Water impervious carpet backing

Abstract

Aqueous liquids, such as water, can normally penetrate through conventional carpet. Thus, in cases where water is spilled on conventional carpet, it typically seeps through and ultimately reaches the flooring below. This trapped water can lead to bacterial or fungal growth which can further cause odors and / or deterioration of the carpet backing or flooring. This invention relates to a technique for treating carpet to render it impervious to aqueous liquids. This invention specifically discloses a process for treating carpet which is comprised of a pile and a backing to render said carpet impervious to aqueous liquids, said process comprising the steps of (1) coating the bottom side of said backing with a water-resistant coating composition which is comprised of (i) a latex of a polymer which is comprised of repeat units which are derived from (a) about 30 weight percent to about 84 weight percent vinyl aromatic moochers, (b) about 15 weight percent to about 65 weight percent alkyl acrylate moochers and (c) about 1 weight percent to about 6 weight percent unsaturated carbonyl group containing moochers, (ii) a coalescing solvent and (iii) a thickener; and (2) allowing the water-resistant coating composition to dry on the bottom side of said backing to produce the treated carpet which is impervious to aqueous liquids.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe most widely used method for laminating carpet pile to carpet backing involves the application of a carpet latex formulation to the surfaces of the backing and / or the piles being bonded together. It should be noted that the pile is normally mechanically bound to a primary backing to form a pile composite which is referred to herein as simply the pile. The coated innerface of the two surfaces (the pile composite and the carpet backing) are brought together and the whole composite including the pile portion of the construction is normally sent through large ovens. The heat treatment in the ovens serves the dual purpose of driving off the water contained in the latex compound and simultaneously curing the latex to effect a lamination of the pile to the backing. Upon exiting from the ovens, the finished carpet composite is cooled and taken up on large storage rolls.The textile backing utilized in manufacturing carpet, particularly tufted carpets, is a loose...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Thus, in cases where water or beverages are spilled on conventional carpet, the liquid typically seeps through and ultimately reaches the flooring below.

Unfortunately, the carpet structure itself hinders the clean-up of the spilled liquid.

This trapped liquid can lead to bacterial or fungal growth which can further cause odors and / or deterioration of the carpet backing or flooring.