Sealed titanium slice lip for a headbox

A headbox for a paper-making machine, said headbox including an inlet for receiving a fiber suspension and an outlet for discharging the fiber suspension, said headbox comprising:

• a plurality of walls including an apron and a pair of side plates, said side plates disposed at opposite ends of said headbox, said apron comprised of steel;
• a beam extending between said side plates and including opposite ends, each said end disposed a predetermined distance from a respective said side plate when at an ambient temperature, said beam comprised of steel;
• a slice lip carried by said beam, said slice lip positioned at said outlet and including a working edge defining an outlet gap with said apron, said slice lip having a pair of longitudinal ends, each said longitudinal end disposed a predetermined distance from a respective said side plate when at the ambient temperature, each said longitudinal end including a slot extending from and substantially orthogonal to said working edge, each said end of said slice lip having a substantially U-shaped cross section when viewed in a direction substantially orthogonal to said apron, said slice lip consisting essentially of titanium;
• and
• a pair of seals, each said seal being disposed in a respective one of said slots and sealing between a respective said longitudinal end of said slice lip and a respective said side plate, each said seal having a substantially T-shaped cross section when viewed in a direction substantially orthogonal to said apron, each said seal comprised of a non-woven, porous material.

A headbox for a paper-making machine, said headbox including an inlet for receiving a fiber suspension and an outlet for discharging the fiber suspension, said headbox comprising:

• a plurality of walls including an apron and a pair of side plates, said side plates disposed at opposite ends of said headbox, said apron comprised of steel;
• a beam extending between said side plates and including opposite ends, each said end disposed a predetermined distance from a respective said side plate when at an ambient temperature, said beam comprised of steel;
• a slice lip carried by said beam, said slice lip positioned at said outlet and including a working edge defining an outlet gap with said apron, said slice lip having a height extending substantially orthogonal to said working edge, said slice lip having a pair of longitudinal ends, each said longitudinal end disposed a predetermined distance from a respective said side plate when at the ambient temperature, each said longitudinal end including a slot extending from and substantially orthogonal to said working edge, said slice lip consisting essentially of titanium;
• and
• a pair of seals, each said seal being disposed in a respective one of said slots and extending substantially across said height of said slice lip, each said seal sealing between a respective said longitudinal end of said slice lip and a respective said side plate along said height of said slice lip, said sealing being over a temperature range of approximately 60.degree. F. to 160.degree. F., each said seal comprised of a non-woven, porous material.