Abstract: A rubber moire floor covering is disclosed. The covering is produced by continuously feeding a screw-type short extruding machine having a length/diameter ratio of 6:1 with two or three varicolored strips of vulcanizable elastomeric material. The operating temperature is between 60.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. The elastomeric material leaves the extruder via a perforated disk having 200 to 600 cylindrical bore holes 3-5 mm in diameter. Each of the resulting strands is severed to produce segments that are 1 to 2 mm thick, the formed pieces are then cooled off on a section 4 meters to 6 meters long. Subsequently, the formed pieces are allowed to fall into the roll nip of a temperature controllable two-bowl calendar. The web of material leaving the calendar is fed to a continuous vulcanization installation and leaves it as finished floor covering. The material throughput rate in this continuous process may be varied from 700 kg/h up to 1300 kg/h.

Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent body of nonwoven material formed of randomly distributed thermoplastic endless filaments which contain embedded hydrophilic or oleophilic staple fibers and in some cases swelling particles. Also disclosed is a one-step process for the production of the absorbent body.