Extended nip press belt having an interwoven base fabric and an impervious impregnant

An extended nip press belt for use in dewatering a fibrous web transported by a papermaker's felt means in an extended nip press of the type having a cylindrical press roll and a pressure shoe for applying pressure to the felt means and fibrous web wherein a lubricant is used between the belt and the pressure shoe, said belt having an inner surface and an outer surface and comprising:

• an interwoven base fabric, said interwoven base fabric being in the form of an endless loop, said endless loop having an inner side and an outer side, said inner side of said base fabric having an impregnant formed thereon and penetrating thereinto, said impregnant being buffed to provide a smooth impervious machine ground surface on said inner side of said base fabric, said impregnant thereby being on the inner surface of said extended nip press belt and slidingly engaging said pressure shoe, and being impervious to the lubricant used between the belt and the pressure shoe, said base fabric and said impregnant comprising said belt which is uniform in thickness as a consequence of said impregnant being buffed, whereby, upon passage of said papermaker's felt means, in the nip of said press, between said press roll and said belt, said pressure shoe engaging said inner surface of said belt and applying pressure to said felt means and said fibrous web therethrough, liquid is transferred from the fibrous web to the felt means engaged thereby through the medium of said belt.