Abstract: The invention comprises a method of making synthetic turf. The method comprises applying an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer adhesive to a first primary surface of a tufted primary backing to form a coating thereon and wherein the primary backing is tufted with a plurality of synthetic filaments to form a face pile extending outwardly from a second primary surface of the synthetic turf opposite the first primary surface and heating the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer adhesive to a temperature above its melting point so that the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer adhesive melts and at least partially flows into the primary backing. The method also comprises heating a linear low-density polyethylene film to a temperature below the softening point of the film and pressing the heated linear low-density polyethylene film into contact with the polymer coated first primary surface of the tufted primary backing.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method of making synthetic turf. The method comprises applying a plurality of solid polyethylene polymer particles to a tufted primary backing of a tufted synthetic turf to form a coating thereon, wherein the solid polyethylene polymer particles have an average particle size of approximately 1 to approximately 1,000 microns and a melt index of approximately 50 to approximately 500 grams/10 minutes at 190° C. at a weight of 2.16 kg. and wherein the primary backing is tufted with a plurality of synthetic filaments to form a plurality of synthetic filaments extending outwardly from the side of the synthetic turf opposite the primary backing. The method also comprises heating the solid polyethylene particles to a temperature above their melting point so that the solid polyethylene polymer particles melt and at least partially flow into the primary backing and cooling the polyethylene polymer on the primary backing. A product made by the foregoing process is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method. The method comprises applying a composition to a tufted primary backing material, wherein the primary backing material has a first primary surface and a second primary surface, wherein tufts extend outwardly from the first primary surface and loop backs are formed on the second primary surface, and wherein the composition is applied to the loop backs and second primary surface of the tufted primary backing material. The composition comprises an aqueous polymer dispersion of colloidal thermosetting polymer particles or colloidal thermoplastic polymer particles and second thermoplastic polymer particles dispersed in the water, wherein the second thermoplastic polymer particles have an average particle size of approximately 200 micron to approximately 1,000 microns. The method further comprises heating the tufted primary backing material and aqueous polymer dispersion to remove water therefrom. A novel adhesive composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention comprises a product comprising a continuous phase comprising water and a discontinuous phase comprising an asphalt composition and a vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer. A method for using the composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention comprises an improved floor covering product. The floor covering product comprises a floor covering material having a face surface and a back surface. On the back surface of the floor covering material is a layer of polyurethane having a cure index of between approximately 70 and 90. A method of using the floor covering product is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a water vapor barrier. The water vapor barrier comprises a water vapor impermeable substrate, the substrate comprising a sheet of polymeric material and the substrate having a width. The water vapor barrier also comprises a first fabric on one side of the substrate, the first fabric having a width less than the width of the substrate such that a portion of the substrate is exposed on both sides of the first fabric. A method of installing the water vapor barrier is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention comprises a fire retardant composition comprising a fire retardant compound that thermally decomposes to release carbon dioxide or water or both and a thermoplastic polymer. The invention also comprises a fire resistant synthetic turf comprising a backing layer, a face fiber and infill material between the face fibers, the infill material comprises a flame retardant composition comprising a flame retardant compound that thermally decomposes to release carbon dioxide or water or both and a thermoplastic polymer. The invention also comprises a method of forming a fire resistant synthetic turf product.

Abstract: A backing material is made of low-density and/or high-density polyethylene(s) and/or a flexibilizer to provide high-strength, low-cost, and recyclable backing material for fabrics. The backing material can incorporate polypropylene(s), additional flexibilizers, fillers, flame-retardants, anti-microbials, odor minimizers/eliminators, scent, and protectants for further desired properties.

Abstract: There is disclosed a polyurethane composition with a glass cullet filler. The composition comprises at least one polyol, an isocyanate, a catalyst and glass cullet. The glass cullet has an average particle size of not greater than 100 mesh and not less than 325 mesh. A method of producing a polyurethane composition with a glass cullet filler is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a layer of blown cellular polyurethane on a textile material, such as a carpet backing. The method includes applying to a textile material a layer of reactive polyurethane forming agents containing a sufficient amount of water or heat-sensitive blowing agent so as to cause chemical blowing of the mixture when heated sufficiently, heating the layer so as to cause chemical blowing of the mixture and applying to the layer during the chemical blowing thereof a pressure of an amount and for a time sufficient to control the blowing of the mixture to a desired degree, the pressure being applied to the mixture continuously from an initial pressure to a final pressure, wherein said initial pressure is greater than the final pressure. Apparatus for performing the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: The cushion back carpet cutting tool is a hand tool for cutting foam back carpeting that creates a clean straight cut through the carpeting so that a smooth unnoticeable seam results where two pieces of carpet material are brought together. The tool includes a leading edge on the center plate that opens the adjacent rows of tufts in the carpeting, three blades for cutting the carpeting between adjacent rows either close to the right row of tufts, left row of tufts or midway between the tufts, three plates that retain the blades and an adjustable retainer system for the blades, and a handle. The leading edge has an angle of less than 90 degrees from the horizontal and is rounded in shape to prevent loop or woven carpeting from catching on the tool, and also to keep the tool from jumping out of the row where the cut is being made. The blades are kept in place at an angle of between 15 to 25 degrees from the bottom edge of the tool, which results in a smoother cut being made in the carpeting.

Abstract: There is disclosed a heat-gellable latex composition. The composition comprises a curable natural or synthetic elastomeric latex, an amount of a curing agent sufficient to cure the latex, an amount of ammonia sufficient to prevent gellation of the latex, an amount of a gelling agent sufficient to gell the latex, the gelling agent comprising the reaction product of zinc chloride and an ammonium-containing compound, and an amount of an accelerator sufficient to accelerate vulcanization of the latex, the accelerator comprising a zinc dithiocarbamate. A method for heat-gelling a latex composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tufted carpet product including a woven or non-woven primary backing material, a layer of foam compound adhered to the undersurface of said primary backing, rows of yarn elements tufted through the primary backing and the layer of foam compound to form a face of yarn on the upper surface of the primary backing and loop backs on the undersurface of the backing and foam compound, and optionally a thin layer of adhesive compound applied to the loop backs of the yarn elements.