Patent ID: 6908532

Claim:
A process for forming a press belt, comprising: at least partially embedding a first layer of reinforcing fibers having a thickness and spacings between the fibers, and extending in a direction transverse to a belt run direction in a matrix including an elastomer material; at least partially embedding a second layer of reinforcing fibers having a thickness and spacings between the fibers, and extending in the belt run direction in the matrix material, wherein the thicknesses of the reinforcing fibers of at least one of the first layer and the second layer are greater than or equal to about 1 mm, the spacings between the reinforcing fibers of the first layer are less than or equal to about 3.0 mm, and the spacings between the reinforcing fibers of the second layer are less than or equal to 2.5 mm; and maintaining a separation of up to about 4 mm in a belt thickness direction of the reinforcing fibers of the first layer from the reinforcing fibers of the second layer; and maintaining a volume ratio between a volume of the reinforcing fibers in the second layer and a volume of the reinforcing fibers in the first layer that is greater than or equal to 1 and less than about 1.5.