WO1993003221A1

WO1993003221A1 - Non-marking wear resistant double layer fabrics

Info

Publication number: WO1993003221A1
Application number: PCT/CA1991/000266
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dale B. Johnson; Donald G. Macbean
Original assignee: Jwi Ltd.
Priority date: 1991-07-29
Filing date: 1991-07-29
Publication date: 1993-02-18

Abstract

An improved papermaker's forming fabric is described in which a 14 or 16 shaft weave design is used. This design uses a construction in which the larger cross direction yarns on the machine side of the fabric float under at least 10 machine direction yarns. The binding points for these large-diameter cross direction yarns lie directly under a four-yarn float of paper side cross direction yarns. Further, the machine direction yarns float over only two adjacent cross direction yarns, at a point substantially halfway between the machine side binding points. This construction permits the use of very large cross direction machine side strands, without compromising the drainage capabilities of the fabric and wire mark propensity. The invention is particulaly useful in fabric designs where extra cross direction floater yarns are included on the paper side of the fabric, in which case the machine side binding points are located under the larger of the paper side cross direction yarns.

Description

NON-MARKING WEAR RESISTANT DOUBLE LAYER FABRICS

This invention relates to a two-layer or double layer paper machine fabric comprising a machine direction yarn system and at least two cross direction systems, the systems being interlaced in accordance with a 14 or 16 shaft weave repeat pattern.

In the prior art, various double layer papermaker's forming fabrics have been described using 7 and 8 shaft weave designs. For example, Codorniu, U.S. 4,071,050 discloses both 7 and 8 shaft double layer fabrics in which the number of cross direction strands on the papermaking side of the fabric is equal to the number of strands on the machine-side of the fabric; that is, the side of the fabric that is in contact with the drainage components of the paper machine. As used herein, the term "machine direction" or MD refers to the direction of travel of the papermaker's fabric on the paper machine, while the term "cross direction" or CD refers to a direction transverse this direction of travel.

By making 7 or 8 shaft double layer fabrics in 14 or 16 shafts, it is possible to utilize very large diameter CD yarns on the machine-side of the fabric and thus to improve greatly the wear resistance of the fabric. The large diameter CD yarns provide increased wear volume and, in effect, protect the MD yarns by increasing the distance between them and the wear plane of the fabric. The life of the fabric is prolonged because much larger proportions of the CD strand can be removed by abrasion before the load-carrying MD strands are affected. In these designs, the CD strands of the paper-side are interlaced in a 7 or 8 shaft weave pattern, while the machine-side CD strands, woven in 14 or 16 shaft weave patterns, float under 11 or more consecutive MD strands. Examples of such double layer weaves are disclosed in Kinnunen, U.S. 4,709,732 for an 11 float CD strand in 14 shafts and in Taiple et al„ U.S. 4,982,766 for a 13 float CD strand in 16 shafts. In both of these references, the binding point of the machine-side CD yarn is formed by a group of three MD yarns, in which the outer non-adjacent yarns interlace the CD yarn on the machine-side while the centre strand of the triplet lies above the CD yarn.

Another example of a 16 shaft weave having a machine-side CD strand floating under 14 consecutive MD strands is disclosed in Troughton, U.S. 4,789,009.

Another type of double layer fabric construction is one in which the number of CD strands on the paper-side of the fabric is twice the number of strands on the machine-side. Such a fabric is disclosed in Figure 8 A of Thompson, U.S. 4,423,755, for double layer fabrics having a 7 shaft weave repeat. A salient feature of these fabrics is that the layer of paper-side CD strands is preferably woven with alternating strands of different diameters. The smaller of these paper-side CD yarns are called "extra floaters" and are woven so to be "free of interlacing" with the MD yarns. In this present invention, we use the definition "free of interlacing" given in U.S. Patent 4,423,755; namely, "that no (MD) yarn passing over a given (extra) floater passes between that floater and a yarn next adjacent and parallel to that floater". In other words, each floater yarn is interlaced with an MD yarn only in between two adjacent CD yarns. These 2:1 paper-side to machine-side CD yarn count fabrics having paper-side CD yarns of alternating diameters with extra floater yarns are distinguished from other types of 2:1 CD yarn count fabrics, as disclosed, for example, by Borel, U.S. 4,739,803, in that the MD yarns are interwoven only once with the paper-side CD yarns within one weave repeat. In U.S. 4,739,803 the MD yarns interweave the paper-side CD yarns twice within a weave repeat and all CD yarns are of the same diameter.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the principles of weaving 2:1 paper-side to machine-side CD yarn count fabrics having paper-side CD yarns with alternating diameters and extra floater yarns with 7 or 8 shaft paper-side weave repeats and 14 or 16 shaft machine-side weave repeats are within the scope of the aforementioned prior art examples.

Regardless of the ratio of the number of paper-side to machine- side CD strands, a major drawback to these 14 and 16 shaft double layer fabrics is that the use of large diameter machine-side CD strands disrupts the paper-side of the fabric in such a way as to greatly increase the "wire mark" of the paper produced on the fabric. "Wire mark", the embossed image of the fabric surface in the paper sheet, is very sensitive to any variation in uniformity of the paper-side of the fabric, particularly in the degree to which the yarns deviate from being co- planar.

The object of this invention is to provide a double layer papermaker's forming fabric which increases the wear potential through the use of very large diameter machine-side CD yarns, but which overcomes the aforementioned problems of increased wire mark in the paper made with prior art designs. This is achieved in this invention in a 14 or 16 shaft weave design by using a construction in which the large CD yarns on the machine-side float under two repeats of the weave pattern of the paper-side of the fabric, and further by ensuring that the binding points of these CD yarns lie directly under one of the long upward floats of the paper-side CD yarns.

The machine-side CD binding points are formed by a group of four MD yarns, in which the outer two of the group interlace the CD strand on the machine-side while the centre two MD yarns lie above the CD yarn. The fabrics of this invention have good drainage capacity as measured by their air permeability. In fact, the fabrics of a preferred 16 shaft embodiment of this invention typically have higher air permeabilities than fabrics of the prior art, so that it is possible to incorporate even larger diameter machine-side CD strands without compromising drainage capability. Alternatively, in this preferred embodiment, significant increases in the CD mesh count can be made without serious reductions in air permeability, which is beneficial for reducing the size of the paper-side surface openings or frames. This improves the fiber retention capability of the fabric as described by Johnson, "Retention and Drainage of Multi-Layer Fabrics" (Pulp and Paper Canada, May 1986).

Thus in its broadest aspect this invention seeks to provide an improved double layer papermaker's forming fabric for use in a paper making machine, woven in 14 or 16 shafts, having a paper side and a machine side, and a machine direction parallel to its direction of movement in the paper making machine and a cross direction substantially perpendicular thereto, comprising in combination:

(a) a first set of machine direction yarns;

(b) a second set of upper cross direction yarns, located mainly in the paper side of the fabric, on which paper is formed; and

(c) a third set of lower cross direction yarns, located mainly in the machine side of the fabric facing the paper making machine; wherein in the weave pattern repeat:

(i) the second set of yarns is interlaced with the first set of yarns;

(ii) the third set of yarns is interlaced with the first set of yarns in a pattern different to that of the second set;

(iii) the second set of yarns includes the same number of yarns as the third set;

(iv) the yarns in the third set have a greater diameter than the yarns of the second set;

(v) the float of the yarns in the third set on the machine side of the fabric is under at least 10 consecutive yarns of the first set;

(vi) each yarn of the second set floats over four yarns of the first set and is exposed on the paper side of the fabric directly over the binding points between yarns of the first set and the third set;

(vii) the binding points between the yarns of the first set and the third set comprise a group of four adjacent yarns of the first set and one yarn of the third set, in which binding point the outer two yarns of the first set group are on the machine side of the third set yarn, and the inner two yarns of the first set group are on the paper side of the third set yarn; and

(viii) each yarn of the first set floats over the paper side of two second set yarns at a point substantially halfway between successive machine side binding points. In a second broad aspect, a fabric according to this invention further includes:

(d) a fourth set of upper cross direction yarns; and wherein in the weave pattern repeat:

(ix) the fourth set of yarns comprises a set of floater yarns; (x) each floater yarn is between a pair of yarns of the second set; (xi) each floater yarn is interlaced with a first set yarn in between the adjacent pair of yarns of the second set; (xii) the fourth set of yarns includes the same number of yarns as the second set; and (xiii) the yarns of the second set have a greater diameter than the yarns of the fourth set.

The present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a 14 shaft weave pattern of the prior art;

Figures 2 and 3 are MD and CD views, respectively, for a fabric having the weave pattern of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a 16 shaft pattern of the prior art;

Figures 5 and 6 are MD and CD views, respectively, for a fabric having the weave pattern of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a weave pattern for the paper-side surface of a 14 shaft fabric of the prior art;

Figure 8 is a weave pattern for the paper-side surface of a 16 shaft fabric of the prior art;

Figure 9 is the weave pattern for one preferred 16 shaft embodiment of the present invention in which the paper-side has the same number of CD yarns as the machine-side;

Figure 10 is the paper-side weave pattern of the fabric of Figure 9 showing the location of machine-side CD yarn binding points;

Figures 11 and 12 are MD and CD views, respectively, of the fabric of Figure 9;

Figure 13 is the weave pattern for another 16 shaft preferred embodiment of the invention using extra floater CD yarns in the paper- side surface;

Figure 14 is the paper-side weave pattern for the fabric of Figure 13 showing the location of machine-side CD yarn binding points;

Figures 15 and 16 are MD and CD views, respectively, of the fabric of Figure 13;

Figure 17 is the weave pattern for one 14 shaft embodiment of the invention in which there are an equal number of paper-side and machine-side CD yarns;

Figure 18 is the paper-side weave pattern of the fabric of Figure 17 showing the location of machine-side CD yarn binding points;

Figures 19 and 20 are MD and CD views, respectively, of the fabric of Figure 17;

Figure 21 is the weave pattern for another 14 shaft embodiment of the invention using extra CD floater yarns in the paper-side surface;

Figure 22 is the paper-side weave diagram for the fabric of Figure 21 showing the location of machine-side CD yarn binding points;

Figures 23 and 24 are MD and CD views, respectively, of the fabric of Figure 21; and

Figure 25 is a contact point of a fabric woven according to a prior art pattern; and

Figures 26 and 27 are contact points of fabrics woven according to this invention. In these figures, certain conventions are adopted where appropriate. In all of the weave patterns, such as Figure 1, the vertical direction in the figure is the machine direction, and the horizontal direction is the cross direction. In the long sections, such as Figure 2, the continuous strand is a machine direction strand, and in the short sections, such as Figure 3, the continuous strands are the cross direction yarns. In each of the sections the strands are numbered to match the weave pattern. In the weave pattern, a filled-in square implies that a machine direction yarn passes over a cross direction yarn at that point.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 depicts the weave pattern for a 14 shaft fabric of the prior art (U.S. 4,709,732) in which there are an equal number of paper-side to machine-side CD strands. The binding point of the large diameter machine-side CD strand, depicted in Figure 3, is formed by MD strands 1 and 3 of the weave pattern. Thus, the machine-side CD yarn 14 floats under eleven consecutive MD yarns between binding points. Yarn 13 is a paper-side CD strand, while MD strand 2 also forms part of the paper-surface.

Figure 4 illustrates the weave pattern for a 16 shaft fabric of the prior art in which the binding point of the machine-side CD yarn 12, shown in Figure 6, is formed by non-adjacent MD strands 1 and 3 with MD yarn 2 forming part of the paper-side of the fabric.

In the weave patterns for both of Figures 1 and 4 the upper, or paper side, layer of CD yarns in the fabric are all of the same diameter. The lower, or machine side layer of CD yarns are also all of the same diameter, but, as shown, CD paper side yarns as at 11, 23 are of smaller diameter than the CD machine side yarns, as at 12 and 24, in Figure 5. The paper-side weave diagrams of the 14 and 16 shaft fabrics of the prior art are given in Figures 7 and 8, respectively, to illustrate the problem of wire mark. These patterns, based on Figures 1 and 4, show the location of the machine-side CD yarn binding points designated as A in Figure 7 and B in Figure 8. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the weave patterns in Figures 7 and 8 describe the top surface of the fabric and may be derived from the full weave patterns, shown in Figures 1 and 4. This is done by omitting all machine-side CD yarns from the weave pattern and transposing the CD binding points for this yarn to the preceding row in the weave pattern. For example, in Figure 1, the bind ng points designated by open circles for machine-side CD yarn 2 have been transposed to the row for CD yarn 1 to obtain the binding point shown in Figure 7. The procedure is then repeated for all remaining machine-side CD yarns, numbered 4, 6, 8 28.

In Figure 7, the location of the machine-side CD yarn binding points, such as A is directly under a portion of the MD float of the paper-side. As a result, there are diagonal rows of MD floats on the paper-side which are positioned directly over a machine-side binding point and intervening rows which are not. These are shown as regions H and L respectively, in Figure 7. MD floats which are positioned directly above machine-side binding points are raised above the plane of other MD floats. This difference in elevation is significant and leads to density variations in the paper produced on the fabric paper side surface and is readily visible as an intense "wire mark" in the paper.

Similarly, for the prior art fabric of Figure 8, the location of machine-side CD yarn binding points such as B, produces diagonal rows of MD floats which are higher in elevation than parallel rows of MD floats which do not lie directly over binding points. Such alternating diagonal rows are labelled M and N in Figure 8 corresponding to "high" rows and "low" rows, respectively. The effect of this variation in MD float elevation is to greatly intensify the "wire mark" observed in the paper formed on the fabric.

This invention overcomes the problems of the prior art fabrics by providing a weave construction that permits machine-side CD binding points to be located under a long CD float on the paper-side of the fabric. It has been found that in designs having a paper-side CD yarn spanning four consecutive MD yarns, the positioning of a machine-side binding point under such a CD float has no detrimental effect on the elevation of such floats and introduces no increase in the "wire mark" of paper produced on the fabric. The use of a group of four MD strands to form the machine-side binding point is advantageous, since it is symmetrical with respect to the four-float paper-side CD strand and results in a more symmetrical MD yarn path compared to fabrics of the prior art.

One embodiment of a fabric according to this invention comprising a 16 shaft fabric is illustrated in the weave pattern of Figure 9. A weave pattern for the paper side of the fabric showing the positioning of the machine side binding points C is shown in Figure 10. The intent of this weave pattern is twofold: to place the binding points for the machine side yarns in the proper place, and to locate the MD yarn paper side float correctly. As can be seen in Figures 11 and 12 particularly, the fabric construction involves three sets of yarns: a first set of MD yarns, I, and a second and third set of CD yarns, II and III. Taking the machine side binding point first, it can be seen from Figure 12 that for the lower CD yarn in the third set of CD yarns, the binding point with the MD yarns involves four MD yarns, numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4. These are an adjacent group of four MD yarns. The outer pair, 1 and 4 are beneath the CD yarn 14, on the machine side of the fabric. The inner pair, 2 and 3 are adjacent and on the paper side of the CD yarn 14 but not exposed in the paper side face of the fabric as they are bridged at the point C by the other CD yarn 13, from the second set. Thus the second set yarn 13 floats over four MD yarns at the binding point. A similar four float area occurs halfway between the binding points in the cross direction, as Figure 12 shows. It can also be seen from Figure 12 that the CD yarn 14 also floats under twelve consecutive MD yarns.

In addition to passing under the third set of CD yarns, the MD yarns of the first set also pass over the paper side of the upper second set, II, of CD yarns. As can be seen from Figure 11, each MD yarn passes over only two CD yarns, and at a point substantially halfway in between the binding points. Referring to Figure 11, the binding points are where the MD yarn 1 passes under CD yarns (from the second set) 14 and 32. The two yarn float is over yarns 21 and 23, which is halfway between yarns 14 and 32.

The machine side binding points are shown at D in Figure 14. A second embodiment of a 16 shaft fabric is shown in Figure 13. As the cross section of Figure 16 shows, the binding point construction is the same. But as the weave diagram of Figure 13 and the MD section of Figure 15 shows, this fabric includes a fourth set IV of floater yarns, as at 3. These floater yarns follow essentially the same path in the weave as the adjacent CD yarns of the second set, V. However, the interweaving of the floater yarns of the fourth set into the weave is limited. As can be seen from the weave pattern of Figure 13, each CD floater yarn (e.g. 3, 6, 9, and so on) only passes under MD yarns one at a time. Thus floater 3 passes under MD first set yarns 1 and 9 only. Furthermore, it only passes under those yarns in between two second set CD yarns, and it only does so at a point substantially halfway between the machine side binding points. Thus in Figure 15, the binding points are at CD yarns 17 and 38, and it is floater yarn 27 with second set CD yarns 25 and 28 which are under the MD yarn 1 halfway between the binding points. Further, the MD yarn 1 deflects downwardly into the fabric in between CD yarn 25 and floater yarn 24 at one end of the MD float, and between CD yarn 28 and floater yarn 30 at the other end. Hence the fourth set of floater yarns follows the interweaving definition of Thompson, U.S.4,423,755 mentioned earlier.

- Further, it can also be seen from Figures 11, 12, 15 and 16 that not all of the yarns in the fabric are of the same diameter. In the CD yarns, the lower thread set (e.g. 17, Figure 15) is the largest, the upper, second set (e.g. 16, Figure 15) is smaller, and the floater yarns of the fourth set (e.g. 3, Figure 15) are the smallest.

Machine side CD profiles similar to Figure 11 and 15 are described by Kufferath, in E.P. 390,005. This reference however discusses fabrics with a completely different weave construction. Using the definitions of this invention, the second set of yarns in Kufferath are all the same size, and there are twice as many yarns in this second set than there are in the third set of yarns, which again are distinctly larger in diameter than the second set yarns. Most importantly, although this reference uses the same binding point construction, it uses a completely different pattern for the interweaving of the first set of MD yarns with the upper, second set of CD yarns.

Another embodiment of the invention for 14 shaft fabrics having an equal number of paper-side and machine-side CD yarns is illustrated in the weave pattern of Figure 17. A paper-side weave diagram with machine-side binding point locations, E, is given in Figure 18. The machine-side binding point for CD yarn 10, in Figure 20, is formed by MD yarns 1 and 4, with MD yarns 2 and 3 lying below a float of the paper-side CD yarn 9, but above CD yarn 10. CD strands 1, 9 and 27 of Figure 19 are the equal diameter yarns of the paper-surface, while CD strands 2, 4, 6, 10 and 28 form the machine-side CD system, depicted by the binding points, E, in Figure 18. Machine-side yarn 10 in Figure 20 floats under ten consecutive MD yarns. The MD yarn also floats over two CD yarns, as Figure 19 shows, at a point halfway between the machine side binding points.

Yet another embodiment of the invention for a 14 shaft fabric utilizing the extra floater yarn concept is given in Figure 21. The arrangement of machine-side binding points, F, is given in the paper- side weave pattern of Figure 22. The binding points are located under a four MD yarn float of a paper-side CD yarn. The binding point for CD yarn 14 in Figure 24 is formed by MD yarns 1 and 4 of the weave pattern, with MD yarns 2 and 3 lying below the paper-side float of the CD yarn 13, but above the larger CD yarn 14. A machine direction view of the fabric is shown in Figure 23 with CD yarn 13 and thinner floater CD yarn 3, alternating. Further, the yarn count of both the paper side CD yarns and the floater yarns combined is twice the machine side CD count.

The following examples are intended to further describe the fabrics of the invention but are not intended to limit the invention. EXAMPLES

Two fabric samples were woven in 16 shafts according to the weave patterns illustrated in Figures 9 and 13. A prior art fabric was woven in 14 shafts according to the weave pattern of Figure 1 but with a ratio of paper-side to machine-side CD yarn count of 2:1 with paper- side CD yarns alternating with floater yarns as described in U.S. 4,423,755. A summary of the meshes and strand diameters for these three samples is given below in Table 1, in which the 16 shaft fabrics of the present invention are designated as Fabric A and Fabric B, respectively.

TABLE 1

Prior Art Fabric A Fabric B

No. of shafts 14 16 16 MD yarn count: count per cm 57.9 64.6 65.0 CD paper-side yarn count: count per cm 38.6 23.6 31.5 CD machine-side yarn count: count per cm MD yarn diameter, mm CD paper-side yarn diameters, mm CD paper-side floater yarn diameter, mm CD machine-side yarn diameter, mm Length of machine-side CD float Distance fro machine-side MD yarn to wear plane, mm Figure Number Contact Print Figure Number

This data shows that in the Prior Art Fabric and Fabric A, the machine-side CD yarns are greater in diameter than the MD yarns by 176% and 179%, respectively, while in Fabric B, the machine-side CD yarn is 206% greater than the diameter of the MD yarn. In both 16 shaft samples, the distance from the MD yarn to the machine wear plane is significantly higher than the 14 shaft fabric of the prior art. This indicates that the wear on the MD yarn of Fabric A would be considerably less than that of the Prior Art Fabric when the CD machine-side yarn is completely worn through. The wear on the MD yarn of Fabric B, which has a machine-side CD yarn over twice the diameter of the MD yarn, will be greater than the other two fabrics, but not excessive when the CD yarn is completely worn through.

To compare the wire mark propensity for the three fabrics, contact imprints of the paper surfaces were made by running a small sample of each fabric with pressure-sensitive paper on its paper-side through a two-roll press. The resulting imprints are shown in Figures 25, 26 and 27. Figure 25 is the imprint for the Prior Art fabric of Table 1; Figure 26 is the imprint for Fabric A, and Figure 27 is that for Fabric B. Figures 26 and 27 clearly show a greatly improved uniformity and absence of strong diagonal lines for Fabrics A and B when compared to the imprint for the Prior Art fabric in Figure 25. These improvements in surface uniformity are directly proportional to improved wire mark in paper sheets formed on the fabrics, which was confirmed by comparing the wire mark in handsheets of 26-28 g/m² weight formed on each fabric.

In the preferred 16 shaft embodiment of the invention incorporating a paper side CD floater yarn, wherein the ratio of the number of paper-side to machine-side CD yarns is 2:1, it has been found that it was possible to use a machine-side CD yarn with a diameter up to 206% larger than the diameter of the MD yarn and still provide a sufficiently large distance from the MD yarn to the machine wear plane that the entire machine-side CD yarn could be completely worn through without excessive wear of the MD yarn.

The 14 and 16 shaft fabrics of this invention involve up to four different sets of yarns. There is some flexibility of choice in the polymers used for each of these sets of yarns.

The first set, the machine direction set, is preferably polyethylene terephthalate. The second set, the upper cross direction set, may be chosen rom either polyethylene terephthalate, or a blend of polyethylene terephthalate with a thermoplastic polyurethane, as described by Johnson et al, in E.P. 387,395. Alternatively, a mixture of these yarns can be used. Preferably, the second set is polyethylene terephthalate. The third set, the lower cross direction set, may be chosen from polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, or a blend of polyethylene terephthalate and thermoplastic polyurethane. If desired a mixture of fibers particularly of polyamide and polyethylene terephthalate, could be used. Preferably, the third set is polyethylene terephthalate. The fourth set, the floater yarns, may be chosen from polyamide or polyethylene terephthalate, and preferably is the latter.

Where a polyamide is used, this is preferably either polycaprolactam (nylon-6) or polyhexamethyleneadipamide (nylon-66).

The embodiments described above are not intended to limit the invention, but the invention can be modified within the scope of the claims as desired.

Claims

What is claimed is:

An improved double layer papermaker's forming fabric for use in a paper making machine, woven in 14 or 16 shafts, having a paper side and a machine side, and a machine direction parallel to its direction of movement in the paper making machine and a cross direction substantially perpendicular thereto, comprising in combination:

(a) a first set of machine direction yarns;

(i) the second set of yarns is interlaced with the first set of yarns; (ii) the third set of yarns is interlaced with the first set of yarns in a pattern different to that of the second set; (iii) the second set of yarns includes the same number of yarns as the third set; (iv) the yarns in the third set have a greater diameter than the yarns of the second set; (v) the float of the yarns in the third set on the machine side of the fabric is under at least 10 consecutive yarns of the first set; (vi) each yarn of the second set floats over four yarns of the first set and is exposed on the paper side of the fabric directly over the binding points between yarns of the first set and the third set;

(viii) each yarn of the first set floats over the paper side of two second set yarns at a point substantially halfway between successive machine side binding points.

2. A fabric according to Claim 1 which is woven on 14 shafts, and wherein the float of the third set yarns is under 10 consecutive first set yarns.

3. A fabric according to Claim 1 which is woven on 16 shafts, and wherein the float of the third set yarns is under 12 consecutive first set yarns.

4. A fabric according to claim 1 wherein all of the yarns are composed of polyethylene terephthalate.

5. A fabric according to claim 1 wherein the first set of yarns is composed of polyethylene terephthalate.

6. A fabric according to claim 1 wherein the second set of yarns is composed of at least one polymer chosen from polyethylene terephthalate, and a blend of polyethylene terephthalate and thermoplastic polyurethane.

7. A fabric according to claim 6 wherein the second set of yarns is composed of polyethylene terephthalate.

8. A fabric according to claim 6 wherein the second set of yarns is composed of a blend of polyethylene terephthalate and thermoplastic polyurethane.

9. A fabric according to claim 6 wherein the second set of yarns includes yarns composed of both polyethylene terephthalate and a blend of polyethylene terephthalate and thermoplastic polyurethane.

10. A fabric according to claim 1 wherein the third set of yarns is composed of polyethylene terephthalate.

11. A fabric according to claim 1 wherein the third set of yarns is composed of at least one polymer chosen from polyethylene terephthalate, a blend of a blend of polyethylene terephthalate and thermoplastic polyurethane, and a polyamide.

12. A fabric according to claim 11 wherein the third set of yarns are alternating yarns of polyamide and polyethylene terephthalate.

13. A fabric according to claim 11 wherein the polyamide is chosen from polycaprolactam and polyhexamethyleneadipamide.

14. A fabric according to claim 1 wherein both the second and third sets of yarns are composed of a blend of polyethylene terephthalate and thermoplastic polyurethane.

15. A fabric according to claim 1 wherein the third set yarns have a diameter of from about 150% to about 210% that of the second set yarns.

16. A fabric according to claim 1 further including in the combination: (d) a fourth set of upper cross direction yarns; and wherein in the weave pattern repeat:

17. A fabric according to Claim 16 which is woven on 14 shafts, and wherein the float of the third set yarns is under 10 consecutive first set yarns.

18. A fabric according to Claim 16 which is woven on 16 shafts, and wherein the float of the third set yarns is under 12 consecutive first set yams.

19. A fabric according to claim 16 wherein the first set of yarns is composed of polyethylene terephthalate.

20. A fabric according to claim 16 wherein the second set of yarns is composed of at least one polymer chosen from polyethylene terephthalate, and a blend of polyethylene terephthalate and thermoplastic polyurethane.

21. A fabric according to claim 20 wherein the second set of yarns is composed of polyethylene terephthalate.

22. A fabric according to claim 20 wherein the second set of yarns is composed of a blend of polyethylene terephthalate and thermoplastic polyurethane.

23. A fabric according to claim 16 wherein the second set of yarns includes yarns composed of both polyethylene terephthalate and a blend of polyethylene terephthalate and thermoplastic polyurethane.

24. A fabric according to claim 16 wherein the third set of yarns is composed of polyethylene terephthalate.

25. A fabric according to claim 16 wherein the third set of yarns is composed of at least one polymer chosen from polyethylene terephthalate, a blend of a blend of polyethylene terephthalate and thermoplastic polyurethane, and a polyamide.

26. A fabric according to claim 25 wherein the third set of yarns are alternating yarns of polyamide and polyethylene terephthalate.

27. A fabric according to claim 25 wherein the polyamide is chosen from polycaprolactam and polyhexamethyleneadipamide.

28. A fabric according to claim 26 wherein the polyamide is chosen from polycaprolactam and polyhexamethyleneadipamide.

29. A fabric according to claim 16 wherein both the second and third sets of yarns are composed of a blend of polyethylene terephthalate and thermoplastic polyurethane.

30. A fabric according to claim 16 wherein the fourth set of yarns is composed of either polyethylene terephthalate or polyamide.

31. A fabric according to claim 16 wherein the fourth set of yarns is composed of polyethylene terephthalate.

32. A fabric according to claim 16 wherein the fourth set of yarns is composed of polyamide.

33. A fabric according to claim 30 wherein the polyamide is chosen from polycaprolactam and polyhexamethyleneadipamide.

34. A fabric according to claim 32 wherein the polyamide is chosen from polycaprolactam and polyhexamethyleneadipamide.

35. A fabric according to claim 16 wherein the third set yarns have a diameter of from about 150% to about 210% that of the second set yarns.

36. A fabric according to claim 16 wherein all of the yarns are composed of polyethylene terephthalate.