Abstract: A decorative or building product in which one or more constituents of the product include melamine cyanurate in an amount effective to provide or enhance opacity in the product.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a b-stage resin impregnated décor paper that is suitable for inclusion in a decorative or industrial laminate, includes impregnating a décor print base paper with a resin carried by a solvent, which resin includes one or more of melamine formaldehyde, urea formaldehyde, and phenol formaldehyde or any combination of these. Thereafter the resin impregnated paper is irradiated with near infra-red (NIR) radiation selected to partially remove solvent by evaporation of the solvent, whereby to produce a partially dried and partially cured printable b-stage resin impregnated paper. The partially dried and partially cured printable b-stage resin impregnated paper is then printed to obtain a décor paper suitable for subsequent final curing in the formation of a decorative or industrial laminate. Apparatus is also disclosed, as is a method that entails impregnating a paper with an aqueous urea solution and irradiating the wet impregnated paper with near infra-red (NIR) radiation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a b-stage pre-preg of resin impregnated paper or non-woven. The method includes irradiating a resin impregnated paper or non-woven with near infra-red (NIR) radiation to at least partially remove solvent by evaporation of the solvent, and to advance cure of the resin, whereby to produce an at least partially dried and at least partially cured b-stage pre-preg. The apparatus includes a resin impregnation station (10) for impregnating a paper or non-woven (5) with resin carried by a solvent, and a heating and curing station (20) having irradiation means (24, 25) to irradiate the impregnated paper or non-woven (5?) with near infra-red (NIR) radiation.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprises particles each having a substrate being an oxide or other suitable compound of a metal other than titanium or of certain non-metal elements, and a coating on said substrate being a layer of titanium dioxide. A method of forming particles of titania-coated substrate, includes contacting a bed of hydrated particles of an oxide or other suitable compound of a metal other than titanium or of certain non-metal elements with a fluid medium containing flowing titanium tetrachloride, under conditions in which a layer comprising one or more involatile oxychloride or oxide compounds is formed at and below the surface of each of a multiplicity of the particles of the oxide or other suitable compound which thereby provides a substrate for the layer. The oxychloride or oxide compound or compounds are treated to convert the layer to a Titania coating on the particles.