Process for fabricating a belt

A process for fabricating a thin, flexible, seamless belt comprising forming a first thin substantially uniform fluid coating comprising film forming polymer material on a cylindrical mandrel having a cylindrical molding surface parallel to the axis of said cylinder, said mandrel having a larger mass or lower thermal conductivity than said film forming polymer material and a critical surface tension greater than the surface tension of said fluid coating, solidifying said first fluid coating at a temperature below the apparent T.sub.g of the solidified coating to form a first thin substantially uniform solid coating comprising said film forming polymer material on said cylindrical mandrel, forming at least a second thin substantially uniform fluid coating comprising film forming polymer material on said first thin substantially uniform solid coating, solidifying said second fluid coating to form a second thin substantially uniform solid coating comprising said film forming polymer material on said first coating, heating said first uniform solid coating, said second uniform solid coating and said mandrel to a temperature above the apparent T.sub.g of the first uniform solid coating and said second uniform solid coating to expand said first uniform solid coating, said second uniform solid coating and said mandrel while maintaining contact between said mandrel and said first and second uniform solid coatings, cooling said coatings to a temperature below the apparent T.sub.g of said solid coatings prior to substantial cooling of said mandrel, and cooling said mandrel whereby said mandrel contracts at a greater rate than said solid coatings until separation occurs between said mandrel and said solid coatings, and removing said solid coatings from said mandrel.

A process for fabricating a thin, flexible, seamless belt comprising forming at least one thin substantially uniform fluid coating comprising a film forming polymer and at least one solvent for said film forming binder around a cylindrical mandrel at a temperature below about 60.degree. C., said thin substantially uniform fluid coating having a surface tension sufficiently less than the critical surface tension of said mandrel to form said uniform fluid coating on said mandrel, said mandrel having a cylindrical molding surface parallel to the axis of said cylinder, solidifying said fluid coating at a temperature below about 60.degree. C. to form a uniform solid coating around said cylindrical mandrel, heating said mandrel and said uniform solid coating to a temperature above about 130.degree. C. and above the apparent T.sub.g of said uniform solid coating, and cooling said uniform solid coating below about 130.degree. C. and below the apparent T.sub.g of said uniform said coating prior to substantial cooling of said mandrel, cooling said mandrel whereby said mandrel contracts at a greater rate than said uniform solid coating, and removing said uniform solid coating as a thin, flexible, seamless belt from said mandrel, said uniform solid coating being substantially dry and having a critical surface tension greater than the critical surface tension of said mandrel when said uniform solid coating is removed from said mandrel.