Papermaking felt with hydrophobic layer

A felt for use in dewatering fibrous material in a papermaking machine, comprising:

• a base defining a first surface and a second surface:
• a fibrous batt layer defining a first surface facing and supporting the fibrous material and a second surface facing the base first surface;
• a sheet of porous hydrophobic material comprising a sheet of spunbonded synthetic fibers interposed between the batt layer second surface and the base first surface forming a flow control layer therebetween;
• wherein the base, the batt layer and the sheet of porous hydrophobic material are joined together to form a dewatering structure in which water from the batt layer is forced through the flow control layer under pressure from the press nip of the papermaking machine, wherein the flow control layer functions to prevent backflow of water to the batt layer from the base when pressure on the felt and the fibrous material is relieved.

A felt for use in dewatering fibrous material in a papermaking machine, comprising:

• a fibrous batt layer defining a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing and supporting the fibrous material;
• and
• a porous hydrophobic flow control layer comprising a sheet of spunbonded synthetic fibers facing the batt layer second surface;
• wherein the batt layer and the flow control layer are joined together to form a dewatering structure in which water from the batt layer is forced through the flow control layer under pressure from the press nip of the papermaking machine, wherein the flow control layer functions to prevent backflow of water into the batt layer when pressure on the felt and the fibrous material is relieved.