Abstract: The invention provides a ventilating synthetic floor-covering comprising a ventilating support layer and one or more synthetic layers wherein the ventilating support layer comprises a plurality of studs between which narrow ventilation channels are formed even when the floor-covering is compressed in normal use wherein the narrow ventilation channels have a width which is less than a principal dimension of the studs; a ventilating support layer; a production line for use in the preparation of a ventilating support layer wherein the ventilating support layer comprises a support layer and a plurality of studs wherein the production line comprises an embossing roller for embossing the plurality of studs on the support layer or a printing roller for printing the plurality of studs on the support layer wherein narrow ventilation channels are formed between the plurality of studs and wherein the narrow ventilation channels have a width which is less than a principal dimension of the studs; and a method of preparing

Abstract: The invention provides a plasticiser composition which comprises: (a) a first plasticiser which is one or more compounds of general formula (I) wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent a straight or branched chain alkyl moiety comprising from seven to twelve carbon atoms; and (b) a second plasticiser which is a citrate ester; a plasticised polymer formulation comprising a polymer and the plasticiser composition; a plastics article comprising the plasticised polymer formulation; and a method for the preparation of the plasticiser composition to provide a plasticised polymeric formulation which can be stored for up to five weeks with an increase of viscosity of less than 300%.

Abstract: The invention provides a ventilating synthetic floor-covering comprising a ventilating support layer and one or more synthetic layers wherein the ventilating support layer comprises a plurality of studs between which narrow ventilation channels are formed even when the floor-covering is compressed in normal use wherein the narrow ventilation channels have a width which is less than a principal dimension of the studs; a ventilating support layer; a production line for use in the preparation of a ventilating support layer wherein the ventilating support layer comprises a support layer and a plurality of studs wherein the production line comprises an embossing roller for embossing the plurality of studs on the support layer or a printing roller for printing the plurality of studs on the support layer wherein narrow ventilation channels are formed between the plurality of studs and wherein the narrow ventilation channels have a width which is less than a principal dimension of the studs; and a method of preparing

Abstract: The invention provides a plasticiser composition which comprises: (a) a first plasticiser which is one or more compounds of general formula (I) wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent a straight or branched chain alkyl moiety comprising from seven to twelve carbon atoms; and (b) a second plasticiser which is a citrate ester; a plasticised polymer formulation comprising a polymer and the plasticiser composition; a plastics article comprising the plasticised polymer formulation; and a method for the preparation of the plasticiser composition to provide a plasticised polymeric formulation which can be stored for up to five weeks with an increase of viscosity of less than 300%.

Abstract: The invention provides a lightweight layered product for use in a digital printing process wherein the layered product consists essentially of: a reinforcing base layer having a support; and a printing layer suitable for receiving a print design; and a method of preparing a printed layered product which method comprises the following steps: Providing a lightweight layered product according to the invention; Winding the lightweight layered product on to a roll; Loading the roll into a printing machine; Applying a decorative layer having a print design to the printing layer of the lightweight layered product; and Winding the printed layered product on to a roll for transfer to a production line; the layered product and method allow the incorporation of digital printing techniques into an industrial production line for the preparation of a surface-covering material without the need for heavy duty lifting and rolling equipment.

Abstract: The invention provides a sensor surface-covering material sensor surface-covering material comprising a layer of synthetic material and a sensor layer which detects a change in an electrical property wherein the sensor layer comprises at least one electrically conductive layer and wherein the electrical property is resistance and/or capacitance; and a sensor surface-covering system comprising a sensor surface-covering material according to the invention and an electrical component housing for processing a signal generated by the sensor material.

Abstract: The invention provides an energy generator comprising energy generator comprising an energy harvesting material which generates energy when moved from a pre-selected first position to a second position wherein the energy generator comprises one or more deflection aids which comprise a moveable clamp wherein each deflection aid biases the energy harvesting material to the first position and wherein the first position of the energy harvesting material is pre-selected using the moveable clamp; an energy harvesting layer comprising one or more of the energy generators according to the invention; an energy harvesting flooring material comprising a layer of synthetic material and the energy harvesting layer according to the invention; and an energy harvesting system comprising (a) the energy generator according to the invention, the flooring material according to the invention and/or the energy harvesting layer according to the invention; (b) a power management system and (c) an electrical storage device.

Abstract: A fully curable jettable composition having a viscosity less than 30 cps at a temperature within the range of 15° C.-180° C. comprising (i) at least one low viscosity reactive resin; (ii) at least one higher viscosity resin having a viscosity greater than twice that of the low viscosity resin and a functionality of greater than or equal to 2; (iii) at least one curable toughener, (iv) at least one initiator for the polymerization of the resins, and (v) at least one stabilizer for delaying the curing of the resins of the composition. The composition can be jetted from piezo electric printing heads under the control of a computer program to form a multi-layered article, for example, a three dimensional article, in which the adjacent droplets merge and are cured homogeneously together.

Abstract: A fully curable jettable composition having a viscosity less than 30 cps at a temperature within the range of 15° C.-180° C. comprising (i) at least one low viscosity reactive resin; (ii) at least one higher viscosity resin having a viscosity greater than twice that of the low viscosity resin and a functionality of greater than or equal to 2; (iii) at least one curable toughener, (iv) at least one initiator for the polymerisation of the resins, and (v) at least one stabiliser for delaying the curing of the resins of the composition. The composition can be jetted from piezo electric printing heads under the control of a computer program to form a multi-layered article, for example, a three dimensional article, in which the adjacent droplets merge and are cured homogeneously together.

Abstract: A fully curable jettable composition having a viscosity less than 30 cps at a temperature within the range of 15° C.-180° C. comprising (i) at least one low viscosity reactive resin; (ii) at least one higher viscosity resin having a viscosity greater than twice that of the low viscosity resin and a functionality of greater than or equal to 2; (iii) at least one curable toughener, (iv) at least one initiator for the polymerization of the resins, and (v) at least one stabilizer for delaying the curing of the resins of the composition. The composition can be jetted from piezo electric printing heads under the control of a computer program to form a multi-layered article, for example, a three dimensional article, in which the adjacent droplets merge and are cured homogeneously together.

Abstract: A fully curable jettable composition having a viscosity less than 30 cps at a temperature within the range of 15° C.-180° C. comprising (i) at least one low viscosity reactive resin; (ii) at least one higher viscosity resin having a viscosity greater than twice that of the low viscosity resin and a functionality of greater than or equal to 2; (iii) at least one curable toughener, (iv) at least one initiator for the polymerisation of the resins, and (v) at least one stabiliser for delaying the curing of the resins of the composition. The composition can be jetted from piezo electric printing heads under the control of a computer program to form a multi-layered article, for example, a three dimensional article, in which the adjacent droplets merge and are cured homogeneously together.

Abstract: A fully curable jettable composition having a viscosity less than 30 cps at a temperature within the range of 15-180° C., more preferably at a temperature of 15-100° C., e.g. 60-80° C. the composition comprising: (A) at least one low viscosity reactive resin selected from the group consisting of compounds containing an oxetane ring, cycloaliphatic epoxy resins, tetrahydrofurans, hexahydropyrans and mono-functional (meth)acrylates, said resin having a molecular weight of not greater than 300 Daltons, e.g. 250 Daltons or less, and a viscosity at a temperature in the said range of less than 30 cps, e.g.