Seaming process for pmc fabric having monofilament yarns

Abstract

A seaming process for a PMC fabric includes the steps of: providing a PMC fabric including a plurality of monofilament yarns, at least some of the monofilament yarns having a composition including between approximately 100 to 10,000 parts per million (ppm) of an additive to improve yarn visibility for the fringed ends of an illuminated PMC fabric.

1 . A seaming process for a paper machine clothing (PMC) fabric, the seaming process comprising the steps of:
 providing a PMC fabric including a plurality of monofilament yarns, at least some of said monofilament yarns having a composition including an additive to improve yarn visibility;   fringing opposite ends of the PMC fabric by removing filling yarns at the respective opposite ends;   illuminating the fringed ends of the PMC fabric; and   weaving together the fringed ends of the illuminated PMC fabric.   
     
     
         2 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the additive is at least one of a UV additive, an IR additive, and a metal powder additive. 
     
     
         3 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of monofilament yarns include a plurality of warp yarns and a plurality of weft yarns, and all of said warp yarns include said additive. 
     
     
         4 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of said monofilament yarns include between approximately 100 to 10,000 parts per million (ppm) of an additive. 
     
     
         5 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric according to  claim 4 , wherein at least some of said monofilament yarns include approximately 1,000 ppm loading of said additive. 
     
     
         6 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the fringed ends of the PMC fabric are illuminated using radiation at a wavelength to make the additive visible. 
     
     
         7 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein said additive is a stilbene. 
     
     
         8 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric according to  claim 7 , wherein said stilbene is 4,4′-bis (benzoxazol) stilbene. 
     
     
         9 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein said PMC fabric includes a plurality of woven yarns. 
     
     
         10 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric yarn according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises a thermoplastic resin. 
     
     
         11 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric yarn according to  claim 10 , wherein said thermoplastic resin is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 
     
     
         12 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric yarn according to  claim 11 , wherein said composition has a tenacity which is approximately the same as said PET alone. 
     
     
         13 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric yarn according to  claim 11 , wherein said composition has a relative elongation which is approximately the same as said PET alone. 
     
     
         14 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric yarn according to  claim 11 , wherein said composition has a loop strength which is approximately the same as said PET alone. 
     
     
         15 . A seaming process for a paper machine clothing (PMC) fabric, the seaming process comprising the steps of:
 providing a PMC fabric including a plurality of monofilament yarns, at least some of said monofilament yarns being coated with a coating formulation which includes an additive to improve yarn visibility;   fringing opposite ends of the PMC fabric by removing filling yarns at the respective opposite ends;   illuminating the fringed ends of the PMC fabric; and   weaving together the fringed ends of the illuminated PMC fabric.   
     
     
         16 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric according to  claim 15 , wherein the additive is at least one of a UV additive, an IR additive, and a metal powder additive. 
     
     
         17 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric according to  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of monofilament yarns include a plurality of warp yarns and a plurality of weft yarns, and all of said warp yarns include said additive. 
     
     
         18 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric according to  claim 15 , wherein at least some of said monofilament yarns include between approximately 100 to 10,000 parts per million (ppm) of an additive. 
     
     
         19 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric according to  claim 18 , wherein at least some of said monofilament yarns include approximately 1,000 ppm loading of said additive. 
     
     
         20 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric according to  claim 15 , wherein the fringed ends of the PMC fabric are illuminated using radiation at a wavelength to make the additive visible. 
     
     
         21 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric according to  claim 15 , wherein said additive is a stilbene. 
     
     
         22 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric according to  claim 21 , wherein said stilbene is 4,4′-bis (benzoxazol) stilbene. 
     
     
         23 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric according to  claim 15 , wherein said PMC fabric includes a plurality of woven yarns. 
     
     
         24 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric yarn according to  claim 15 , wherein said composition further comprises a thermoplastic resin. 
     
     
         25 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric yarn according to  claim 24 , wherein said thermoplastic resin is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 
     
     
         26 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric yarn according to  claim 25 , wherein said composition has a tenacity which is approximately the same as said PET alone. 
     
     
         27 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric yarn according to  claim 25 , wherein said composition has a relative elongation which is approximately the same as said PET alone. 
     
     
         28 . The seaming process for a PMC fabric yarn according to  claim 25 , wherein said composition has a loop strength which is approximately the same as said PET alone.