A specialized felt or synthetic mesh used to separate wet sheets of paper and absorb moisture during the pressing stage. In hand papermaking or lab handsheet forming, it receives the wet web directly from the forming wire. The fabric's weave must be fine enough not to emboss its pattern into the soft paper, which would ruin the final surface smoothness and gloss.
Make sure the couching fabric is completely dry before we press this next batch of handsheets.
Related terms
Handsheet
Laboratory-made paper sheet formed from a pulp sample under standard conditions for testing.
Couch
Suction roll at the end of the forming section where the wet web is dewatered and leaves the wire.
Felt
Endless fabric that carries the wet sheet through the press nips and absorbs the water squeezed out of it.