Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously seaming cured EPDM membrane to form a composite sheet of predetermined width and indefinite length. The method includes the steps of providing at least two rolls of cured EPDM membrane having longitudinal marginal edges and feeding the cured EPDM membrane from the at least two rolls in a first direction. The longitudinal marginal edges of the cured EPDM membranes are positioned in an overlapping relationship as the cured EPDM membranes are fed in the first direction and then the overlapping longitudinal marginal edges are continuously seamed to form a composite sheet of indefinite length.

Abstract: An in-mold coating composition particularly useful for in-mold coating of molded nylon based substrates comprises a coreactive addition polymerizable composition of urethane-acrylate oligomer having at least two acrylate and/or methacrylate terminal groups, at least 0.2% of a sulfonic acid functional acrylate or methacrylate, at least 0.2% of acrylic and/or methacrylic acid, with the balance being coreactive polymerizable diacrylate(s) and/or ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s).

Abstract: A retroreflective article comprises a) a microporous substrate (52) containing a plurality of pores (56) which are less than 0.5 ?m in diameter; and b) a layer of reflective material (54) located on the surface (58) of the substrate such that the reflective material layer at least partially obscures a plurality of the pores of the substrate. A method for the production of a reflective article comprises the steps of a) providing a substrate which contains pores which have a diameter of less than 0.5 ?m; and b) applying a layer of reflective material to the substrate in such a way that the reflective material layer at least partially obscures a plurality of the pores of the substrate.

Abstract: A composition comprises an oxetane oligomer or polymer or copolymer block wherein each repeat group has at least one ether side chain which is terminated by a fluorinated aliphatic group and optionally with the proviso that at least two different repeat units of the oligomer or polymer or copolymer have different Rf groups. The oxetane block is connected to a hydrocarbon polymer block derived from a mono or polyhydroxyl initiator. The terminal fluorinated alkyl groups impart good stain resistance to the oligomer or polymer or copolymer. In another embodiment, a fluorinated aliphatic or alkyl alcohol is reacted with an amino dicarboxylic acid with the reaction product thereof being subsequently grafted to a maleated polyolefin or a maleated polymer derived from a vinyl substituted aromatic monomer. The fluorinated alcohol also imparts good stain resistance to the grafted copolymer. Both compounds can be utilized as an additive in polymers as for example various polyolefins.

Abstract: VOC components are retained within a substrate by coating the substrate with a composition to form an ionically crosslinked polymer matrix in a coating. Methods, compositions, coatings and articles that are coated are described.

Abstract: This invention is directed to mono- and bis-substituted oxetane monomers having fluorinated alkoxymethylene side chains, hydroxy-terminated prepolymers derived from these mono- and bis-substituted oxetane monomers and tetrahydrofuran (THF), and polymers produced from these prepolymers, as well as the synthesis processes associated with each, and the use of the monomers, prepolymers and ultimate polymers, both directly and as components of numerous compositions.

Abstract: A co-mingled polyurethane-polyvinyl ester composition can be used as a coating, which has good scratch, mar and solvent resistance. The coating is derived from a waterborne polyurethane solution containing free radically polymerizable monomers such as acrylate, ultraviolet light initiators, and optionally urethane crosslinking agents. A process for forming the co-mingled polyurethane-polyvinyl ester composition comprises drying the waterborne polyurethane containing the polymerizable monomers therein and radiation polymerizing, as by ultraviolet light, the free radically polymerizable monomers on a substrate such as a plastic sheet to form a laminate. Subsequently, the laminate can be utilized to form a coating on a product as by thermoforming, where if urethane crosslinking agents are utilized, the polyurethane will be crosslinked.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for producing an injection-molded thermoplastic workpiece having a thermoset coating bonded thereto, comprising the steps of introducing in three stages into a closed mold a thermoplastic material, such as a polyolefin, heated to a temperature above its melting point and molding said material to form a workpiece; cooling the workpiece to a temperature less than its melt temperature introducing a thermoset coating composition into the closed mold to cover at least a portion of a surface of the workpiece. The mold is then opened and the workpiece is removed after the coating composition has at least partially cured. The invention is also directed to a molded article made by the described process.

Abstract: A modeling method for minimizing the cure time and flow time of a thermoset in-mold coating for a molded article. The minimization of cure time is based on determining the cure time as a function of mold temperature and initiator level. The method for minimizing flow time is based on predicting the fill pattern for a specific geometry mold. The methods are used to reduce cycle time in the preparation of in-mold coated parts and reduce defects in the appearance of the coating.

Abstract: A mold runner for a runner or sprue type injection molding apparatus. The mold runner allows the passage of a substrate material from an injection source into a mold cavity and contains a containment shroud which utilizes the relative incompressibility of the substrate material in the containment shroud which prevents an in-mold coating, which is injected into the mold cavity in a subsequent step, from flowing into the injection substrate source thereby contaminating the same.

Abstract: Gypsum wallboard made lighter and less dense, without sacrificing strength, by adding to the gypsum slurry used in making the board a styrene butadiene polymer latex substantially stable against divalent ions in which the styrene butadiene polymer latex substantially stable against divalent ions in which the styrene butadiene polymer includes at least 0.25 wt. % of an ionic monomer.

Abstract: Monofunctional polyfluorooxetane oligomers and polymers are prepared by the cationic polymerization of fluorooxetane monomers with a monoalcohol. The fluorooxetane oligomers or polymers can be copolymerized with generally cyclic ethers. Alternatively, the polyfluorooxetane oligomer or polymer having a single hydroxyl end group can be functionalized with a variety of compounds so as to yield a functional end group such as an acrylate, a methacrylate, an allylic, an amine, etc., with the functionalized oligomer or polymer being suitable for use in radiation curable or thermal curable coating compositions. These functionalized polymers can be copolymerized and cured to provide improvements in wetting and surface properties that have previously been provided by migratory chemicals such as waxes and oils.

Abstract: A laminate and the method for its formation are provided. The laminates comprise one or more polymeric layers and a surface coating layer which has been cured utilizing a specific sequence of ultra-violet (UV) irradiation, germicidal irradiation, and heat treatment. The laminates are produced by a process which imparts an aesthetically pleasing low-gloss finish to the crosslinked surface layer. Advantageously, the laminates can be used to realistically simulate patterns, wood, and wood grain finishes as they demonstrate enhanced depth of grain and print.

Abstract: An in-mold primer coating adapted to be applied in-mold to a thermoplastic substrate and heat cured to form a thermoset surface coating on the molded substrate. The in-mold primer coating comprises a coreactive polymerizable composition comprising an epoxy-acrylate oligomer having a molecular weight from about 350 to about 2500, a hydroxyl functional acrylate or methacrylate, a vinyl aromatic monomer such as styrene, and a small amount of acrylic or methacrylic acid, with the balance being other diacrylate and/or other ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s), if any.

Abstract: PURPOSE: To easily obtain the titled alcohol wherein one of both terminals is quantitatively capped, at a low cost, by polymerizing THF in the presence of an active hydrogen-containing compound using a Lewis acid and a cyclic ether as polymerization initiators.

Abstract: A polyester polymer includes at least one hydroxyl terminated polyoxetane block containing repeat units derived from polymerizing at least one oxetane monomer having a pendant —CH2—O—(CH2)n—Rf group wherein said Rf group is partially or fully fluorinated. A preferred process for forming said polymer is by reacting a hydroxyl terminated polyoxetane with a polycarboxylic acid under appropriate conditions to form an ester linkage and then adding and reacting that product with polyester forming reactants. The polyester polymer containing at least one polyoxetane block therein when reacted with an amino resin curative can be used as a coating on a substrate wherein the coating has dry erase properties. The coated substrate can be used as prepared or applied to yet other substrates.

Abstract: A mold runner for a runner or sprue type injection molding apparatus. The mold runner allows the passage of a substrate material from an injection source into a mold cavity and contains a containment shroud which utilizes the relative incompressibility of the substrate material in the containment shroud which prevents an in-mold coating, which is injected into the mold cavity in a subsequent step, from flowing into the injection substrate source thereby contaminating the same.

Abstract: Acrylate, or methacrylate, or allylic, functionalized polyfluorooxetanes are disclosed for use in radiation curable coating compositions. These acrylate, or methacrylate, or allylic, functionalized polymers provide improvements in wetting and surface properties that have previously been provided by migratory chemicals such as waxes and oils. The partially or fully fluorinated side groups of the fluorooxetanes are believed to be disproportionately present at the interfaces between the coating and the substrate and between the coating and the atmosphere.

Abstract: The polymer of the present invention is derived from cyclic ether monomers, dioxane, dioxalane or trioxane and contains both pendant Rf fluoro groups as well as polar groups. These polymers have good wetting, or flow, or leveling properties. They can be reacted with other monomers, such as in the preparation of polyesters, and can be used in waxes, polishes and coatings.

Abstract: An in-mold coating composition particularly useful for in-mold coating of molded nylon based substrates comprises a coreactive addition polymerizable composition of urethane-acrylate oligomer having at least two acrylate and/or methacrylate terminal groups, at least 0.2% of a sulfonic acid functional acrylate or methacrylate, at least 0.2% of acrylic and/or methacrylic acid, with the balance being coreactive polymerizable diacrylate(s) and/or ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s).