A surface covering is provided and includes an upper section of laminated polymeric layers and an acoustical section for dissipating sound waves.

A stitched fabric including a foam core and a yarn stitched through and forming stitch holes in the foam core, where the yarn extends over at least a majority of a width and a length of the stitched fabric. In some cases, the yarn and the foam core are free from contact by another layer on either side of the foam core. In some cases, a barrier layer is disposed over at least one side of the foam core and a melted portion of the barrier layer fills a portion of the stitch holes. In some cases, the foam core is a closed cell aerogel foam core.

A structural member including a lightweight core, one or more skins, and a crosslinking nanolayer interposed therebetween that results in significant mechanical strength in the structure. The core is a polymer of reduced density by way of included voids, such as an open or closed cell foam, honeycomb, or corrugated structure. The core polymer has a lower density and may have a higher softening or melting temperature than the polymer skin materials. The core may be discontinuous at the interface with the skin such that only a small percentage of the core surface is actually in contact with the skin compared to the overall area of the interface. The skin may be a thermoplastic layer that attaches to the core material. The skin may be a composite material including non-thermoplastic reinforcements. The crosslinking nanolayer is covalently bonded to the surface of the core material and provides molecular compatibility with the skin material.

The present disclosure relates generally to roofing elements and methods for making them. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a roofing element in the form of a roofing shingle that includes a body of a foamed cured cross-linked polymer, the body having a top surface and a bottom surface, the body extending substantially in a plane and having a thickness in the range of 0.5 mm to 35 mm; and a layer of weather-resistant roofing granules disposed on and adhered at the top surface of roofing element. The roofing element can be made by providing a body of wet foamed curable composition, and allowing the curable composition to cure to provide the body of foamed cured cross-linked polymer.

A stitched fabric including a barrier layer; a yarn stitched through and forming stitch holes in the barrier layer, and a foam core formed over the barrier layer. A melted portion of the barrier layer fills at least a portion of the stitch holes. The foam core is prevented from progressing further into the stitched fabric by the barrier layer. As such, the barrier layer is configured to control a depth to which the foam core penetrates into the stitched fabric. The foam core may be formed over at least a portion of the yarn. A second foam core may be formed on a side of the barrier layer opposite the foam core.

The present disclosure provides an artificial floor. The artificial floor comprises a plate body with a pad portion on a surface thereof. The pad portion contacts with a subfloor when the plate body is disposed on the subfloor. The plate body could be various kinds of the simulated floor such as linen, wood, or stone. The simulated floor is poor in wear resistance. The vibration or shaking during transportation may cause wearing between the simulated floors so as to damage the surfaces of the simulated floors. The subfloor may have an uneven surface, which may affect the surface flatness of the plate body disposed on the subfloor. Therefore, the pad portion of the plate body could be used as a cushion for the transportation process to protect the collision and wearing between the plate bodies. The pad portion could also be deformed locally to close the surface of the subfloor.

The invention relates to a flooring panel suitable for constructing a floor covering, which panel comprises a core layer and a decorative top layer and a layer situated between the core layer and the decorative top layer which enables improves sound performance.

External thermal insulation composite systems described herein include a concrete or masonry wall and a thermal insulation board on the concrete or masonry wall. The thermal insulation board includes a polyurethane/polyisocyanurate foam having a density of less than 70 kg/m.sup.3 according to ASTM D 1622. Methods of preparing the external thermal insulation composite systems and the thermal insulation boards are also described.

The present disclosure provides a load-bearing composite platform. The platform includes a core layer, first and second reinforcement layers, and a frame. The core layer includes a structural sublayer, a force distribution sublayer, and an abrasion prevention sublayer. The first reinforcement layer is adhered to the force distribution sublayer, and the second reinforcement layer is adhered to the structural sublayer. The second reinforcement layer is an inverse of the first reinforcement layer. The frame surrounds the first reinforcement layer, the second reinforcement layer, and the core layer.

Polymeric based closed cell foams, such as shape memory polymer foams, contain bubbles. Making these bubbles continuous is called reticulation. Disclosed are embodiments of a device and method to controllably reticulate polymer-based closed cell foams by puncturing the membranes of these polymer-based closed cell foams.