Abstract: The drying time for aqueous asphalt emulsions used in the roofing and other waterproofing industries is shortened by separately applying an emulsion breaking agent to the substrate to be waterproofed, to the aqueous asphalt emulsion after it is applied, or both.

Abstract: A backer rod adapted for forming a fire-resistant seal within a construction joint. The backer rod may include an elongated tube defining a total assembly volume and a hollow interior, and a core disposed within the hollow interior. The tube is formed of a combustible foam plastic which disintegrates when exposed to fire. The core material is expandable when exposed to fire, such that the core has an intumescent expansion factor sufficient to expand to a volume beyond the total assembly volume. The backer rod may be press fit into a void between two surfaces to a depth. A sealant layer may be formed within the void. When exposed to fire on a side opposite the sealant layer, the external shell disintegrates, the core expands within the void in a direction away from the sealant layer, and a fire-resistant barrier is formed within the void between the surfaces.

Abstract: The drying time for aqueous asphalt emulsions used in the roofing and other waterproofing industries is shortened by separately applying an emulsion breaking agent to the substrate to be waterproofed, to the aqueous asphalt emulsion after it is applied, or both.

Abstract: A barrier assembly for sealing the gap between the frame of a window and the rough opening of a building in which the window is received comprises an adaptor attached to the window frame and a sealing membrane providing an air and moisture barrier between the window frame and the framing members defining the building's rough opening. The flexible sealing membrane is formed from multiple membrane sections, at least one of which is formed from a flexible sheet and a projection integral with the flexible sheet, the projection being received in a channel defined by the adaptor to provide an air and moisture-proof barrier seal between the window frame and the associated building framing members.

Abstract: Highly elastomeric, curable, paintable silicone compositions are provided. The paintable silicone compositions comprise an organopolysiloxane, a silicone functional crosslinker, and an organic polymer. The highly elastomeric, curable, paintable silicone compositions have an elongation of at least 150% and are useful as paintable sealants and caulks.

Abstract: A cool roof covering for forming the outermost layer of a bituminous roof coating is provided, this cool roof covering comprising multiple heat-reflecting cap-sheets arranged in an adjacent, overlapping edge fashion and a heat-reflecting cap-sheet adhesive applied to overlapping portions of the cap-sheets for securing these cap-sheets to one another. The heat-reflecting cap-sheets exhibit a solar reflectance of at least 60% and a thermal emittance of at least 65. The heat-reflecting cap-sheet adhesive comprises a storage-stable, VOC-compliant mixture containing at least 10 wt. % of one or more weather-resistant organic resins dissolved in an organic solvent, the adhesive having a viscosity of 15,000 cps or less at 77° F. (25° C.) and exhibiting a lap shear strength of at least about 17 lbf/in when applied to a substrate and dried.

Abstract: A modified flexible sealing membrane is provided for sealing the gap between the frame of an industrial window and the rough opening in which the window is received (“building gap”). The membrane is formed from a flexible sheet defining an integral projection for receipt in an adaptor connected to the window frame. On one side of this projection, the flexible sheet defines an outer membrane portion which is wide enough to seal the building gap. On the other side of this projection, the flexible sheet defines an inner membrane portion which is wide enough to seal the gap that is often found between the different structural members which combine to form the window frame (“frame gap”).

Abstract: Polymer compositions for preparing sealants, adhesives and coatings are provided. The polymer compositions comprise from 1 to 99% by weight of an organic polymer comprising functional silane groups, from 1 to 45% by weight (based on total polymer) of at least one reactive or non-reactive organopolysiloxane polymer; from 0 to 98% by weight (based on total polymer) of an organic polymer that lacks functional silane groups.

Abstract: An aqueous primer dispersion which contains surfactant-stabilized polymer particles, an organic solvent and a mineral thicker, when coated onto a fluorocarbon substrate, significantly increase the bond strength between the fluorocarbon substrate and a subsequently applied water-derived protective coating, provided that the amount of surfactant-stabilized polymer particles in the aqueous primer dispersion, if any, is about 8 wt. % or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to multi-part coating compositions that comprise a first part which is an asphalt emulsion comprising water, asphalt, and a dispersion system and a second part which is a liquid polymer composition that lacks water. The asphalt emulsion and liquid polymer composition are combined in situ to provide a coating that has fast dry characteristics, and that quickly develops good water-resistance. Such compositions are useful as coatings on metal, wood, and other surfaces, where fast drying characteristics are important. Such compositions are particularly useful as coatings on substrates where early water-resistance of the coating is important, such as those surfaces which are routinely exposed to the outdoors.

Abstract: The mechanical properties of a polymer protective coating formed from an aqueous dispersion of a polymer having a low glass transition temperature are significantly improved by including in the dispersion solvent softened polymer nanoparticles made from a polymer having a high glass transition temperature.

Abstract: Highly elastomeric, curable, paintable silicone compositions are provided. The paintable silicone compositions comprise an organopolysiloxane, a silicone functional crosslinker, and an organic polymer. The highly elastomeric, curable, paintable silicone compositions have an elongation of at least 150% and are useful as paintable sealants and caulks.

Abstract: Recreational vehicle roofing coatings, recreational vehicle roofs, recreational vehicles, and methods of waterproofing recreational vehicle roofs are provided. The recreational vehicle roofs have polyurethane coatings that are single layer coatings that form waterproofing membranes on the recreational vehicle roof. The coatings can be applied to a recreational vehicle roof before or after the installation of the roof on the vehicle.

Abstract: Prepolymer compositions for preparing a one-part, moisture-curable sealant, adhesive or coating, and a method of making such prepolymer compositions are provided. The prepolymer compositions comprise a polyurethane prepolymer that is end-capped with silane groups or a combination of silane groups and end capping groups that have been derived from an alcohol and an amount, referred to hereinafter as an “excess”, of unreacted aromatic alcohol having a molecular weight of less than 2000. The excess of unreacted aromatic alcohol in the composition is from greater than 0% to 15% by mole of the level of original NCO groups in the prepolymer. From 50 to 100% of the original NCO groups are end-capped with silane groups, and from 0 to 50% of the original NCO groups are end-capped with a end-capping group that has been derived from an aromatic alcohol, an aliphatic alcohol or both. Sealant compositions and coating compositions comprising the present prepolymer composition are also provided.

Abstract: A method for polymerizing predominantly one or more acrylate and/or vinyl acetate monomers in the presence of a latex results in high solids dispersions of polymer particles with lower viscosities than traditionally observed. A significant wt. % of added monomers can be present in large particles, having nonspherical shapes. Some of the original latex particles are retained during the polymerization and these increase the solids content and lower the viscosity by packing in the interstices between large particles. The total polymer solids content can easily be varied from 70 to 92 or more wt. % which are higher than achieved in any previously reported aqueous polymerizations. The viscosities at very high solids contents become paste-like but the materials still are stable to storage and further handling without breaking the dispersion into an agglomerated polymer portion and released water. The dispersions are useful to form sealants, membranes, etc., either with or without other additives.

Abstract: A high solids, water-borne coating comprises a latex polymer, non-film-forming particulates and water. The high solids coating contains up to 90% solids (non-volatiles/volume) and pigment volume concentration (PVC) that can range between about 5% to 95%. The thick-coverage surface coating herein dries at a fast rate, provides excellent through-dry properties as measured by tensile, elongation, and water resistance, and can replace traditional coatings used in multi-coat processes. The coating herein can contain up to about 40% hollow microspheres to yield a dried coating that has up to about 57% PVC and be used as a roof coating that meets a required elongation of at least 200%.

Abstract: A counter flashing system is provided for protecting a termination end of a roofing material and providing an asthetic cover. An anchor has a first end attached to a wall and a second end defining a mounting slot for receiving a counter flashing. A mounting end of the counter flashing is inserted into the slot and fastened. The slot and the mounting end of the counter flashing both include a plurality of teeth which engage each other to prohibit movement of the counter flashing. A free end of the counter flashing extends out from the mounting end and covers a portion of the wall which includes a roofing seal. The anchor and counter flashing protect the roofing seal from exposure to weather and sunlight as well as providing as aesthetically pleasing appearance. With the present invention, the components can be easily assembled, disassembled, or replaced.

Abstract: A surface mounted counter flashing system and method is provided for securing and sealing a free end of a roofing material to a wall. A compression plate secures and compressingly seals the free end of a roofing material against the wall surface. The top end of the compression plate defines a first sealing trough for receiving a sealing material. The bottom end of the compression plate includes locking portion for attachment to a counter flashing. The counter flashing includes a mounting surface which is mounted to the wall above compression plate. A covering surface extends out from the mounting surface and encloses the compression plate protecting it from exposure to weather. A locking member is provided on the covering surface which connects and attaches to the compression plate, thus, securing the counter flashing. The top end of the counter flashing defines a second sealing trough for receiving the sealing material. Adjacent counter flashings are installed end-to-end leaving a gap therebetween.

Abstract: A method for polymerizing predominantly one or more acrylate and/or vinyl acetate monomers in the presence of a latex results in high solids dispersions of polymer particles with lower viscosities than traditionally observed. A significant wt. % of added monomers can be present in large particles, having nonspherical shapes. Some of the original latex particles are retained during the polymerization and these increase the solids content and lower the viscosity by packing in the interstices between large particles. The total polymer solids content can easily be varied from 70 to 92 or more wt. % which are higher than achieved in any previously reported aqueous polymerizations. The viscosities at very high solids contents become paste-like but the materials still are stable to storage and further handling without breaking the dispersion into an agglomerated polymer portion and released water. The dispersions are useful to form sealants, membranes, etc., either with or without other additives.

Abstract: One-step sealant compositions are provided which have a moisture-activated curative component and an aliphatic isocyanate-terminated polyol component blocked with a phenol substituted with an electron-withdrawing group having a Hammett .sigma..sub.p constant in the range from >0.24 to about 0.73. In this range, the blocking phenol is rapidly displaced by an amine group so that the sealant cures in less than one-half the time required for an analogous sealant in which end-capping is performed with an aromatic polyisocyanate. Yet the novel sealant is also stable for more than twice as long, in excess of nine months, when sealed under nitrogen in a container and stored at 25.degree. C. and 50% relative humidity. Sealants of this invention thus provide both, a desirable fast cure rate of less than 8 hr to cures to a viscosity of 100,000 cp in a 50% relative humidity atmosphere at 25.degree. C., and exceptional stability when stored.