Abstract: A hollow rubber play ball is disclosed that uses a combination two or more fillers to produce desirable playing properties in a tennis ball as specified by the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ITF). The preferred play ball is a pressureless tennis ball. The specific fillers disclosed are mineral type particulate reinforcing fillers such as silicas and carbon black, polymeric fillers such as cellulose, a reaction product of grafting polyethylene with cellulose, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers. These fillers can also have surface treatments to enhance the elastomer-filler interaction. Another reinforcing filler that can be introduced with the rubber components is the non-rubber constituents in skim rubber that serve to increase the modulus of a compounded rubber.

Abstract: A method of forming a decorative panel having an embossed decorative indicia. The method includes the steps of forming a decorative design within an impressionable material to provide a positive mold. Then an elastomeric material is cast within the positive mold to provide a negative blanket casting. The negative blanket casting is removed from the positive mold. Next, an epoxy resin containing material is poured over the blanket casting to form an embossing plate having a decorative design substantially identical to the decorative design within the positive mold. Finally, a panel is embossed with the embossing plate under high temperature and pressure to form the decorative panel.

Abstract: A urethane coating composition is disclosed which uses fluorinated monohydric alcohols to increase abrasion resistance. One specific use of the coating is on vehicle sealing systems which use elastomeric substrates. The coating composition was found to have dramatically improved abrasion resistance in glass run channel applications over similar coatings without the fluorinated component.

Abstract: Hydroxy-terminated telechelic rubber polymers and block copolymers of flexible polymers with unsaturated polyester resins improve the elongation and flexural elongation of in-mold coating compositions for fiber reinforced plastics (FRP). An FRP in-mold coating composition based upon vinyl ester resin, ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and at least one of telechelic hydroxy terminated flexible polymers and the block copolymers of functionally terminated flexible polymers with unsaturated polyester polymers are described.

Abstract: A latex binder composition which is the reaction product of a conjugated diene monomer and a vinyl-substituted aromatic monomer along with minor amounts of other comonomers including acrylamide or a derivative thereof, methacrylic acid, N-methylolacrylamide, and optional unsaturated carboxylic acids, has an average particle size of less than 1,500 .ANG.. The latex binder which has good stability can be used on nonwoven cellulosic based substrates to impart high wet tensile strength thereto.

Abstract: A belt-line weather sealing strip for sealing the opening between a vehicle window housing and a slidable window pane includes an elongate, relatively rigid, thermoplastic base having at least one integrally attached thermoplastic resilient fastening means which extends downwardly and has a longitudinal slot which is capable of engaging an aperture edge portion of the housing forming the belt-line portion of the window opening. The sealing strip also includes a relatively flexible, elastomeric sealing element joined to the thermoplastic base. The fastening means is inserted downwardly through a vehicle window housing aperture and then moved horizontally to effect a secure engagement of the sealing strip with the housing.

Abstract: Sheet molded compound articles which optionally can be in-mold coated have the edges and exterior margin surfaces thereof sealed with a water-free and solventless fine particle size powder coating. The coating thickness has a gradual and smooth transition from the sealed edge to the non powder coated exterior surface thereby eliminating the need for sanding. The desired method of application is by electrostatic spraying and the cured powder coating is free of pops.

Abstract: An automotive wheelhouse sealing strip for providing a secondary seal to prevent infiltration and accumulation of dirt and mud in the gap between a rear door and a rear door opening in the vicinity of the wheelhouse of a four-door sedan vehicle includes a fully molded weather sealing member which is formed to accurately conform to the shape of the portion of the door opening to which the weather sealing member is to be attached, thereby providing an aesthetically pleasing tight engagement between the vehicle body and the sealing member. The sealing strip generally includes a weather sealing lip having a sealing surface which sealingly abuts an inner peripheral surface of a vehicle rear door when the rear door is in the closed position, and a base portion which is adapted to be attached to a vehicle body part at a peripheral surface generally defining the rear door opening.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a movable window pane which is raisable or lowerable in a vehicle window opening includes a one-piece, closed-loop construction which is formed from two molded sealing elements secured together to form a sealing member adapted to be secured along the periphery of a window opening and to provide continuous sealing engagement with the interior and exterior periphery of the movable window pane. The one-piece seal assembly replaces a plurality of individual sealing components which are conventionally used to provide the weather seal between a vehicle window opening and a movable window pane which slides up or down to open or close the window opening.

Abstract: A composite material having a coated fiber structure dispersed in a polyester matrix. The coating is a block copolymer having an elastomer block bonded to an ester block. The coating provides a flexible barrier between the fiber structure and the polyester matrix which results in a strong fiber reinforced composite having better crack resistance and improved toughness. The composite is particularly suited for use as a molding compound for use in the production of automotive body panels and structural components, aircraft components, sporting goods, housings for electrical and various other consumer goods, etc.

Abstract: A fluid damped bushing (10) comprising a metallic sleeve (12) and an annular elastomeric body (14) mold bonded to the exterior of the metallic sleeve. The elastomeric body has a spaced apart pair of fluid containing recesses (18, 20) in its exterior surface with a serpentine shaped inertia track (26) in the outermost surface of the elastomeric body to provide communication between the recesses. A window metal sleeve (16) is encapsulated within the elastomeric body by mold bonding, and the window metal sleeve has a longitudinally spaced apart pair of rings (30, 32) above and below the level of the recesses, respectively, and a diametrically opposed pair of webs (38, 40) extending between the rings. A plurality of outwardly projecting pads (28) is located in one of the webs in the region of the inertia track to prevent deformation of the inertia track under load.

Abstract: A low formaldehyde high gel fraction latex binder is made utilizing a compound having the formula ##STR1## wherein R and R', independently, is an alkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and R.sup.4 is hydrogen, or wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, independently is an alkyl, an aromatic, or combinations thereof having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or wherein said R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are connected to form an internal amide, and wherein the isopropenyl group is either in the ortho, meta or para position. The latex binder is generally an emulsion or latex copolymer made from various monomers including at least one or more conjugated dienes having a total of from 4 to 10 carbon atoms with butadiene being preferred and from one or more vinyl-substituted aromatics having from 8 to 14 carbon atoms, with styrene being preferred. The amount of the above formulation compounds is generally from about 0.

Abstract: ABA block copolymers having saturated polyester midblocks "B" and unsaturated polyester condensation end blocks A of molecular weight from about 100 to 500 or 600 are described which increase the flexural strain to failure of unsaturated polyester or vinyl ester resins. These ABA block copolymers are generally compatible with unsaturated polyester resins and increase flexural strain by a different mechanism than used by incompatible rubbery polymers. These ABA block copolymers are compatible with the unsaturated polyester compositions and do not phase separate.

Abstract: A primerless, one-part, heat curable, low volatile organic compound, polyurethane composition comprises a blocked polyurethane prepolymer made from a liquid hydroxyl terminated intermediate and an excess of a polyisocyanate, a curing agent, silicone and/or low friction polymer and optional fillers. Upon cure of the polyurethane composition, the silicone oil and/or low friction polymer generally imparts low friction and high abrasive resistant properties. A desired use is as a glass run channel coating.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of creating a seamless printing master for use with an embossing roll to ultimately produce a textured wall or floor covering. A hardenable material is applied to the textured surface of a positive printing master section. The positive printing master section is pressed onto the embossing roll and the hardenable material is allowed to cure to a hardened state. The positive printing master section is then removed to expose a negative printing master region which is the negative image of the pattern contained in the positive printing master section, imprinted in hardened material, and adhered to the embossing roll. The process is repeated, either reusing the original positive printing master section or using a different positive printing master section, overlapping positive printing master sections onto previously formed negative printing master regions until the entire outer surface of the embossing roll is covered.

Abstract: An anti-fracture, water-resistant, masonry-bondable membrane comprises a lamina having a central layer generally containing at least one ply of a flexible material, e.g., an organic polymer such as polyvinyl chloride, generally in the form of a sheet, and a nonwoven fiber layer physically bonded to each side thereof. The formation of the lamina is generally accomplished by laminating a single, nonwoven layer to a layer or sheet of a flexible material in the presence of heat and pressure to produce a construction wherein the nonwoven fibers are partially embedded in the flexible material. Subsequently, two such constructions are bonded together under heat and pressure to produce essentially a four-ply lamina wherein the layers of flexible material such as a polymer are fused to one another.

Abstract: An aqueous latex contains a functionalized copolymer prepared by emulsion polymerization. The copolymer can be applied to textile nonwoven materials and to various cellulosic substrates, and when utilized as a binder imparts enhanced properties thereto such as wet tensile strength, low temperature cure rates, and the like. The monomers generally forming the copolymer include at least two functional type monomers, one of which contains an activatable ester group, and at least one latex forming monomer.

Abstract: An adhesive composition using as the primary binder an emulsion of butadiene-vinylidene chloride copolymer is disclosed. The composition is particularly suited for binding rubber to metal in a variety of uses such as vibration damping devices. The adhesive composition has resistance to hot water and or water glycol solutions.

Abstract: Polymeric blends suitable for making plastic sheets and laminas which exhibit improved flexural durability while retaining stiffness and impact strength include a core made from a blend comprising polyvinyl chloride resin, a vinyl chloride-vinyl ester copolymer, one or more acrylic polymers or copolymers, a chlorinated polyolefin, a solid tin stabilizer, and one or more ester waxes. The lamina, which is suitable for use as an extended life credit card, is prepared by forming a polymeric blend of a core material into a base layer sheet material which is subsequently treated to reduce surface tension and improve ink adhesion thereto, then printed with desired indicia, and finally provided with a contact-transparent protective overlay which is laminated thereto.

Abstract: A sealing unit for a movable window of a vehicle. The sealing unit includes a one-piece, elongated, flexible sealing member having a first portion for mounting the sealing unit to a frame of a vehicle and a second portion for receiving the movable window, and a flexible, decorative trim associated with a surface of the sealing member that is viewable from the exterior of the vehicle when the sealing unit is mounted to the frame. Both the sealing member and the decorative trim are sufficiently flexible to permit the sealing unit to conform to the contour of the frame when the sealing unit is mounted to the frame in a single mounting operation to provide a substantially continuous seal between the frame and the sealing unit.