Abstract: A process of forming an embossed surface covering is disclosed. The process comprises forming a cross-linkable foam comprising at least one polymer and having a first phase region and a second phase region; heat the foam to a temperature at least equal to the flow temperature of the first phase region; compressing the heated foam and cooling the foam while compressed; cross-linking a portion of the compressed foam; and reheating the compressed foam to permit the noncross-linked portion of the foam to return or "pop back" to substantially its precompressed shape and thus form an embossed surface covering.

Abstract: Resinous polymer sheet materials having selective, surface decorative effects comprising:(1) a base layer or substrate, such as a fibrous backing sheet material and/or a blown or unblown resinous polymer composition having either an embossed or a relatively smooth surface;(2) a pattern or design printed or otherwise deposited on and adhered to the base layer or substrate, certain portions of the printed pattern or design having certain colors, and other portions of the printed pattern or design having other colors; and(3) a wear layer having an embossed or a relatively smooth surface and containing reactive polymerizable monomers and having certain surface portions provided with a certain texture or effect, such as a flat, dead or dull mat finish, and other surface portions provided with another texture or effect, such as a sleek, glossy or lustrous finish, the interior portions of the wear layer lying under the flat, dead or dull mat finish having a relatively high melt viscosity and containing relatively hi

Abstract: Resinous polymer sheet materials having selective, surface decorative effects comprising:(1) a base layer or substrate, such as a fibrous backing sheet material and/or a blown or unblown resinous polymer composition having either an embossed or a relatively smooth surface;(2) a pattern or design printed or otherwise deposited on and adhered to the base layer or substrate, certain portions of the printed pattern or design having certain colors, and other portions of the printed pattern or design having other colors; and(3) a wear layer having an embossed or a relatively smooth surface and containing reactive polymerizable monomers and having certain surface portions provided with a certain texture or effect, such as a flat, dead or dull mat finish, and other surface portions provided with another texture or effect, such as a sleek, glossy or lustrous finish, the interior portions of the wear layer lying under the flat, dead or dull mat finish having a relatively high melt viscosity and containing relatively hi

Abstract: A process of forming a surface covering having decorative effects is disclosed. The process comprises forming a foam comprising at least one polymer having at least a first phase region and a second phase region on a backing, heating the foam to the flow temperature of the first phase region of the foam, compressing the heated foam and cooling the foam while in the compressed shape, thus facilitating coating the surface of the foam which remains in the compressed shape, and reheating the foam to permit the compressed foam to return to substantially its precompressed shape.

Abstract: An aqueous-alcoholic, foam-growth-controlling printing ink composition having a pH in the range of from about 8 to about 12 of use in the chemical embossing of heat-foamable and expandable resinous materials comprising: (1) from about 1% to about 15% of a foam-growth-controlling chemical agent, such as benzotriazole; (2) from about 1% to about 9% of a water-soluble or water-dispersible alcohol having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as isopropanol; (3) from about 1% to about 11% of a pH controlling or buffering agent, such as ammonia or a water-soluble or water-dispersible alkyl-aminoalcohol having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, such as 2-dimethylaminoalcohol, capable of creating or maintaining the pH of the aqueous-alcoholic, foam-growth-controlling printing ink composition in the range of from about 8 to about 12; (4) from about 30% to about 75% of an aqueous printing ink composition; and (5) from about 10% to about 40% of added water, all these percentages being by weight.

Abstract: Foamed bodies having chemically embossed patterns are prepared by a first method comprising forming a composition containing a vinyl chloride resin, a synthetic rubber material capable of forming sulfur bridges, a blowing agent, a vulcanizing agent (sulfur) and a vulcanization promotor (metal oxide) into a sheet, printing an ink containing a vulcanizing accelerator into a desired configuration onto the sheet, drying and curing the printed sheet and then heating the sheet to decompose the blowing agent thereby foaming the sheet; and a second method comprising forming a composition containing a vinyl chloride resin, a synthetic rubber containing terminal groups capable of reacting with an isocyanate, and a blowing agent, printing an ink containing an isocyanate into a desired configuration onto the sheet, drying the printed sheet and then heating the sheet to decompose the blowing agent thereby foaming the sheet.

Abstract: Resinous polymer sheet materials having selective, surface decorative effects comprising:(1) a base layer or substrate, such as a fibrous backing sheet material and/or a blown or unblown resinous polymer composition having either an embossed or a relatively smooth surface;(2) a pattern or design printed or otherwise deposited on and adhered to the base layer or substrate, certain portions of the printed pattern or design having certain colors, and other portions of the printed pattern or design having other colors; and(3) a wear layer having an embossed or a relatively smooth surface and containing reactive polymerizable monomers and having certain surface portions provided with a certain texture or effect, such as a flat, dead or dull mat finish, and other surface portions provided with another texture or effect, such as a sleek, glossy or lustrous finish, the interior portions of the wear layer lying under the flat, dead or dull mat finish having a relatively high melt viscosity and containing relatively hi

Abstract: A chemically embossed cellular vinyl chloride resin sheet material is prepared by treating the gelled surface of a vinyl chloride resin plastisol containing a blowing agent and a peroxide catalyst which induces polymerization of an acrylic monomer or resin with a liquid which contains an acrylic monomer or resin subject to polymerization, and subsequently heating the treated gelled vinyl chloride resin sheet material to polymerize the acrylic monomer or resin and to decompose the blowing agent, whereby full expansion of the sheet material is prevented by the polymerization in the treated areas, thereby producing a chemically embossed product.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a differentially expanded sheet material comprises applying an organic solvent to the surface of an expandable thermoplastic sheet containing a blowing agent and allowing the treated sheet to at least partially dry before a composition containing a metallic powder and a kicker for the blowing agent is applied to selected areas of the treated surface. The sheet is then uniformly heated to a temperature at which the blowing agent in contact with the kicker decomposes but below that at which it decomposes in the absence of the kicker, so that the areas of the sheet in contact with the kicker expand to a greater extent than the uncontacted areas.

Abstract: An aqueous-alcoholic, foam-growth-controlling printing ink composition having a pH in the range of from about 8 to about 12 of use in the chemical embossing of heat-foamable and expandable resinous materials comprising: (1) from about 1% to about 15% of a foam-growth-controlling chemical agent, such as benzotriazole; (2) from about 1% to about 9% of a water-soluble or water-dispersible alcohol having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as isopropanol; (3) from about 1% to about 11% of a pH controlling or buffering agent, such as ammonia or a water-soluble or water-dispersible alkylaminoalcohol having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, such as 2-dimethylaminoalcohol, capable of creating or maintaining the pH of the aqueous-alcoholic, foam-growth-controlling printing ink composition in the range of from about 8 to about 12; (4) from about 30% to about 75% of an aqueous printing ink composition; and (5) from about 10% to about 40% of added water, all these percentages being by weight.

Abstract: Methods for producing bodies having chemically embossed patterns comprise: (1) adding sulphur and synthetic rubber material capable of forming sulphur bridges to a vinyl chloride resin preparation containing a foaming agent, forming the mixture into a sheet, printing embossed patterns on the sheet using an ink containing a vulcanization accelerator, drying the printed sheet and then heating the sheet to decompose the foaming agent thereby foaming the sheet; and (2) adding synthetic rubber material containing terminal groups capable of reacting with isocyanates to a vinyl chloride resin preparation containing a foaming agent, forming the mixture into a sheet, printing embossed patterns on the sheet using an ink containing isocyanates, drying the printed sheet and then heating the sheet to decompose the foaming agent thereby foaming the sheet.

Abstract: According to the proposed method for producing solid-porous synthetic rubber articles, a preselected portion of a molded blank of a raw V-like polymeric elastomer compound containing a blowing agent is subjected to ionizing radiation at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of the blowing agent, after which said blank is subjected to heat treatment at a temperature higher than, or equal to the decomposition temperature of the blowing agent.Despite its simplicity, the disclosed method provides for producing solid-porous rubber-like articles featuring high strength of their solid portion and excellent sealing qualities of their porous portion.

Abstract: A method of providing foam plastic surfaces with a relief structure comprising the steps of: producing printed films which contain at predetermined locations, substantially corresponding to the printing pattern, either (a) means which inhibit and/or accelerate foaming, or (b) a barrier layer material which prevents the throughpassage of the means which inhibits or accelerates foaming, applying the film, prior to foaming, to the base layer to be foamed, and this combined or composite material is heated to the foaming temperature, whereby by means of the migration of the means inhibiting and/or accelerating foaming in accordance with the printing pattern of the film into the base layer during foaming there is obtained the relief formation of the surface and the anchoring of the printed film at the surface.

Abstract: A method of making cellular or expanded polymeric shaped articles having relief patterns which comprises forming a thermoplastic polymer composition containing azodicarbonamide as a chemical blowing agent into a desired shape, irradiating a surface of the shaped body thus obtained with light of wave lengths of 100 to 500 m.mu. through a printed pattern applied thereto or a screen which locally shades light rays, such as a stencil or a positive or negative transparency, superposed thereon and heating the shaped body to effect foaming or expansion thereof.