Awi Licensing Company

Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

Armstrong Cork Company

Other

Afi Licensing LLC

William J Kauffman

George L Lilley

Gary A Sigel

Ralph W Wright, Jr

Steven F Hynicka

Donald E Barshinger

Walter J Lewicki, Jr

W Craig Brossman

David E Ruch

Lisa Moyer

Pamela H Martin

Kean M Anspach

Martin Dees

Michael E Buckwalter

Timothy D Colyer

Cheryl W Landers

Jennifer W Sager

Richard E Herr, Jr

Bruce F Dietrich

Edwin J Quinn

Peter A Christie

William B Saporetti

Michael E Buckwater

Malcolm John Selby

Rajmeet Kaur Jagdev

This invention describes the manufacture of partially cured binder compositions based upon modification of drying oils with at least one multi-functional co-vulcanizing agent. The partially cured binder compositions can be blended with polymeric materials to prepare polymer blends. These polymer blends can be used to produce products such as cured solid layers. Methods of manufacturing the partially cured binder compositions and cured solid layers are described.

Materials based on drying oils

This invention describes the manufacture of partially cured binder compositions based upon modification of drying oils with at least one multi-functional co-vulcanizing agent. The partially cured binder compositions can be used to produce products such as cured solid layers. These layers can be used in flooring materials, coatings, printing inks, and paints. Methods of manufacturing the partially cured binder compositions and cured solid layers are described.

A linoleum composition including a dendritic substituent comprising (i) a polyfunctional core including a plurality of primary branches extending from the core and (ii) a plurality of dendritic branches extending from the plurality of primary branches, and each dendritic branch having an unsaturated functionality.

Natural based branched compositions

A binder composition comprising a partially pre-oxidized drying oil and at least one co-vulcanizing agent. A method provides rapid curing of the compositions. The materials find utility in flooring, coating, and decorating applications. One preferred utility is in the manufacture of linoleum type flooring. Another preferred utility is in the manufacture of a transparent/translucent coating for improving the wear properties of surfaces.

Surface covering components that include a topcoat layer with different gloss levels in various regions on the top coat layer, and methods of manufacturing such surface covering components, are disclosed. The surface covering components include a coating layer that includes regions that have a relatively higher gloss, and regions with a relatively lower gloss. The differential gloss is provided by coating a substrate with a UV-curable coating composition, subjecting a first region of the surface coating to polymerization under a first set of conditions, and subjecting a second region of the surface coating to polymerization under a second set of conditions. The UV-curable coating compositions include UV-curable components and one or more flatting agents. The different polymerization conditions involve applying various photoinitiators, thermal initiators and/or cure altering agents to some regions of the coated substrate, and not applying these components to other regions of the substrate. The components are applied in the form of a pattern. Regions in contact with these components are cured at different rates in one step or in different steps, for example, sequential UV and EB irradiation or UV irradiation at different wavelengths and/or exposure times. The resulting surface coverings and surface covering substrates have differential gloss in register with the printed and/or sprayed patterns.

Surface covering having gloss-in-register

Disclosed is decorative surface covering that has a substantially non-aqueous absorptive layer and a water retentive layer. The decorative surface covering may be a vinyl-backed floor covering that can be adhered to a substantially non-aqueous absorptive subfloor with a water-based adhesive. The water retentive layer is formed from a polymer matrix and super absorbent water retentive particles. The water retentive layer may also include a hydrophilic additive to facilitate movement of water from the adhesive to the super absorbent water retentive particles. The water retentive layer may also be applied to the substantially non-aqueous absorptive subfloor.

Moisture-sink layer, composition and multi-layered article

Method of making a surface covering having gloss-in-register

Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a mechanically and chemically embossed surface covering having selectively textured surfaces. The method includes forming a web coated with a wear layer. The coated web is heated to a temperature at which the wear layer is cured, the foam layer expands, and the pattern is chemically embossed to form a surface covering having foamed regions and nonfoamed regions. The temperature gradient of the surface covering is adjusted such that there is a temperature gradient difference between the foamed and nonfoamed regions. A surface texture is then mechanically embossed into the wear layer and selectively set onto the wear layer substantially overlying the non-foamed regions.

Mechanical embossing texture differentiation between chemically restricted areas and non-restricted areas

Surface coverings and surface covering components that include a textured transparent or translucent wear layer and a design layer, where the design layer is printed with an ink that includes collapsible microspheres, are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing such surface coverings and surface covering components. In one embodiment, a pattern is printed on a substrate to be coated with a wear layer. In another embodiment, a clear transparent or translucent layer underlies the design layer. The ink includes collapsible microspheres, and can also include foaming inhibitors. A number of surface covering substrates and surface coverings can be prepared using the methods described herein. The surface coverings include a substrate, for example, a foamable substrate, a design layer printed with an ink composition that includes collapsible microspheres, and a wear layer. The ink compositions containing the collapsible microspheres can be printed via conventional gravure methods, and the transparent or translucent wear layer can also be printed using conventional methods. The fusion process through which the wear layer is applied and fused causes the microspheres to expand, and then results in the just expanded microspheres collapsing under the weight of the wear layer.

Use of collapsible microspheres to create texture in surface coverings

Composite wear layers that include a polyethylene terephthalate wear layer adhered to an organic/inorganic (O/I) top coat layer, and surface coverings and surface covering components including the composite wear layers, are disclosed. The organic/inorganic top coat layer is formed from a top coat formulation that comprises a coupling agent that includes an organic polymerizable moiety such as epoxy, acrylate and the like, as well as an inorganic polymerizable moiety such as a silanol. The wear layer is typically in the range of about 1-20 mils thickness, and the top coat layer is typically in the range of 2 microns to 0.5 mils thickness. The composite wear layers can be included in surface coverings or surface covering components, such as floor and wall coverings. An adhesion promoter/binder can be used to better adhere the polyethylene terephthalate wear layer to the organic/inorganic top coat layer.

PET wear layer/sol gel top coat layer composites

A method and composition for providing a colored high performance wear surface for floor coverings is disclosed. Specifically, the floor covering includes a substrate and a high performance layer comprising a radiation cured pigmented composition. The exposed surface of the floor covering has a stain resistance of less than about 150 Delta E units. A pigmented high performance wear layer can be added in register with a printed design on the substrate or in register with an embossed texture of the substrate. Additionally, a high performance topcoat wear layer may be added. The pigmented high performance layer may include a nacreous pigment.

Pigmented radiation cured wear layer

Moisture-sink layer for decorative surface coverings

Growing community of inventors

Manheim, PA, United States of America

William J Kauffman