Abstract: A radiation curable and abrasion resistant coating composition is provided comprising: (a) 70% to 98% by weight of an urethane-acrylate oligomer; (b) 2% to 30% of fine particles of a filler capable of imparting abrasion resistance having an average particle size in the range of 1-20 microns; (c) optionally a reactive diluent; and (d) optionally an synthetic resin. The coatings when applied to wood floorings impart superior abrasion resistance.

Abstract: A radiation curable and abrasion resistant coating composition is provided comprising: (a) 70% to 98% by weight of an urethane-acrylate oligomer; (b) 2% to 30% of fine particles of a filler capable of imparting abrasion resistance having an average particle size in the range of 1-20 microns; (c) optionally a reactive diluent; and (d) optionally an synthetic resin. The coatings when applied to wood floorings impart superior abrasion resistance.

Abstract: A coated synthetic resin tile comprising a base portion and a veneer said base comprising a moisture impervious material such as a thermoset or thermoplastic resin. A filler of up to about 10% calcium carbonate having a 2 (two) sigma particle size between about 5.11 and 6.18 microns and an aluminum trihydrate flame retardant of about 60%-70% having a two (2) sigma particle size of between about 42.38 and 58.72 microns and an aluminum trihydrate of about 20%-40% having a two (2) sigma particle size of between about 8.26 and 9.68 microns to provide a class A flame spread rating. The veneer comprising a layer selected from the group consisting of an acrylic impregnated wood veneer and a hardwood veneer having a vinyl upper layer bonded to said base portion with a polyurethane adhesive.

Abstract: A method of making coated synthetic resin tile. A resin admixture is formed and cured to form a tile base. The tile base is sized and gauged to a desired size, followed by mating an upper veneer layer on the tile. The upper layer is selected from the group consisting of an acrylic impregnated wood veneer and a hardwood veneer having a vinyl upper layer. The veneer is bonded to the tile base with a fabric and an adhesive and pressure. The veneer mated tile is then sized to a final desired tile size and configuration.

Abstract: A floor including a plurality of tiles inter engaging each other by tongue and groove engagement. The tiles include a cement base portion cut to a desired size for a floor tile and being coated with a waterproof coating to substantially maintain the moisture content of the cement at a constant level. The tile also includes a veneer layer on top of the base portion having a combination of wood and vinyl to provide a thin layer having the appearance of wood and a vinyl surface facing up from the layer. In a preferred embodiment the cement base portion includes a pair of parallel sides having tongue and groove cuts along opposite parallel sides to provide interlocking engagement with an adjacent tile. The underside of the groove is angled at an angle sufficient to provide a relief space at the engagement of a groove in an adjacent tile.

Abstract: A floor covering assembly, comprising:a metallic subflooring covering a defined area of flooring, said subflooring being included in a larger area of flooring having a first pattern thereon; anda plurality of groups of tiles for covering said defined area, each group having a different particular pattern, said tiles comprising a laminated structure having a periphery and formed from a bottom layer having a face for contacting with said subflooring and magnetic means for covering the entire face of said bottom layer securing said tile to said subfloor, said bottom layer formed from an elastomeric material having magnetic particles embedded therein, a middle layer bonded to said bottom layer and having support means for providing structural integrity to said tile and for locating said particular pattern, and a top layer bonded to said middle layer and having a surface for accommodating pedestrian traffic, each of said group of tiles having different particular patterns to permit different patterns to be display

Abstract: A wear-resistant wood product such as a wood flooring material having a white or bleached appearance which is obtained by impregnating wood with a solution of a polymeric resin whitening agent in a polymerizable monomer such as methylmethacrylate and, after uniform distribution of the monomer solution throughout the wood is obtained, the monomer is polymerized and the whitening agent precipitated in situ in the polymer matrix as a material having a refractive index sufficiently different from the refractive index of said matrix to impart a bleached or white appearance to said product.

Abstract: Thin, strong, composite masonry-plastic articles having an earthen body impregnated with an in situ polymerized plastic and a drying oil or semi-drying oil; a mastic for forming a stain resistant grout comprising about 70% to 80% sand and about 20% to 30% of a plastic binder; stain-resistant wall and floor structures comprising said composite articles and grout; and a method for installing such wall and floor structures are described.

Abstract: Thin, strong, composite masonry-plastic articles having an earthen body impregnated with an in situ polymerized plastic and a drying oil or semi-drying oil; a mastic for forming a stain resistant grout comprising about 70% to 80% sand and about 20% to 30% of a plastic binder; stain-resistant wall and floor structures comprising said composite articles and grout; and a method for installing such wall and floor structures are described.

Abstract: Improved moisture-resistant fire-retardant decorative floor and wall covering laminates and a method for making the same are described, having an asbestos backing, an intermediate layer of wood veneer and a face wear-resistant layer of vinyl, through which the decorative wood veneer may be seen. The vinyl wear resistant layer is usually clear and colorless. An optional colored vinyl layer may be laminated between the wood veneer and asbestos layer. The asbestos backing resists moisture penetration and transmits the moisture laterally to the edges of the laminate where it escapes. The asbestos and the vinyl face protect the wood veneer from fire, thus providing a highly fire-retardant and moisture-resistant, but decorative floor and wall covering.

Abstract: A turquoise is impregnated with a monomeric diester having two spaced apart polymerizable monoolefinic groups, said diester having a plurality of supplemental hydrophillic groups and a volatility corresponding to a boiling point within a range from about 150.degree. C to about 300.degree. C. Whatever moisture may be sorbed on the turquoise is encapsulated within the plastic during the in-situ polymerization, inasmuch as such sorbed moisture can associate with such supplemental hydrophillic groups having an affinity for water. The dimethacrylate ester of triethylene glycol has two supplemental ether groups which tend to have affinity for water. Thus the monomer is sorbed on surfaces displacing any sorbed moisture in the internal pores or fissures in the turquoise, whereby the impregnation of the turquoise is feasible without critical control of vacuum drying and/or related preparatory steps.

Abstract: Laying floor tiles is more convenient because the floor tiles are provided with tongues which can be fitted readily into grooves in adjacent tiles because the depth of each groove is less than the magnitude of the portion of a tile which is overhanging a portion of the adjacent tile. Such overhanging and underfitting relationships supplement tongues along adjacent sides into grooves of two adjacent tiles. Peripheral floor tiles can be anchored, but central area tiles can be free from the conventional adhesion to the subflooring. Venting for moisture equilibration between the atmosphere and a sub-flooring such as a concrete slab is achieved because of the absence of adhesive between vertical walls of adjacent tiles.

Abstract: instead of following the conventional practice of removing the previous floor covering of sheet linoleum, floor tiles or the like, the floor tiles of the present invention are so remarkably thin that they are laid on top of the old flooring while still providing adequate clearance for doors, drawers, and related items imposing limits on the floor elevation. The principal layer has a thickness of organic composition from 0.005 inch (5 mils) to 0.040 inch (40 mils) and the cured transparent polyurethane top layer is at least 0.001 inch (1 mil) and not more than 10 mils in thickness. The combination of principal layer and top layer has a thickness from 0.010 to 0.045 inch. By keeping the flooring so thin, its usefulness for installation over existing flooring without exceeding the available clearance is enhanced.

Abstract: wood is disintegrated to prepare a mass of wood fibers which are formed into a mat. A unique hardboard is prepared by compressing a preformed mat comprising thermoplastic resins, wood fibers and wood fibers coated with such resins. The hardboard has a resin content of from about 37% to about 39% and a wood fiber content from about 53% to about 57%. The moisture content of the hardboard is ordinarily within a range from about 4% to about 10%, but such moisture content has the range expected for wood products under a wide range of temperatures, humidities, pressures and related variables. The thickness of the hardboard must be within the range from 790 to 850 microns and the density of the hardboard must be within the range from 690 to 750 milligrams per cubic centimeter. Heretofore such hardboard has been proposed for use as a facing lamina in multilamina composites for covering up various irregularities in the surface of the adjacent lamina while preserving a smooth facing surface.