Abstract: A flooring product comprises a heterogeneous design layer having multiple regions wherein two regions comprise compositions having different recycle content or renewable content. The thickness of the design layer may be greater than the dimensions of the regions or the regions may extending from the top surface of the layer to the bottom surface of the design layer. The heterogeneous layer may be composed of consolidated particles/chips which may contain a polyester binder system with a renewable component. Additionally, a method for making a heterogeneous layer having a target wt % recycle content or renewable content is also disclosed.

Abstract: A flooring product comprises a heterogeneous design layer having multiple regions wherein two regions comprise compositions having different recycle content or renewable content. The thickness of the design layer may be greater than the dimensions of the regions or the regions may extending from the top surface of the layer to the bottom surface of the design layer. The heterogeneous layer may be composed of consolidated particles/chips which may contain a polyester binder system with a renewable component. Additionally, a method for making a heterogeneous layer having a target wt % recycle content or renewable content is also disclosed.

Abstract: A flooring product comprises a heterogeneous design layer having multiple regions wherein two regions comprise compositions having different recycle content or renewable content. The thickness of the design layer may be greater than the dimensions of the regions or the regions may extending from the top surface of the layer to the bottom surface of the design layer. The heterogeneous layer may be composed of consolidated particles/chips which may contain a polyester binder system with a renewable component. Additionally, a method for making a heterogeneous layer having a target wt % recycle content or renewable content is also disclosed.

Abstract: Elastomers are formed from castor oil and/or ricinoleic acid estolides and a polyester formed from an epoxidized vegetable oil such as ESO and a polycarboxylic acid such as sebacic acid, optionally in the presence of a peroxide initiator, or include crosslinked reaction products derived from ricinoleic acid or castor oil estolides, epoxy group-containing compounds such as epoxy resins and/or epoxidized vegetable oil, epoxy hardeners such as polyamine and polycarboxylic acid hardeners, thermally activated free radical initiators such as peroxides, and optionally but preferably include fillers such as limestone or wood flour. The elastomers can be prepared using a two-step, solvent-less procedure at elevated or ambient temperatures. These predominantly “all-natural” elastomers have physical properties comparable to conventional petroleum-based elastomers and composites and exhibit good flexibility, resiliency, abrasion resistance and inertness to hydrolysis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a product and process for a substantially halogen-free thermoplastic elastomer. The thermoplastic elastomer can be incorporated into a decorative surface covering as a binder with the addition of an optional filler. The substantially halogen-free thermoplastic comprises the combination of a dynamically vulcanized blend of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR), ionomers and a diluent polymer such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). The combination produces a pliable and flexible flooring product.

Abstract: Elastomers are formed from castor oil and/or ricinoleic acid estolides and a polyester formed from an epoxidized vegetable oil such as ESO and a polycarboxylic acid such as sebacic acid, optionally in the presence of a peroxide initiator, or include crosslinked reaction products derived from ricinoleic acid or castor oil estolides, epoxy group-containing compounds such as epoxy resins and/or epoxidized vegetable oil, epoxy hardeners such as polyamine and polycarboxylic acid hardeners, thermally activated free radical initiators such as peroxides, and optionally but preferably include fillers such as limestone or wood flour. The elastomers can be prepared using a two-step, solvent-less procedure at elevated or ambient temperatures. These predominantly “all-natural” elastomers have physical properties comparable to conventional petroleum-based elastomers and composites and exhibit good flexibility, resiliency, abrasion resistance and inertness to hydrolysis.

Abstract: A preseamed, resilient sheet flooring including first and second composite sheet products positioned closely adjacent each other edge-to-edge to form a seam therebetween. An adhesive is positioned in the seam. The adhesive extends completely through the thickness of the sheet flooring, bonds with the first and second sheet products through the entire thickness thereof, and has visual characteristics suitable for creating an indistinct appearance of the seam in the sheet flooring product. The adhesive also has wear characteristics sufficiently similar to wear characteristics of the sheet flooring to maintain the visually indistinct appearance of the adhesive on the surface of the seam as wear occurs to the sheet flooring, thereby creating a finished seam sufficiently strong and flexible to permit the adhesive to be positioned in the seam prior to unrolling the flooring onto a subfloor surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a product and process for a substantially halogen-free thermoplastic elastomer. The thermoplastic elastomer can be incorporated into a decorative surface covering as a binder with the addition of an optional filler. The substantially halogen-free thermoplastic comprises the combination of a dynamically vulcanized blend of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR), ionomers and a diluent polymer such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). The combination produces a pliable and flexible flooring product.

Abstract: A preseamed sheet flooring product having first and second sheet products positioned closely adjacent each other edge-to-edge to form a seam therebetween. An adhesive is positioned in the seam and has visual characteristics suitable for creating an indistinct appearance of the seam in the sheet flooring product. The seam also has wear characteristics sufficiently similar to wear characteristics of the sheet flooring product to maintain the visually indistinct appearance of the adhesive on the surface of the seam as wear occurs to the end product sheet material.

Abstract: A resilient surface covering, including a melt-processed layer, having improved impact resistance properties is provided herein. The melt-processed layer is formed, in part, of either a non-polyvinyl chloride resin, or a blend of a polyvinyl chloride resin and a compatible polymer, such as nitrile rubber, which imparts improved toughness characteristics to the layer. The increased toughness of the melt-processed layer consequently imparts improved impact resistance to the surface covering of which it is a part as compared to a control surface covering having a control layer formed only of a conventional melt-processed polyvinyl chloride resin.

Abstract: A preseamed, resilient sheet flooring including first and second composite sheet products positioned closely adjacent each other edge-to-edge to form a seam therebetween. An adhesive is positioned in the seam. The adhesive extends completely through the thickness of the sheet flooring, bonds with the first and second sheet products through the entire thickness thereof, and has visual characteristics suitable for creating an indistinct appearance of the seam in the sheet flooring product. The adhesive also has wear characteristics sufficiently similar to wear characteristics of the sheet flooring to maintain the visually indistinct appearance of the adhesive on the surface of the seam as wear occurs to the sheet flooring, thereby creating a finished seam sufficiently strong and flexible to permit the adhesive to be positioned in the seam prior to unrolling the flooring onto a subfloor surface.

Abstract: A preseamed sheet flooring product having first and second sheet products positioned closely adjacent each other edge-to-edge to form a seam therebetween. An adhesive is positioned in the seam and has visual characteristics suitable for creating an indistinct appearance of the seam in the sheet flooring product. The seam also has wear characteristics sufficiently similar to wear characteristics of the sheet flooring product to maintain the visually indistinct appearance of the adhesive on the surface of the seam as wear occurs to the end product sheet material.

Abstract: Phenolic foam which can be used as insulation is a foamed phenol-formaldehyde resole resin which contains a peptide, a proteinaceous material, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, serine, tryptophan, or mixtures thereof at an amount effective to reduce emission of free formaldehyde from the foamed resin.

Abstract: Thermal insulation is prepared using gelatin foam. Embodiments of gelatin foam insulation which are described include gelatin foam having an anti-wicking agent which is an aromatic compound having as ring substituents: an --NH.sub.2 moiety and/or a hydroxyl moiety and also at least two sulfonate moieties. In another embodiment, the gelatin foam is combined with phyllosilicate mineral lamellae for void control and as a shrinkage deterrent. In yet another embodiment, crosslinked gelatin foam is described which has been crosslinked with a melamine/formaldehyde condensation product, a polyfunctional aziridine and/or an epichlorohydrin/polyamide condensation product.

Abstract: A composition and foam insulation for copper tubing is described herein which is formulated to retard copper oxidation and eliminate or reduce stress corrosion in the copper tubing. The copper compatible, elastomeric foam insulation is made from a composition comprising 100 parts by weight of rubber, vinyl chloride polymer at about 15 to about 85 pphr, a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of an alkyl phosphate ester and an oxyalkyl phosphate ester at about 10 to about 100 pphr, a fire retardant in an amount of at least about 100 pphr, a stabilizer in an amount effective to prevent degradation of the rubber and vinyl chloride polymer, a preservative at from about 0.1 to about 10 pphr, and a lubricant at about 10 to about 85 pphr, wherein the composition and foamed product contains no more than about 5 parts of free phenol per million.

Abstract: Non-stick protection can be given to the surfaces of thermoplastic material which has a tendency to become stuck to other thermoplastic surfaces during storage, especially during the heat of the summer months. By placing a film of (1) a salt selected from (a) a hydroxy alkyl sulfonate salt and (b) and alkyl sulfonate salt, and (2) an alkyl sulfate salt on the surface of the thermoplastic, sticking can be reduced or totally prevented.

Abstract: A composition is described which is prepared so that it has a low electrical resistivity so that it can be used in electrostatic discharge operations. The composition includes carbon-coated fibers. The fiber is characterized in that it is a Lewis base while the carbon powder is a Lewis acid. The carbon-coated fiber is held together with a binder (such as a latex or resin). The binder may be either neutral or acidic. A resin can also be used to prepare rigid electrostatic discharge objects. When a resin is used, the resin should also be neutral and preferably, is acidic.

Abstract: Non-stick protection can be given to the surfaces of thermoplastic material which has a tendency to become stuck to other thermoplastic surfaces during storage, especially during the heat of the summer months. By placing a film of (1) a salt selected from (a) a hydroxy alkyl sulfonate salt and (b) an alkyl sulfonate salt, and (2) an alkyl sulfate salt on the surface of the thermoplastic, sticking can be reduced or totally prevented.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of photolytically developing a colored image on a cellulosic material. In this method, the material is contacted with a nitrogen containing polymer in solution and a mono-sulfonyl azide compound in solution. The sample is thereafter exposed to a UV-containing light source for an amount of time sufficient to develop a color thereon.

Abstract: Process for preparing pulverulent NBR particles which can be utilized to form high tensile strength materials, comprising coprecipitating, via the use of an aluminum cation as a coprecipitating agent, NBR latex and a silicate from an aqueous suspension wherein the suspension has a temperature within the range of from about 0.degree. C. to about 50.degree. C. and a pH ranging from about 7 to about 10.