Abstract:
Emulsion polymers, formed by reacting a monomer phase with a water phase, are generated in a tubular reactor having a controlled loop section (10) to give a partially developed product, such as one having 5-20% unreacted monomer, and a controlled plug section (11), which is preferably larger than the loop section by a factor of at least two, to give a fully developed product. Means (19, 17) exist to cool both loop and plug sections but preferably to keep the plug section at a higher temperature, which temperature can be zoned. Supplementary reactants may be introduced into the plug section. One such reactant may be a monomer to encase particle cores formed in the loop section with shells. An expansion agent may be included in the reactants which is dormant in the loop section but active in a higher temperature plug section.
Abstract:
A paint formulation which is a dispersion of a water phase in an oil phase, said oil phase comprising a polymeric paint vehicle and organic volatiles characterised in that the water content is selected to give a solids level for the formulation of 50% to 75% by weight with an organic volatiles content of less than 22% and preferably in the range of 5% to 20% by weight and the dispersion is stabilised with titanium dioxide.
Abstract:
A foam plastics sheet material, such as a wallcovering, comprises a substrate web (10,20) a printed pattern, or overall coating, (11, 21) and a foamable coating (12a, 12b, 221. The print composition includes an organic pigment and the foamable coating is selected to provide a migration path for the pigment. The degree of migration is dependent upon the foam thickness and hence graduated colour tones (30, 31, 32) can be derived from a single printing by control of foam thickness. In a preferred process, the foam thickness control is obtained by pre-embossing the substrate web. The print pattern or overall coating can include a foaming agent.
Abstract:
Clear film is laminated to a base such as paper, paper-like materials, plastics and board through the medium of an adhesive which is curable by ultra-violet or electron- beam radiation. The adhesive is irradiated through the clear film to cure it in the absence of oxygen excluded by the act of bringing the film and base together. High solids adhesives with low viscosity and a high flash point are preferred such as methacrylates and dimethacrylates.
Abstract:
A flexible wallcovering is made by applying a foamable composition to a woodchip paper by a screen printing process and then foaming the composition. The woodchips (14) expose a clearly observable relief on the surface which is to carry the foamable composition. The woodchip paper comprise a single paper ply (12) or preferably, the wallcovering is of two ply construction with a woodchip content between the plies and the paper is formulated so that the upper ply is dry removable from the lower ply. The woodchips (14) are at least 2 mm in average length; and the woodchips (14) form 20 to 35% by weight of the paper.
Abstract:
A low solvent paint formulation which is container storable has a spreadable functional medium which is diluted, to adjust the solids level, by a gas content present as a gas phase at atmospheric pressure. The gas phase is stably dispersed in the medium and sheds from the formulation when spread as a surface to leave a solidifable coating free of bubbles.
Abstract:
@ Wash tubs for domestic front loading washing machines, where rigidity of the back plate supporting the rotatable drum is an essential requisite, are made more rigid, quicker, stronger and cheaper as solid mouldings than as structural foam mouldings, the latter being the accepted norm for maximising panel stiffness. Preferred materials are fibre reinforced thermoplastic compositions free from blowing agents. The back plates are moulded in a Greek Fan configuration comprising a plurality of sectors adjacent ones of which are relatively displaced axially of the wash tub and are joined at their radial edges by axially extending webs, the sectors preferably being thicker than the webs.