Abstract: A composition useful as gypsum wallboard and a method for protecting gypsum wallboard against water are disclosed. The composition and the method utilize a polymer containing a hydrophobically modified monomer to provide water resistance.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for strengthening a cellulosic substrate by treating the substrate with a formaldehyde-free curable aqueous composition and curing the composition. The cellulosic substrates include, for example, paper oil- and air-filter stock, rayon nonwoven wipes, cellulosic laminating stock, cotton woven fabrics, and wood flakes suitable to be consolidated into flakeboard.

Abstract: A prepress sealer for use in the process of making wood composition board is provided. The prepress sealer incorporates a crosslinking resin and an aqueous dispersion of acrylic polymer particles. The acrylic polymer particles have a THF gel content of greater than about 70%. Use of the prepress sealer provides improved press release during board manufacture and improved surface toughness and water resistance to the produced board.

Abstract: A wall covering system includes prefabricated T-shaped (in cross section) horizontal supporting strips, L-shaped horizontal supporting strips, L-shaped end-locking strips and decorative panels. The end-locking strips interact with the horizontal strips and the decorative panels, provide an aesthetic appearance to the finished system when assembled on a wall and provide safety by covering the exposed ends of the T-shaped horizontal strips. In use, the wall panelling system disclosed herein may be easily and conveniently installed onto existing walls by a user without professional assistance and may be just as easily and conveniently removed from the wall whenever it is desired to inspect behind the panels, change the decor, or to remove the panels for installation at another location.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for preparing wood composition board, such as hard board, fabricated consolidating fibers or chips under heat and pressure to form an integral board material. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved method for applying a clear or pigmented prepress coating, also known as a prepress sealer, to the surface of a fibrous mat by converting the prepress sealer into foam prior to subjecting the mat to a temperature and pressure press treatment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to producing a smooth hard coating on a wood substrate. A layer of a foamed polymerized latex emulsion is applied on the surface of a wood substrate, such as an oriented strand board. The layer is dried, crushed and then cured to form the coating. If desired the cured coating may be provided with a post cure heat treatment to improve its hardness. The present invention is also directed to applying and drying the layer of the foamed polymerized latex emulsion on a mat of wood fibers or flakes and then crushing and curing the crushed layer and the mat into a hardboard having a smooth hard coating. The coating of the present invention is useful as a sealer coat on a wood substrate. By adding pigment to polymerized emulsion, the sealer coat can be used to provide a finish coat on the wood substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to producing an efflorescence resistant sealer coating on a cementitious substrate, such as, a roof tile. A foamed layer of an efflorescence resistant coating composition is preferably applied on the surface of a wet cementitious substrate. The wet cementitious substrate is then hydrated to produce the cementitious substrate having the efflorescence resistant coating thereon. If desired, the efflorescence resistant coating composition is provided with a pigment to produce a pigmented efflorescence resistant coating on the cementitious substrate or a clear efflorescence resistant coating of the present invention may be applied over pigmented cementitious substrate. The efflorescence resistant coating produced in accordance with the process of the present invention substantially reduces the formation of esthetically unpleasant efflorescent layer on cementitious substrate surfaces.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for strengthening a cellulosic substrate by treating the substrate with a formaldehyde-free curable aqueous composition and curing the composition. The cellulosic substrates include, for example, paper oil- and air-filter stock, rayon nonwoven wipes, cellulosic laminating stock, cotton woven fabrics, and wood flakes suitable to be consolidated into flakeboard.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for preparing wood composition board, such as hard board, fabricated consolidating fibers or chips under heat and pressure to form an integral board material. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved method for applying a clear or pigmented prepress coating, also known as a prepress sealer, to the surface of a fibrous mat by converting the prepress sealer into foam prior to subjecting the mat to a temperature and pressure press treatment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to producing a smooth hard coating on a wood substrate. A layer of a foamed polymerized latex emulsion is applied on the surface of a wood substrate, such as an oriented strand board. The layer is dried, crushed and then cured to form the orating. If desired the cured coating may be provided with a post cure heat treatment to improve its hardness. The present invention is also directed to applying and drying the layer of the foamed polymerized latex emulsion on a mat of wood fibers or flakes and then crushing and curing the crushed layer and the mat into a hardboard having a smooth hard coating. The coating of the present invention is useful as a sealer coat on a wood substrate. By adding pigment to polymerized emulsion, the sealer coat can be used to provide a finish coat on the wood substrate.

Abstract: Polycarboxy-oxyalkylene polyester-ether polyol intermediates useful in the production of polyurethane products and methods of making the intermediates and polyurethane products are described. The polyol intermediates are made from lignin by reacting lignin with maleic anhydride, substituted maleic anhydride, or mixtures thereof to form carboxylated lignin maleic anhydride copolymers. These copolymers are then reacted with an oxyalkylating medium with or without prior hydrolysis to form the polyol intermediates. These polyester-ether polyol intermediates are then reacted with an isocyanate medium having an isocyanate with at least 2 NC0 groups per molecule to produce polyurethane products with or without simultaneous foaming.