GB1205964A - A process for embossing latex foam - Google Patents

Abstract

1,205,964. Embossing. DOW CHEMICAL CO. 24 Nov., 1967 [25 Nov., 1966], No. 53688/67. Heading B6J. [Also in Division C3] Latex foam is embossed by applying to the cured and dried foam a volatile plasticizer for the foam and embossing the foam by heat and pressure, the temperature and residence time in the embossing device being chosen such that when leaving the device all plasticizer has disappeared from the foam. The foam is essentially derived by mixing an aqueous dispersion of a polymer with from 1-100% (based on the weight of the polymer) of at least one co-reactive material capable of cross-linking the polymer, foaming the mixture, gelling the foam and setting and drying the gelled foam. The polymer may be derived from at least two ethylenically unsaturated monomers chosen from styrene and monomers co-polymerizable therewith at least one of the monomers being styrene or a substitutedstyrene. Examples given are co-polymers of styrene, 1,3-butadiene and acrylic acid or styrene, 1,3-butadiene and fumaric acid or styrene, 1,3-butadiene, fumaric acid and acrylic acid. Alternatively the polymer may be a co-polymer of vinylidene chloride, vinyl chloride and 2 - sulphoethyl methacrylate. The polymer may include one or more of the reactive groups: carboxy, sulpho-, primary amino, secondary amino, carboxamido, methylolcarboxamido, sulphoamido, primary hydroxyl, secondary hydroxyl, phenolic hydroxyl aldehydic or epoxy groups. The co-reactive material may be melamine-formaldehyde resin, urea-formaldehyde resin, urea or melamine. The plasticizer may be water (applied as steam), xylene, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol or butyl alcohol. Embossing may be by a heated embossing roller and an unheated counter roller. The foam may be applied to the back of a carpet before embossing.