Abstract: Carpeted floor covering articles comprising carpet pile fibers to which a topical antimicrobial application of solid particles has been applied either during or after product manufacture (such as part of a cleaning or treatment process) are provided. Such a topical treatment includes specific inorganic antimicrobial metal ion-based solid compounds, such as silver ion-exchange compounds, silver zeolites, and/or silver glasses, which may or may not be dispersed within a liquid medium for ease in handling and application. Such treatments also optionally include compositions of stain resistant agents, anti soil-redeposition compounds and liquids, surfactants, antistatic agents, and the like, to impart other characteristics to the target carpeted products. Such carpeted products thus exhibit excellent antimicrobial characteristics at both the surface of the carpet pile, as well as within the pile itself.

Abstract: Improvements in increasing the amount of surface-available silver in thermoplastic articles comprising certain silver-containing antimicrobial agents. Such an invention requires the incorporation of a sufficient amount of a carboxylic acid salt within the thermoplastic article simultaneously with the necessary silver-containing antimicrobial agent. Certain carboxylic acid salts are standard acid scavengers and lubricants for certain thermoplastic applications; however, the amounts required within this inventive thermoplastic article are in excess of that commonly added within such articles, and the types of acid scavengers possibly added within such target thermoplastic articles are preferably neutralized hydrotalcite compounds, thereby permitting the carboxylic acid salt to function in the inventive manner.

Abstract: Novel addition products of isocyanates with oxyalkylene-substituted aminophenol compounds as intermediates for the production of urethane-substituted xanthene colorants, particularly triphenylmethane derivatives such as rhodamines, are provided. The xanthene colorants exhibit improved wax and/or oil solubility and high purity. The urethane-substituted xanthene colorant features very good wax and/or oil solubility, and is believed to be relatively nontoxic. A method for producing this novel colorant is also provided.

Abstract: Novel condensation reactions used to produce 1,3-cyclohexadiene. Such a compound is an important precursor in the manufacture of high performance plastics, as one example, are provided. In the past, the production methods for such 1,3-cyclohexadiene required very complex reactions involving numerous process steps. Such a method has proven costly, difficult to properly monitor and control, and less than reliable to provide even low amounts of such a precursor compound. The inventive production methods thus permit a reduction in complexity and cost, and, with a single reaction step, facilitate quality measurements as to the product purity itself.

Abstract: Fabric softener compositions comprising certain red colorants that exhibit excellent deep, dark red colorations (for aesthetic purposes) and mix very well with other colorants to provide differing red shades and tints therein, which simultaneously exhibit very low, if any staining capabilities on fabrics treated therewith, are provided. Such deep and dark red colorations have heretofore been unavailable within fabric softener formulations due to the tendency of such prior colorants to exhibit unacceptable staining levels, particularly when formulated at similar deep and dark shades as now provided within the inventive low-staining formulations. Apparently, and quite unexpectedly, the colorants present therein react favorably with quaternary ammonium salt softening agents in a manner to prevent reaction with the fibers of the treated fabrics themselves, thereby preventing staining thereon and therein.

Abstract: A process for angularly sueding a textile web containing fill and warp yarns with the steps of: supplying the web, controlling the tension of the web, engaging the web with at least one diamond-coated abrasive treatment roll disposed at an abrasion angle, rotating the treatment roll at a surface speed different from that of the web, and taking up the supplied web. A preferred embodiment comprises a pair of spaced treatment rolls disposed at an abrasion angle, and rotating in opposite directions relative to the web. The related apparatus for this specific process is also provided.

Abstract: Certain non-silicone vulcanized rubber articles made from at least a majority by weight of ethylene-propylene-diene modified (terpolymer) rubber (such as, without limitation, EPDM and/or NBR) that include silver-based compounds to provide highly desirable long-term antimicrobial characteristics within the cured rubber articles, at least a portion of which exhibits a color other than black, are provided. Such articles are in either solid or blown (foam or sponge) state (or combinations of both in multilayered forms, either all colored or individual layers colored) that can be utilized in a variety of different applications. As silver-based compounds are deleteriously affected by utilization of standard curing agents and curing accelerators, such as sulfur-based compounds and/or systems, the ability to provide such an effective antimicrobial vulcanized rubber article is rather difficult.

Abstract: Red colorants comprising a chromophore having at least one poly(oxyalkylene) chain attached to the 1-position, as well as at least one poly(oxyalkylene) chain attached to either the 5-position or the 8-position of an anthraquinone backbone are provided. Such colorants exhibit excellent base stability, effective colorations, excellent low extraction rates, and high lightfastness levels, particularly when incorporated within certain media and/or on the surface of certain substrates, particularly polyesters. The poly(oxyalkylene) chains also increase the solubility in different solvents or resins thereby permitting the introduction of such excellent coloring chromophores within diverse media and/or diverse substrates as well as provides a liquid colorant which facilitates handling. Compositions and articles comprising such colorants are provided as well as methods for producing such inventive colorants are also provided.

Abstract: New, useful and surprisingly effective antiscorch compositions for utilization within polyurethane foam production methods which utilize very popular tertiary amine catalysts are provided. Such compositions require the presence of nominal yet effective amounts of organic cyclic ester materials. The ring systems of such materials appear to open during exposure to heat (during the curing process) and release carboxylic acids into the curing formulation. The tertiary amines become quenched by the carboxylic acids and thus do not exhibit heat destabilization. The resultant foams exhibit extremely low, if no, areas of excessive heating (i.e., scorch) and thus are substantially uniformly colored throughout. The processes and resultant foams are also contemplated within this invention.

Abstract: Novel thin-walled thermoplastic or thermoset pipes of at most 5 millimeters in thickness which can withstand a varied range of internally generated and/or applied pressures up to at least 5 bars, preferably at least 20 bars, for utilization within, primarily, liquid transport systems. Such pipes are improvements over standard metal (i.e., steel, lead, and the like) pipes due to construction costs, shipping costs, implementation costs (particularly underground), flexibility (and thus modulus strength allowances) to compensate for underground movements (i.e., earthquakes and tremors), non-rusting characteristics, reduced crack propagation possibilities, and ease in manufacture. Such pipes are preferably reinforced with specific textile reinforcement materials that permit a lower thickness of plastic to be utilized than is generally required to withstand high pressure situations and also serve to prevent propagation of any cracks which may develop within the thermoplastic or thermoset materials.

Abstract: A yellow colorant comprising a chromophore having at least one poly(oxy-C2-C4-alkylene) chain attached to an aromatic methine backbone having at least one cyanoester moiety attached thereto is provided. The ester portion must include a C1-C8 (such as ethyl, butyl, hexyl, or ethyl-hexyl) pendant group and the poly(oxyalkylene) chain must be at most 10 monomers and at least 3 monomers, with ethylene oxide as the capping group. Such a specific group of coloring agents provides the best overall yellow colorations or effects (either alone or in blends with other coloring agents, particularly at low color loadings) as well as the best overall low extraction levels when present within clear polyester (such as polyethylene terephthalate, for example), when compared to all other known polymeric yellow colorants for the same end-use. Compositions and articles comprising such colorants are provided as well as methods for producing such inventive colorants.

Abstract: Novel magenta and cyan colorants for utilization within water-based inks are provided which exhibit improved chromatic properties. In particular, such colorants provide magenta or cyan colorations that exhibit increased color space characteristics, high water solubility, excellent compatability with impurities, and correspondingly cost-effectiveness for flexographic printing procedures. The methods of utilizing such colorants within flexographic printing processes are also encompassed within the invention.

Abstract: A new and useful nonaqueous liquid pigment dispersion is provided which is easy to handle and produces thorough and effective colorations within target media, particularly as compared to standard solid pigments or high-viscosity liquid pigment dispersions. More specifically, the present invention relates to liquid pigment dispersions possessing viscosities of at most 5,000 centipoise at standard temperature and pressure. Such a low viscosity is obtained through the addition of relatively low amounts of aprotic viscosity modifiers possessing dipole moments of at between about 1.0 and 5.0, alternatively measured in terms of a flash point between about −20° C. and 180°, such as, most preferably cyclic carbonates.

Abstract: Novel addition products of hydroxyl-protecting groups (such as isocyanates) with oxyalkylene-substituted intermediates, such as poly(oxyalkylenated) aniline compounds, for the eventual production of substituted, and substantially pure, colorants, particularly diazo and triphenylmethane derivatives, through the reaction of such intermediates with certain reactants are provided. These new colorants exhibit improved wax and/or oil solubility and high purity, particularly due to the inability of certain impurities to deleteriously react with the protected hydroxyl groups of either the intermediate or the colorant during and/or after formation thereof. A method for producing such novel colorants through utilization of these novel substantially pure colorant intermediates is also provided.

Abstract: New and useful low viscosity polymeric colorant formulations are provided comprising extremely low amounts of viscosity modifiers that drastically reduce the overall viscosity of the resultant colorant formulation as compared with the viscosity of the colorants themselves. In such a manner, the resultant formulation facilitates the utilization of such polymeric colorants within certain coloring processes and methods requiring low viscosity formulations while simultaneously permitting substantial retention of the same high color strength characteristics of the unmodified colorants. Such an unexpected result thus permits production and utilization of a low viscosity formulation that does not sacrifice colorability to an appreciable degree for target substrates or media. The inventive formulations thus comprise any number of polymeric colorants, (i.e.

Abstract: Novel addition products of isocyanates with oxyalkylene-substituted aminophenol compounds as intermediates for the production of urethane-substituted xanthene colorants, particularly triphenylmethane derivatives such as rhodarnines, are provided. The xanthene colorants exhibit improved wax and/or oil solubility and high purity. The urethane-substituted xanthene, colorant features very good wax and/or oil solubility, and is believed to be relatively nontoxic. A method for producing this novel colorant is also provided.

Abstract: Novel ultraviolet absorbing compounds that are liquid in nature, are extremely low in color (and thus permit use without the concomitant necessity of adding large amounts of other coloring agents to combat such discoloring), and are highly effective in providing protection in wavelength ranges for which previous attempts at low-color ultraviolet absorbers have failed are provided herein. Such compounds provide such excellent, inexpensive, and beneficial protection from ultraviolet exposure within various media, including, but not limited to, clear thermoplastics. The particular compounds are generally polymeric in nature including various chain lengths of polyoxyalkylenes thereon and are liquid in nature to facilitate handling and introduction within the target media. In addition, such ultraviolet absorbers also exhibit extremely low migratory properties thereby providing long-term protective benefits to the target media as well.

Abstract: A composition for the promotion of adhesion between a rubber formulation and a textile substrate is provided. The inventive composition comprises either a mixture of specific amine functional silanes and organo-functional silanes having reactive groups or groups with an affinity for rubber. The inventive method entails the use of the inventive composition or a silane compound having both an amine moiety and a reactive group having an affinity for rubber formulations, particularly an unsaturated carbon-carbon bond. The composition may be utilized to adhere any standard reinforcement-type textile, such as polyester or polyamide, to a standard rubber composition, such as SBR, NBR, or EPDM. A method for adhering textiles to rubber formulations is also provided involving a pre-dip, -spray, -coat, and the like, of the inventive composition on a reinforcement-type textile surface followed by the contacting of the rubber formulation.

Abstract: Compounds and compositions comprising specific metal salts of bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane dicarboxylate salts in order to provide highly desirable properties within polyolefin articles are provided. The inventive salts and derivatives thereof are useful as nucleating and/or clarifying agents for such polyolefin, provide excellent crystallization temperatures, stiffness, and calcium stearate compatibility within target polyolefin. Also, such compounds exhibit very low hygroscopicity and therefore excellent shelf stability as powdered or granular formulations. Polyolefin additive compositions and methods of producing polyolefin with such compounds are also contemplated within this invention.

Abstract: An airbag construction utilizing welds, reinforced with sewn seams, to adhere two fabrics together to form an inflatable airbag cushion. Although welded seams provide better and more easily produced attachment points between multiple layers of fabrics, not to mention improved manners of reducing air or gas permeability at such attachment points, the utilization of sewn seams adjacent to such welded areas provides stronger reinforcement, and thus more reliable nonpermeable fabrics. Seam welding generally concerns the utilization of a film on the underside of a fabric which, upon contact with a second, film-treated fabric and upon exposure to high frequency energy, forms a bead of polymeric material at the attachment point between the two fabric layers. Lower numbers of sewn seams may be utilized to permit sufficient reinforcement if the size of the formed polymeric bead is of sufficient size to permit thorough sealing and adhesion between the fabric layers.