Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

Awi Licensing Company

Harry D Ward

Ronald S Lenox

Rebecca L Winey

Chau H Duong

Lowell E West

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.

Thermoplastic elastomer

A highly filled surface covering, preferably a floor covering and more preferably a floor tile, includes a resin layer which has about 80% to about 95% by weight of filler and a chlorine-free binder. The binder includes a mixture of a maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene and a substantially linear ethylene/octene copolymer. The ratio of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene and ethylene/octene copolymer is from about 1:5 to about 1:15 by weight. The preferred formulation for the binder includes a solid tackifier selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon resin having an ester moiety and hydrogenated aromatic resin.

Highly-filled chlorine-free surface covering

A thermoplastic polymer composition capable of being extruded comprises a reaction product of an ionomer and a polymer which contains a moiety which is reactive with the acid or neutralized acid group of the ionomer. The composition is sufficiently non-sticking that it can be extruded and calendered without substantial adherance to any hot metal parts. Since this thermoplastic polymer composition does not stick to hot metal parts, the composition is more than suitable as resilient flooring and welding rods.

Polymer composition suitable as resilient flooring or welding rod

Coating compositions for making films having reduced surface resistivity are described herein. These compositions are clear and produce films that are clear and transparent enough to read newsprint through the films. The compositions include colloidal silica, a choline based antistat, and a film-forming binder which is a (meth)acrylic polymer having a quaternary ammonium salt moiety in the polymeric molecule.

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Lancaster, PA, United States of America

Harry D Ward