. 1-4) and apertured polymeric surface layer felt (Ex. 5) exhibited higher caliper/bulk properties compared to the control, with Ex. 3 and Ex. 4 exhibiting the greatest increases in bulk. Such an increase in bulk properties of the resultant handsheets made with the inventive press felts of the present application was surprising.

Table 1 and Figure 9 further show results that are equally surprising, indicating that there were no significant losses or reduction in the strength properties of sheets made with the inventive press felts when compared to the control in this study. In fact, each of the sheets made using the inventive press felts according to the present application showed at least some increase in strength properties while also exhibiting increases in caliper/bulk.

Example 2

Seven basesheets were formed on a pilot papermaking machine, each using a different press felt design. A furnish blend of 50/50 hardwood kraft/southern softwood kraft was used to make the basesheets, with StaLok 2156 as a dry strength additive in this example. The basesheets were made at a basis weight of about 12 lb/ream.

A Hydromax™ II felt made by Albany International was used as the control press felt. Five inventive press felts according to the present disclosure (Ex. 6-10) were made using the same base core material and roll-side fibrous batting material as the control, but with a split base core design, and with the sheet-side fibrous batting and fibrous batting material located between the first and second base core materials made from one of Dynatex® .25Λ25, DYNATEX® 3.3, AperTech™ 3, AperTech™ 5, or AperTech™ 7 nylon fibers. Inventive Ex. 11 was a press felt according to another embodiment of the present invention, with an apertured polymeric surface layer on the sheet side of the press felt as shown in Figure 7, and containing only a single base core material section.

The caliper properties of the basesheets made using each of the seven press felt designs were measured, both before and after calendering. The caliper results for samples of the uncalendered basesheets are shown in Figure 10 as a function of geometric mean tensile strength. The caliper results for samples of the calendered converted finished product are shown in Figure 11 as a function of geometric mean tensile strength. In each case, the caliper of the basesheets made with the inventive felt designs of the present application (Ex. 6-11) were superior to the caliper/bulk of the basesheets made with control press felt design.

As shown in Figure 12, softness was also measured for each of the calendered converted finished products made using the six inventive press felt designs, showing that the calendered converted finished product made with inventive press felt Ex. 6-11 did not exhibit any significant decrease in softness compared to the calendered converted finished product made with the control press felt.

Example 3 Additional basesheets were formed on a pilot papermaking machine, comparing the surface of basesheets made with press felts Ex. 10 and Ex. 11 with the surface of a basesheet made with the control press felt. The results showed that there are areas of high and low density spots quite evident in the basesheets made with the inventive basesheets that show up as 3D structurelike airside domes. Surface images taken with CT scanning microscopy are shown in Figures 13-15 and images that were profiled to show surface topography in the CT scanning data are shown in Figures 16-18. The lighter areas in Figures 13-15 indicate areas of lower density, while the darker areas indicate areas of higher density. Thus, the basesheets made with each of the inventive press felts of Ex. 10 and Ex. 11 had increased areas of low density as compared to the basesheet made with the control press felt, with the basesheet made with press felt Ex. 11 exhibiting the greatest areas of low density.

It may be seen that employing a press felt with an apertured polymeric surface layer on the sheet side of the press felt, as in Ex. 11, may provide enhanced visual benefits to the underlying basesheet. Such an apertured polymeric surface layer could be beneficial in either a traditional press felt or a split base core press felt design. Example 4

Properties of converted finished products made with the Control press felt were further compared with those made with the press felts of Ex. 10 and Ex. 11 at two different basis weights. The results are shown in Tables 2, 3, and 4 below. The finished product samples using the inventive press felts of Ex. 10 and Ex. 11 were made by the same processes control, respectively, except for the type of press felt used.

Table 2

As seen from Table 2 above, basesheets made with the inventive press felts designs of Ex. 10 and Ex. 11 each showed improved caliper per basis weight compared to basesheets made with the control press felt, particularly at higher basis weights. Table 2 also shows that the basis weight can be reduced while maintaining similar caliper to the control (see Ex. 10) or even higher caliper than the control (see Ex. 11).

Table 3

Table 4

A number of embodiments have been described herein. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.