Abstract:
The invention is directed to fabric-based inserts and layers for use with tires in order to provide an improved level of puncture resistance to the tire. Disclosed embodiments of the invention include tire anti-puncture layers including puncture-resistant layers that comprise a single or multiple layers of fabric. Prererably, for low cost and low abrasion, the puncture-resistant layers comprise fibers having a tensile strength or tenacity of less than about 15g/denier. In some preferred constructions, especially where the puncture-resistant layer comprises a single layer of fabric, the puncture-resistant layer comprises a high cover factor, tightly woven fabric, for example having a round packed cover factor of at least about 40 % of full in the warp direction and at least 65 % of full in the fill direction. In other embodiments, especially where the puncture-resistant layer comprises multiple layers of fabric, lower cover, less tightly woven fabrics can be used, or, alternatively, non-woven fabrics such as knitted or felted fabrics (felts) can be used. Some such preferred, less tightly-woven fabrics are woven from untwisted yarns, enabling the fibers or filaments comprising the yarns to spread out into a tape-like configuration under compression, thereby increasing the effective cover factor and level of puncture resistance over that predicted from the round packed cover factor. A "taped fiber density" calculation is presented for predicting the effective cover factor of such tape-out woven fabrics, and certain preferred embodiments of such fabrics have a tape fiber density of at least about 80 % of full in at least one of the warp and fill directions. In some embodiments, the puncture-resistant layer, or one or more layers of fabric comprising the layer, are coated with polymeric coatings to increase the level of puncture resistance. In some embodiments, the tire anti-puncture device is configured as a separable strip that can be placed within a tire to act as a liner. In other embodiments, the puncture-resistant device is incorporated within the cross-section of the tire body itself. While the tire anti-puncture device in some embodiments comprises just the puncture-resistant layer, in other embodiments, one or more low abrasion layers can be added to isolate and protect the tire and/or inner tube, if present, from the puncture-resistant layer. Such law abrasion layer(s) are particularly useful for embodiments involving puncture-resistant layers coated with polymeric coatings containing fillers, which can server to increase puncture resistance but tent also to increase abrasiveness of the puncture-resistant layer.
Abstract:
A liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable floor covering, such as a carpet or rug, is provided. In one embodiment of the floor covering (10), it has an upper or top tufted carpeting layer (16) that includes a primary substrate (26) and tufts (32, 34) of yarn (36) extending above the primary substrate (26). A composite secondary backing (15) is located below the primary substrate (26) and is bonded to the carpeting layer (16) by adhesive layer (38). A breathable polymeric film (12) which is liquid-impermeable and vapor-permeable is located below and bonded to a secondary substrate (18) by adhesive layer (23). A method of manufacturing the floor covering (10) includes adhesively bonding an upper surface (14) of a microporous, liquid impermeable, vapor permeable film (12) to a lower surface (22) of a secondary substrate (18), thereby forming a composite secondary backing (15); and then bonding an upper surface (20) of the composite secondary backing (15) to the lower surface (30) of a primary substrate (26) with a hot melt adhesive (38).
Abstract:
This invention relates to new dyeing systems for nylon pile fabrics which are free from chrome-metallized dyestuffs and which comprise at least one cobalt-metallized dyestuff and at least one milling acid dyestuff. Such systems provide highly desirable and effective colorations within target pile fabrics and also provide dramatic improvements in bleach resistance to the nylon fabric surface. The inventive colored pile fabrics are utilized generally as components within launderable floor mat articles which require periodic cleaning with bleach-containing formulations. Thus, the inventive colored fabrics do not exhibit any appreciable reduction in color after such continuous, periodic rigorous cleaning procedures. Floor mats comprised of such inventive colored pile fabrics as well as the particular dyestuff compositions themselves are also encompassed within this invention. Furthermore, methods of coloring pile fabrics with dyestuffs including a heated topical overspray treatment to provide improvements in lightfastness and washfastness are also included.
Abstract:
A launderable dust control mat having antimicrobial properties is provided. The mat includes a pile fiber upper surface and a rubber backing surface. Metal based antimicrobial agent are disposed within both the fiber forming the upper surface and the rubber forming the backing surface thereby providing antimicrobial character to the mat as a whole.
Abstract:
A carpet underlay comprising a fibrous nonwoven substrate composed of natural or synthetic fibers having in or on it a repellent finish which makes said substrate substantially impervious to liquids, and a carpet having an underlay substantially impervious to liquids affixed to the carpet back rendering said carpet substantially impervious to liquids are disclosed.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a tufted fabric and a method of manufacturing the same. The tufted fabric generally comprises a primary backing and tufts mounted in the primary backing to form a fabric with a faceside having piles and a backside having loops. A thermoplastic polymer adhesive, which bonds the tufts to the primary backing, is formed by applying a reactive mixture comprising a polymerizable monomer to the backside of the tufted fabric and in-situ polymerizing the monomers to form the thermoplastic polymer adhesive. The process is particularly advantageous for the manufacture of recyclable tufted fabrics in which the adhesive polymer and tufts are formed from substantially the same polymer. The tufted fabric can be used in articles, such as, for example carpets, rugs and upholstery.
Abstract:
Polyamide terpolymer compositions, which contain biobased monomers and are suitable for making shaped articles, are disclosed. Comprised of three monomeric species polymerized randomly, including hexamethylene diamine, adipic acid and a bio-based monomer, the compositions are easier to process and have better dye uniformity than polyamides formed from melt-blended biobased components, and are comparable in dyeability, color fastnessand appearance retention performance to non-biobased polyamide copolymers.