CA1173588A - Extruded carpet backing - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Highly flexible compositions of matter useful in the preparation of carpet backing are disclosed comprising thermoplastic resin compositions including copolymers of ethylene and unsaturated esters of lower carboxylic acids, such as vinyl esters and/or lower alkyl acrylates, in admixture with olefinic elastomers and substantial amounts of filler. The preferred thermoplastic resins employed in-clude the copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, and the preferred olefinic elastomers disclosed are ethylene co-polymer elastomers, such as copolymers of ethylene and propylene, as well as terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene, and the compositions preferably include a stearate or stearic acid and a hydrocarbon oil component.

Description

~ ~73~9 EXTRUDED CARPET BACKING

The present invention relates to carpet backing compositions. More particularly, the present invention re-lat;es to extruded carpet backing materials used to provide a durable, highly flexible carpet backing capable of being thermoformed. Still more particularly, the present inven-tion relates to carpet constructions, preferably including a tuft, means, such as a scrim, for retaining the tuft, and an extruded thermoplastic barrier coating as the carpet backing therefor. Still more particularly, the present in-vention also relates to methods for preparing carpet con-structions, including the step of applying a thermoplastic barrier coating to the precoated carpet.
Though there are numerous methods for manufac-turing carpets, processes involving tufting and needle punching have become most popular in the last few years. In fact, the majority of carpeting manufactured today is produced by the tufting process. Such tufted carpets have been manufactured for a number of years, and generally comprise composite structures in which tufts, or bundles of carpet fibers are introduced (such as by stitching) into a primary backing or scrim, such as a woven or non-woven fabric. A secondary backing or coating of thermoplastic material is then applied to the underside of the carpet construction in order to securely retain the tufted mater-ial in the primary backing. This secondary backing not only dimensionally stabilizes this construction but also pro-vides greater abrasion and wear resistance, and serves as the adhesive for the barrier coating.
Many materials have been employed as the primary base or backing, and these preferably include woven mater-ials such as jute, polypropylene film, etc. The primary backing can also comprise a non-woven fabric such as needle punched, non-woven polypropylene web, etc. For many years, the aqueous latex method has been employed for the second-~P

3 5 ~ ~

ary backing materials, but in recent years a hot meltadhesive composition has been utilized for such secondary carpet backing purposes. These have included thermoplastic resinous materials, such as powdered polyethylene.
Another commercially important carpet manufactur-ing process is needle punching. In this process the carpet fibers are punched by a series of barbed needles which causes them to mechanically interlock and form a non-woven loose fabric structure. In both of these above-described commercial processes the problem of fiber loss is always present. It has thus been necessary to employ a back coating in both cases for this reason which also provides dimensional stability and body. The problem of such fiber loss is particularly acute in connection with automotive carpeting where wear is generally concentrated into limited areas and the carpet is subjected to sliding and other forces which may result in excessive fiber loss.
As an improvement over the previously used pow-dered polyethylene coating as the secondary carpet backing, and in an attempt to provide a sound and thermal barrier in connection with automotive carpeting, attempts have been made to apply various thermoplastic resin layers to the carpeting. U.S. Patent No. 3,525,662, for example, teaches the use of a coating of thermoplastic material comprising a mixture of polyolefin and low viscosity saturated hydro-carbon such as petroleum wax. The pat~ntee claims that this inclusion of low viscosity material increases the speed of processing as well as the wear characteristics of the final carpet product, which is said to be particularly intended for use in automotive carpeting.
Subsequently, applicant corporation, Collins and Aikman Corporation, developed a calcium carbonate-loaded ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer system which had many desirable properties for use in such systems. U.S. Patent No. 3,551,231 discloses the applisation of a hot melt 1 1735~8 adhesive blend of ethylene/vinyl ester copolymer, petroleum wax, and a thermoplastic resin, in conjunction with the application of a critical degree of pressure on the tufted structure during contact with the adhesive applicator roll.
Further developments in connection with secondary carpet backings includes that in U.S. Patent No. 3,390,035, which discloses the use of a molten thermoplastic adhesive ma-terial including an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, wax, and optionally a thermoplastic resin other than the ethylene copolymer. In U.S. Patent No. 3,684,600 a low viscosity precoated adhesive is disclosed for application to the back side of a tufted carpet structure prior to the application of the hot melt adhesive. The back side ad-hesive disclosed in that patent again contains ethylene/vinyl ester copolymer, in this case along with low molecular weight, low density polyethylene, micro-crystalline wax, aliphatic thermoplastic hydrocarbon resin, dicyclopentadiene alkylation polymer, antioxidant, and filler.
Similar compositions are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,583,936 and 3,745,054, and improvements on these compositions are alleged to be included in U.S. Patent No.
3,914,489 which discloses such carpet backings including ethylene/vinyl ester copolymer, a hydrocarbon resin having a prescribed softening point and viscosity, and optionally also low molecular weight ethylene homopolymer, paraffin wax, antioxidant, and filler. Finally, U.S. Patent No.
3,982,051 discloses yet another backsizing carpet hot melt composition, in this case including ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, atactic polypropylene, and vulcanized rubber.
In general, aside from these thermoplastic resin systems, the commercial systems developed for such carpet backings include the above referred-to latex system, as well as vinyl and urethane based compositions.
There are also known combinations of ethylene copolymer elastomers with other copolymers of ethylene for use in different environments from that of the present . ~ .

11735~8 invention. For example, U.S. Patent No. 3,821,333 discloses the use of a mixture of ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer with terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and a conjugated diene (EPDM). In this particular patent, the mixture is used as a gasket for lens molds. U.S. Patent No. 4,046,840 discloses blends of EPDM polymers and polyethylene for use to prepare molded products, tubing, etc.; U.S. Patent No.
4,131,564 discloses blends of EPDM polymer, ethylene/ethyl acrylate polymer and optionally polyethylene, in this patent for the preparation of tube and sheet products, wire and cable insulation and the like; and British Patent No.
1,524,986 discloses polymer blends of EPDM with ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer.
The search has continued, however, for improved compositions for use in the preparation of automotive car-pet backing.
Improved compositions of matter are taught herein for use in the preparation of carpet backing. These composi-tions have high degrees of flexibility, as measured, for example, using the Tinius Olsen stiffness tester, per ASTM
D7~7 test (Tinius Olsen stiffness testor Model 88600 or equivalent - 6 inch - pound capacity, with 226 gr. total weight -- samples 25 x 76 mm. across the width of the material - pile up - reading taken at 20 - higher numbers indicate higher stiffness).
In addition, these compositions can be utilized with increased amounts of filler material, thereby decreas-ing the overall cost thereof without at the same time sacrificing other highly favorable properties which they exhibit in connection with the extrusion thereof. In parti-cular, it has now been discovered that these properties can be realized by utilizing a composition for such purposes which includes as a thermoplastic resin component a copoly-mer of ethylene and an unsaturated ester of a lower car-boxylic acid, as an elastomer component an olefinic elasto-mer, and a substantial amount of a filler component.

~7j358a In a preferred embod:,ment of the present invention the overall composition of matter will include from about 10 to about 25 weight percenl of the thermoplastic resin components, from about 4 to about 15 weight percent of the olefinic elastomer component, and from about 60 to about 85 weight percent, but at least about 55 weight percent of the filler component. In the past, it has not been feasible to incorpora~e more than about 55 weight percent of a filler component into such carpet backings without seriously affecting their ability to undergo extrusion, or without at least adversely affecting other performance properties, such as their flexibility, etc. It will generally become necessary to modify the extrusion process, such as with a concommitant need for additional extrusion aids or complex extrusion equipment, or with3ut a severe decrease in the speed at which the extrusion and carpet production could be carried out.
According to the present invention, there is pro-vided a composition of matter useful in the preparation of a thermoplastic acoustical and thermal barrier for carpet backing having improved flexibility as measured with the Tinius Olsen stiffness test, such composition being extrud-able and comprising from 10 up to about 25 weight percent of a thermoplastic resin component, comprising a copolymer of ethylene and an unsaturated ester of a lower caroboxylic acid, from about 4 to about 15 weight percent of an olefinic elastomer component, and from about 60 to about 85 weight percent of a filler component.
There is also provided a carpet construction which includes an extrudable thermoplastic acoustical and thermal barrier made from the present compositions.
In a preferred such carpet construction the carpet fibers are preferably in the form of carpe-t tufts and scrim means are included for retaining the carpet tufts therein. Scrim means, preferably a woven polymer or woven jute, retains the fibers in their tufted form, and in a preferred embodiment a thermoplastic adhesive pre-coat is employed to securely bind the fibers together. The thermo-1~635~

plastic barrier coating can then be applied thereto. Thethermoplastic adhesive pre-coat employed preferably has a me]t viscosity at 375F of between about 4000 and 35,000 CPS .
According to the present invention, there is also taught a method of producing a carpet construction which comprises extruding the present thermoplastic barrier for application onto the carpet fibers to both securely bind the carpet fibers together and provide an acoustical and thermal barrier therefor.
In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the present invention in which carpet tufts are utilized, the method includes affixing the carpet tufts to a carpet scrim prior to applying the thermoplastic barrier coating there-to. Preferably, a thermoplastic adhesive pre-coat is also applied to the carpet fibers prior to application of the thermoplastic barrier coating thereto, the thermoplastic adhesive pre-coat preferably comprising a copolymer of ethylene with a vinyl ester of a lower aliphatic carboxylic acid, such as a lower alkyl ester.
The compositions of matter of the present invent-ion contains between about 10 and 25 weight percent, and preferably between about 15 and 25 weight percent of the thermoplastic resin component, i.e., the copolymer of ethylene with an unsaturated ester of a lower carboxylic acid. In particular, copolymers of ethylene with vinyl acetate or alkyl acrylates are employed~ These ethylene copolymers will preferably have a melt index between about 1.5 and about 165, but most importantly the overall melt index of the component or components utilized will have a melt index of between about 2.5 and about 50. It has been found that when any of these copolymers are used which have a melt index greater than about 165, the resultant product will generally have too low a viscosity for handling in connection with extrusion during the preparation of the present carpet cons-tructions. On the other hand, when any of such components has a melt index which is less than about 1.5, the viscosity of the overall product utilized will be much too high and extrusion or other required ~ ~ 735~

handling will become quite difficult. Furthermore, in such a case the degree of adhesion between the thermoplastic barrier coating hereof and any carpet padding (textile) employed by being affixed to the bottom of the carpet backing will begin to deteriorate if a separate adhesive layer is not then utilized therewith.
Where two or more different copolymers of ethyl-ene and unsaturated esters of lower carboxylic acids are employed, the weighted average of their melt indices, on a log scale, should meet the above requirements.
The copolymers to be employed in the thermoplas-tic resin component of this invention will preferably con-tain from about 70 to about 92 weight percent ethylene, and will therefore comprise from about 8 to about 30 weight percent of the unsaturated ester of a lower carboxylic acid, i.e., the vinyl acetate or alkyl acrylate, and pre-ferably from about 14 to about 20 weight percent thereof (i.e., from about 80 to about 86 weight percent ethylene).
It has therefore been found that when a copolymer including less than about 14 weight percent of the unsatur-ated ester component is employed in the copolymer the recrystallization temperature of the ethylene-unsaturated ester copolymer is raised to a point that begins to inter-fere with the efficient use of the present compositions in thermoforming processes. In particular, in commercial opera-tion after extrusion of the thermoplastic barrier coating onto the carpet, the overall carpet composition is gener-ally subjected to a molding (thermoforming) operation in which a textile pad is simultaneously applied thereto. If, however, the recrystallization temperature is too high, and the onset of recrystallization becomes close to the tempera-ture at which the carpet construction is entering the mold after re-heating, the properties of the carpet will be seriously adversely affected. Thus, it has been found that by utilizing these preferred compositions, preferable those including greater than about 14 percent of the unsaturated ester of a lower carboxylic acid in the thermoplastic resin component, the recrystallization temperature is suffi-11735~8 --8--ciently lowered -tha-t these problems are avoided. One of the principal properties which therefore remains unaffected re-lates to the shrinkage of the product ultimately produced thereby. Thus, if the mclding temperature is too close to the recrystallization temperature, or lower than the re-crystallization temperature, the final product will be sub-ject to severe shrinkage, and when employed in premolded applications such as aut;omotive carpeting, may become un-acceptable. It has also been found that when copolymers including less than aboul 14 weight percent of the unsatur-ated ester are employed, adhesion of the textile carpet padding may be adversely affected.
It should also finally be noted, however, that it is possible to~utilize in the thermoplastic resin component hereof, unsaturated esters of lower carboxylic acids, such as vinyl acetate, which have less than abou-t 14 percent of that component in the copolymer, i.e., between about 3 and 14 weight percent thereof, but that in such a case i~ may become necessary to emp:Loy special techniques of tempera-ture control and mold design to control or compensate for shrinkage. It may also be necessary to employ a tackifying resin in combination therewith to obtain adequate adhesion to the textile carpet padding. These tackifying resin mater-ials are discussed in more detail below.
Examples of alkyl acrylates which may be employed in connection with this invention include methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate and butyl acrylate. The most preferred alkyl acrylate to be employed is ethyl acrylate.
There are a number of copolymers of ethylene with vinyl acetate and/or alkyl acrylates which can be employed in connection with this invention and which are presently commercial]y available. These include Ultra-thene* UE 621, which is a copolymer of 81 percent ethylene and 19 percent vinyl acetate with a melt index of about 2.5, and Elva~ 420 or Ultrathene* UE 6l2, both of which are copolymers of about 82 percent ethylene ancl 18 percent vinyl acetate with a melt index of about 150.
* Trade Mark 3 5 ~ 3 g It is essential that the -thermoplastic barrier coating composition of the present invention include an olefinic elastomer component, such as an ethylene copolymer elastomer, and that the olefinic elastomer component prefer-ably be present in amounts ranging from about 4 to about 15 weight percent, most preferably between about 5 and about 10 weight percent of the total composition.
The olefinic elastomer component hereof can com-prise ethylene copolymer elastomers, such as copolymers of ethylene with higher alpha-olefins such as propylene, or other olefinic elastomers such as polyisobutylene and iso-prene copolymer elastomers, such as butyl rubber, a vulcan-izable rubbery copolymer containing from about 85 to 99.5 percent combined isoolefin having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms and 0.5 to 15 percent combined conjugated diolefin having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms. Such copolymers and their prepara-tion are well known, and generally the isoolefin is a compound such as isobutylene and the diolefin is a compound such as butadiene or isoprene. The preferred olefinic elas-tomer components hereof, however, will comprise the ethyl-ene elastomer copolymers.
The ethylene elastomer copolymers for use herein should include between about 55 and about 70 weight percent ethylene, preferably between about 60 and about 70 weight percent ethylene. It has thus been found that if the ethylene level therein is too low, i.e., below these levels, insufficient crystallinity for the strength of the product is provided. That is, the product may tend to become amorphous, and become increasingly tacky, tend to stick together, etc. On the other hand, if the ethylene level is too high, i.e., above these levels, if a hydrocar-bon oil is present in these compositions (as is preferred) some of that oil would be rejected therefrom. Furthermore, some of the flexibility and other physical properties of the product will begin to be adversely affected. The ole-finic elastomers for use herein should have a molecular weight providing a Mooney viscosity (MLl+8 at 260 F.) 1 1 735~9 between about 25 and 80, but at least greater than about 25. At lower viscosities, these elastomers will not impart sufficient melt strength and other physical properties to be useful as carpet backing, particularly in connection with application by extrusion. On the other hand, if the viscosity is greater than these levels, handling these materials will be extremely difficult, again particularly where extrusion of this material is desired. It should be noted, however, that in some cases an oil extended elasto-mer might be employed in connection with the compositions of this invention. In such case the above Mooney viscosity figures would apply to the overall oil extended elastomer, since removal of the oil therefrom would result in the presence of Mooney viscosities considerably higher than those set forth above, but that the presence of the oil therein, resulting in Mooney viscosities within the ranges set forth above, renders these materials entirely accept-able in the compositions of this invention.
It is also within the scope of this invention to employ as the olefinic elastomer an ethylene copolymer elastomer comprising a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and a non-conjugated diene (EPDM is the ASTM description therefore). In such compounds, the ethylene and propylene form a fully saturated backbone of methylene linkages with unsaturated side chains, with the non-conjugated diolefin (usually dicyclopentadiene, 1-4 hexadiene, methylene nor-bornene, or ethylene norbornene) attached to provide read-ily available crosslinking sites for sulphur curing. The non-conjugated dienes may be straight chain or cyclic hydro-carbon diolefins having from 6 to 15 carbon atoms, such as dicyclopentadiene, tetrahydroindine, 5-methylene-2-nor-bornene, 1-4-hexadiene, 5-ethylidene norbornene, 4-7-8-9-tetrahydroindine, etc.
In the thermoplastic carpet backing materials employed in the past, it has been possible to incorporate therein up to about 55 weight percent of a filler material, such as calcium carbonate. The use of this material not only reduces the overall cost of the carpet backing, but ~ 1 735~9 helps provide for its acoustical barrier properties, etc.
In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to employ greater amounts of filler material in the overall cornposition while achieving even superior physical proper-ties therein. Thus, filler in amounts of greater than about 55 weight percent, and preferably between about 60 and 85 weight percent can now be employed. These fillers are in the form of a finely divided material which will not melt or decompose at the temperature of the molten material, such as during extrusion. The preferred filler materials to be employed include inorganic materials such as calcium carbonate, barium sulphate, talc, clay, etc., with calcium carbonate being highly preferred. The finely divided filler component will generally have a uniform particle size such that more than about 85% thereof will pass through a 325 mesh screen. It has been found, however, that when these particles get too small, e.g., less than about 5~, there appears to be greater build up of heat during extrus-ion therewith, and that these processes can be adversely affected.
Another ingredient which will preferably be in-cluded in -the compositions of the present invention com-prises certain straight chain fatty acids or the salts, esters, anhydrides, or amides thereof, preferably stearic acid and/or stearates, i.e., the salts or esters of stearic acid. The amount of this component employed in these compo-sitions has been found to be of quite critical signifi-cance. Amounts between about 0.25 and 2 weight percent should be employed. It has thus been found that the pre-sence of this component is quite helpful in the processing of the thermoplastic barrier coatings used in the prepara-tion of the present carpe-t constructions. It has also been found that if amounts of less than about 0.25 weight percent are employed, no such effects can be realized, but if amounts greater than about 2 weight percent are em-ployed, these materials tend to come to the surface as a 1 ~7358~
.

powder and interfere wil,h the handling and utilization of the flnal products.
Examples of these fatty acid esters include the oleates and stearates, with the stearates (and stearic acid) being particularly preferred. Specific preferred stearates which could be employed in connection with the present invention include zinc and calcium stearate.
A hydrocarbon oil, such as a n~pthenic or prefer-ably a paraffinic oil, can also be included in the present compositions, and the presence of such oils assists in the processing or extrusion thereof, primarily by reducing the viscosity- of the blend. It is therefore important that the par-ticular oil utilized therein have a low volatile compon-ent content at the temperatures at which it is intended to process this material, and furthermore that the oil be compatible with the resins and elastomers required in this blend. There are a number of such oils which are commercial-ly available. These include Sunpar 2280, Flexon 815, and Flexon 580, Sunpar and Flexon being trademarks for a series of petroleum oils marketed by Sun Oil Company and Exxon Company, USA, respective]y.
It is also possible, as discussed above, to in-clude a tackifying resin in certain embodiments of the present invention. The use of these materials, as discussed above in connection with the lower levels of unsaturated ester, is primarily intended to assist in the adhesion of the carpet backing material to a fibrous pad or underlay which is usually affixed to the bottom thereof. It has been found, however, that when employing the preferred composi-tions of the present invention, the presence of such a tackifying resin is not essential. Thermoplastic resins of the types commonly used in hot melt adhesives or in rubber compoundin~ may be employed. Such resins include, but are not necessarily limited to, petroleum derived aliphatic hydrocarbon resins such as ESCOREZ*1102 and ESCOREZ* 1304, both products of Exxon Chemical Co., Piccopale* 100, a product of the Picco Resins Co., coumarone-indene resins ~uch as CUMAR MH-2, a product of Allied Chemical Co., and * Trade Mark ~1735~8 thermoplastic phenolic resins such as DUREZ 29095, a pro-cluct of Hooker Chemical C'o.
It is also po,sible to include a surface treat-ment additive for the purpose of hydrophobic wetting, coup-ling and dispersing the filler material thereby improving flexibility, processing and filler loading capacity.
Examples of such additives are titanates, polymeric esters, and organic salts of carboxylic acids. There are a nu~ber of such products commercially available. These include Ken-react TTS, a product of Kenrich Petrochemicals, Inc., and BYK W-900, a product of Byk-Mallinckrodt Chemische Produkte GmbH, Ltd.
As discussed above, in a preferred embodiment of this invention a thermoplastic adhesive pre-coat is applied to the fibers prior to application of the thermoplastic barrier coating hereof. The thermoplastic adhesive selected for this pre-coat must have sufficient adhesion when cooled so as to bond the carpet fibers comprising the carpet pile together and to the carpet backing. This adhesive pre-coat must therefore have a softening poirlt abov~ the maxi~,um temperature which is expected to be ~ncountered duriny actual use and-at its melt point it must wet out the carpet fibers and have a sufficiently low viscosity so as to penetrate the mass of fibers forming the back of the carpet. It has thus been found that the use of such thermoplastic adhesive pre-coats which have softening points of at least about 200F or higher and melt viscosi-ties at 375~ of about 4000 to 35,000 CPS are thus suited herefor. In particular, the preferred thermoplastic adhes-ive pre-coats comprise copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate. Examples of commercially available thermoplastic adhesive pre-coat materials which can be so utilized are compounds such as Elvax 420 sold by DuPont. Elvax*420 is a copolymer comprising 17.5 to 18.5 percent vin~-l acetate with the remainder being essentially polyethylene. Elvax 420 has a softening point of about 210F and a melt index of about 136 to 165 (melt index gm/10 min. at 190C
* Trade Mark 1 17358~

ASTM D123~). In additior" another such compound which is commercially available is Ultrathene* UE 612, a product of U.S.I. Chemicals, which similarly is a copolymer of vinyl ac:etate and ethylene, in this case comprising about 19%
vi.nyl acetate.
It is also within the scope of this invention to include yet another coating between the thermoplastic bar-rier layer and a textile pad or the like affixed to the bottom thereof. This third adhesive coating layer is a melt adhesive and is appliecl in a relatively thin coating of about 1 to 4 ounces per square yard. In this case it is preferable to employ an ethylene-type polymer or copolymer adhesive and to coextrude it on to the back along with the thermoplastic barrier layer in a conventional manner.
When the thermoplastic barrier coatinys of the present invention are to be employed for the preparation of a tufted carpet backing, such as a tufted automotive carpet backing, the overall carpet production scheme would be as ~ollows. The carpet fibers generally comprising a synthetic yarn such as nylon polyester or polypropylene, are tuf~ed utilizing a retainer or scrim, which can be any type known in the art, including woven materials such as jute, poly-propylene, etc, or can be a non-woven fabric, e.g., needle punched, non-woven polypropylene web, etc. The carpet can then be dyed to the desired color, and the dyed carpet, affixed to the carpet scrim, is then ready for coating with the thermoplastic adhesive pre-coat and then the thermo-plastic barrier coatings of the present invention onto the underside of this primary scrim. The thermoplastic adhesive pre-coat is extruded onto the backside of the carpet. The thermoplastic barrier coatings of the present invention can then be prepared by a number of conventional means by which two or more ingredients are brought into intimate contact with each other. For example, the thermoplastic resin mater-ial, the elastomer material, the fatty acicl, the oil and the filler component can all be intimately blended together in a ribbon blender and then fed into a hicJh shear continu-* ~rade Mark ~173s~a ous mixer. On the other hand, these ingredients can be mixed together in a Banbury or a similar internal mixer.
The thermoplastic resin material, the elastomer material, the filler, and the oil can be mixed while heating to a temperature of between about 150 and 225C, under condi-tions of high shear until a uniform melt is prepared. At this point the stearic acid or stearate component can be added, since if this component is added at too early a stage, it may cause problems in the mixture of the other components.
As mentioned above, the thermoplastic barrier coatings of the present invention can also include pieces of carpet trim scrap, that is, scrap produced during the trimming of the carpet itself during its manufacture. This material can be added to the mix prior to melting, gener-ally in a cubed form produced by a standard chopper, in amounts of up to about 20 percent by weight, and in that case readily blends with the virgin materials upon melting.
The fibers in the trim scrap do not have to be removed as they are dispersed throughout the thermoplastic barrier coatings as individual fibers which merely add additional reinforcement thereto. In addition, adding this trim scrap material also mparts color to the backing itself which generally is somewhat neutral in color. Furthermore, use of this trim scrap material reduces the cost of the product by enabling one to use the scrap produced therein rather than discarding same. Addition of the trim scrap material fur-ther adds strength to the thermoplastic barrier coating since the fibers themselves tend to reinforce same, and they further appear to prevent shrinkage thereof.
The thermoplastic barrier coatings of the present invention can be applied to the particular substrate such as the carpet discussed above by a number of well known methods for applying coatings of molten adhesives and the like. For example, and most preferably, these thermoplastic barrier coatings can be applied by extrusion, but other methods such as the use of a calendar to spread the 1 17358~

material onto the back of the carpet could in some cases be utilized.
The thermoplastic barrier coating composition of this invention are applied to the carpet in amounts ranging from about 25 to about 150 ounces per square yard of carpet, and at temperatures of between about 300 and 400F.
It is possible, and indeed preferred in some applications such as automotive carpet backing, to apply the carpet backing composition hereof at different thicknesses at dif-ferent portions of the carpet itself. Thus, the thickness of the carpet backing can range from between .015 and .025 inches at some locations to between .llS and .125 inches at others. It is also understood that the temperature must be maintained so that melting or decomposition of the textile backing and fibers does not occur, and yet be substantially above the melting point of the barrier coating composition.
Following extrusion or other application of these composi-tions, the product is then cooled and processed further.
Items such as vinyl heel pads used on automotive carpeting can then be applied an this generally includes cutting the carpet into blanks. The product can then be subjected to a molding operation in which the carpet is shaped and the padding discussed above is applied to the underside there-of. The padding is applied during this operation so that it becomes affixed to the bottom-most layer of carpet backing has not yet hardened and which is subjected to heat and pressure during the molding step. These pads generally comprise various types of waste fabric materials, including jute, cotton, polyester, etc. The final molded carpet is then trimmed, cooled, and ready for use. The molding opera-tion is generally conducted at temperatures of between about 250 and 300F.
The scope and significance of the present inven-tion may be more fully understood with reference to the following specific examples thereof.

EXAMPLE l In order to demonstrate the improved flexibility of the carpet backing compositions of the invention, one such composition was compared with a comparable prior art composition which did nc.t include the elastomeric component hereof. In particular, and referring to Table I hereof, a first composition, Composition A, including 55 percent filler and 45 percent ELVAX* 460 (a previously employed commercial automotive carpet backing composition) was com-pared to a second compcsition, Composition B, including lO
percent VISTALON*3708, 70 percent filler, lO percent LD401,

2 percent Stearic acid, and 8 percent SUNPAR 2280, of the present invention. In particular, the comparison was made using the Tinius Olsen stiffness tester as described on page 6 of this application, and the results shown in Table I demonstrate the improved flexibility of the as-extruded materials of the present invention.
Furthermore, additional such results are shown in Table II hereof, for the same compositions (A and B), but in this case tested when used in completed carpet composi-tions of varying carpQt backing. weights. These results demonstrate the improv~d flexibility of each comparable composition employing 1;he compositions of the invention, over the range of commercially used carpet backing weights.
* Trade Mark ~, 3L 1735~9 TABlE I
Comparable Stiffness of Carpet Backing Compositions (Weight percentages~ Composition AComposition B
VISTALON*3708 -- 10 Georgia Marble D-90 Filler 55 70 Stearic Acid -- 2 SUNPAR*2280 -- 8 RESULTS
Stiffness - Tinius OLSEN
Stiffness testor, ASTM D 747, 0.60 lb. per square ft., extruded sheet (backing with-out carpet), higher values indicate greater stiffness 40 10 TABLE II
Comparable Stiffness of Carpet Compositions Carpet including as backing;
Composition A Composition B
RESULTS
(Stiffness - Tinius Olsen stiffness testor ASTM D747) Density (lbs./ft ) .30 23 __ .31 -- 4 .53 54 --.56 57 18 .60 71 --.68 80 --.71 -- 24 .82 --- ?8 9~?~r l 1735~
~9 .
A number of carpet compositions were prepared employing thermoplastic barrier coating compositions within the scope of the present invention. In Runs 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Table III, different ethylene copolyr~ner elastomers were employed. In Runs 1 and 4, 10% and 6% by ~eight, respect-ively, of VIS~ALON 3708, a copolymer of ethylene and pro-pylene including about 64 weight percent ethylene was uti-lized. In Run 2 a copolymer of ethylene and propylene elastomer including a higher ethylene content was employed, and in Run 3 another copolymer of ethylene and propylene elastomer having a higher ethylene content but a lower molecular weight was employed. Furthermore, in Runs 1, 2 and 4, a combination of two thermoplastic resin components was employed, namely mixtures of a copolymer of ethylene with 9% vinyl acetate copolymer (LD-401, a product of Exxon Chemical Company) and a copolymer of ethylene with 18%
vinyl acetate (Elvax 420, a product of DuPont) in Runs 1 ard 2, and a combinatiorl of the ELVAX 420 with a copolymer of ethylene with 172~ % vinyl acetate (ELVAX 460) in Run 4. In Run 3, however, only a single thermoplastic resin component was employed, namely the initially mentioned co-polymer with 9% vinyl acetate therein. In each of the cases 70 weight percent of calcium carbonate was included there-in, and the other ingredients are listed in Table III.
The results shown therein indicate that in each case the compositions produced had acceptable physical characteristics and could be extruded using conventional sheet extrusion equipment, but that the quality of these backing materials is strongly influenced by the choice of elastomer. In this instance, the best properti.es were ob-tained using the elasto:ner selected for Runs 1 and 4. The composition of Run 4 includes, however, a higher vinyl acetate content EVA copolymer, and demonstrates less shrink-age after thermoforming.
* Trade Mark ?~`d~

~ 1735~

In another series of runs further compositions in accordance with the present invention were prepared, and these are set forth in Table IV annexed hereto. In these runs, Runs 5 through 11, the results demonstrate improved pad adhesion employing these compositions.

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Claims (21)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A composition of matter useful in the prepara-tion of a thermoplastic acoustical and thermal barrier for carpet backing having improved flexibility as measured with the Tinius Olsen stiffness test, such composition being extrudable and comprising from 10 up to about 25 weight percent of a thermoplastic resin component, compris-ing a copolymer of ethylene and an unsaturated ester of a lower carboxylic acid, from about 4 to about 15 weight percent of an olefinic elastomer component, and from about 60 to about 85 weight percent of a filler component.

2. A composition according to claim 1, wherein there is from about 4 to about 10 weight percent of said olefinic elastomer component, from about 15 to about 25 weight percent of said thermoplastic resin component, and from about 60 to about 75 weight percent of said filler component.

3. A composition according to claim 1, or 2, wherein said filler component comprises an inorganic filler selected from the group consisting of barium sulphate, and calcium carbonate.

4. A composition according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an additive selected from the group consisting of stearic acid and stearates.

5. A composition according to claim 1 or 2 fur-ther comprising an additive selected from the group consist-ing of stearic acid and stearates, and wherein there is from about 0.25 to about 2.0 weight percent of said additive.

6. A composition according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising the inclusion of a hydrocarbon oil com-ponent. 23

7. A composition according to claim 1, compris-ing the inclusion of a hydrocarbon oil component, and where-in said hydrocarbon oil component is selected from the group consisting of paraffinic and naphthenic oils.

8. A composition according to claim 6, wherein there is between about 2 and about 10 weight percent of said hydrocarbon oil component.

9. A composition according to claim 1 or 2 where-in said olefinic elastomer component comprises an ethylene copolymer elastomer.

10. A composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said olefinic elastomer component is selected from the group consisting of polyisobutylene, isoprene copolymer elastomers, a copolymer of ethylene and propylene, or a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and a non-conjugated diene.

11. A composition according to claim 1, wherein said unsaturated ester of a lower carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of vinyl esters and alkyl acrylates.

12. A composition according to claim 11, char-acterized in that said vinyl ester comprises vinyl acetate.

13. A composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said thermoplastic resin component comprises a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate including from about 8 to about 30 weight percent of said vinyl acetate.

14. A composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said thermoplastic resin component has a melt index of between about 2.5 and about 50.

15. A composition according to claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic resin component comprises a mixture of copolymers of ethylene and unsaturated esters of lower carboxylic acids.

16. A composition according to claim 15, wherein said mixture of copolymers comprises a first copolymer having a melt index of between about 1.5 and about 2.5 and a second copolymer having a melt index of between about 150 and about 160.

17. A carpet construction comprising a plurality of carpet fibers, and a thermoplastic acoustical and ther-mal barrier backing having improved flexibility as measured with the Tinius Olsen stiffness test, said barrier backing being formed from a composition being extrudable and com-prising from 10 up to about 25 weight percent of a thermo-plastic resin component, comprising a copolymer of ethylene and an unsaturated ester of a lower carboxylic acid, from about 4 to about 15 weight percent of an olefinic elastomer component, and from about 60 to about 85 weight percent of a filler component.

18. A carpet construction according to claim 17, further comprising a thermoplastic adhesive pre-coat for securely binding said fibers.

19. A carpet construction according to claim 18, wherein said thermoplastic adhesive pre-coat has a melt viscosity at 375°F of about 4,000 to about 35,000 CPS .

20. A method of producing a carpet construction comprising a plurality of carpet fibers, including the steps of providing an extrudable composition of matter for forming a thermoplastic acoustical and thermal carpet backing having improved flexibility as measured with the Tinius Olsen stiffness test, such composition being extrud-able and comprising from 10 up to about 25 weight percent of a thermoplastic resin component, comprising a copolymer of ethylene and an unsaturated ester of a lower carboxylic acid, from about 4 to about 15 weight percent of an olefinic elastomer component, and from about 60 to about 85 weight percent of a filler component, and extruding the said ther-moplastic composition onto said carpet fibers so as to both securely bind said carpet fibers together and provide an acoustical and thermal carpet backing barrier therefor.

21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of applying a thermoplastic adhesive pre-coat to said carpet fibers prior to applying the thermo-plastic barrier coating thereto.