Abstract: A flooring resistant to bottom-up staining is provided which includes a substrate; a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) barrier layer contacting the substrate; and a flooring structure in contact with the PET barrier layer. A method for manufacturing the flooring utilizing lamination processes is also provided.

Abstract: A composite surface covering includes a substrate and an inorganic wear layer. The composite surface covering retains its performance characteristics after mechanical embossing. Preferably, the inorganic wear layer of the surface covering is deposited on the substrate by a reduced pressure environment vapor deposition technique. Preferably, the inorganic wear layer is aluminum oxide. The preferred substrate is a plastic material.

Abstract: A solar energy collector in which gas is heated comprising a substantially transparent outer member overlying a corrugated, thermally conductive absorbent transformer means separated from the outer member by a longitudinal fluid space. The corrugations of the thermally conductive absorbent transformer are disposed at an angle in the collector and the transparent outer member is separated from the peaks of the corrugations by an amount such that the flow of gas through the collector assumes a helical pattern. Efficient scrubbing of the thermally conductive absorbent transformer surface results.