Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Samuel Smith

William J Schultz

Andrew John Ouderkirk

Douglas Scott Dunn

Alphonsus V Pocius

Elaine M Yorkgitis

Margaret C Etter

Patsy O Sherman

Semicrystalline polymers can have predetermined amounts of their surfaces rendered amorphous or quasi-amorphous by irradiation. Further treatment of these polymer surfaces which have been so modified, such as crystallization, can produce surfaces with reduced coefficients of friction.

Polymeric film with reduced surface friction

Complex compositions that comprise a cation guest and a polymer host are provided. The polymer host contains one or more cation-complexing segments that contain hetero atoms in a polydentate complexing array. At least two of the hetero atoms in the cation complexing segment comprise a cyclic ether selected from tetrahydrofuran 2,5-diyl units and tetrahydropyran 2,6-diyl units.

Cation complexes between cation guests and polymer hosts that contain

Polymers that have a number average molecular weight of at least 1000 and that contains at least 5% by weight of segments that contain at least two consecutively recurring cyclic ether units wherein at least one of said tetrahydropyran 2,6-diyl unit of the formula ##STR1## and wherein the remainder of said cyclic ether units are selected from said tetrahydropyran 2,6-diyl units and tetrahydrofuran 2,5-diyl units of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10, R.sup.11, R.sup.12, R.sup.13 and R.sup.14 are each selected from hydrogen and lower alkyl groups;

Polymers containing cyclic ether units joined through 2,6-diyl linkages

Process for preparing linear terminally differentially electrophilically reactive prepolymers by reacting cyclic ethers or lactones comprising a major proportion of tetramethylene oxide with an initiator represented by the asymmetrical structure

Process for prepolymers and products

A durably soil-resistant carpet is provided which comprises a plurality of organic fibers having thereon a normally solid coating comprising (a) at least one phase of a water-insoluble addition polymer derived from a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer free of non-vinylic fluorine, the polymer having at least one major transition temperature higher than about 45.degree. C. and a solubility parameter of at least about 8.5, and (b) at least one phase of a water-insoluble fluorinated component containing a fluoroaliphatic radical of at least 3 carbon atoms, the fluorinated component having at least one major transition temperature higher than about 45.degree. C.; and at least one of said phases being a continuous phase. Novel compositions and processes for the treatment of carpets to render them durably soil resistant are also provided.

Carpet treating and treated carpet

A durably soil-resistant pile fabric, such as a carpet, is provided which comprises a plurality of organic fibers having thereon a normally solid coating comprising (a) a first phase of a water-insoluble fluoroaliphatic radical free urethane adduct having at least one major transition temperature higher than about 45.degree. C. and melting to a flowable liquid below about 200.degree. C. and (b) a second phase of waterinsoluble fluoroaliphatic radical containing urethane adduct having at least one major transition temperature higher than about 45.degree. C. and melting to a flowable liquid below about 200.degree. C.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Samuel Smith