The invention provides a synthetic slip-resistant floor-covering material comprising a layer of synthetic material which contains one or more degradable polymeric particles wherein the one or more degradable polymeric particles comprise: (a) one or more hard degradable polymeric particles which have a hardness which is greater than the hardness of the layer of synthetic material; and optionally (b) one or more soft degradable polymeric particles which have a hardness which is the same as or less than the hardness of the layer of synthetic material; and wherein the one or more hard degradable polymeric particles comprise one or more exposed hard degradable polymeric particles which are exposed at an upper surface of the synthetic floor-covering material to provide slip-resistance; and a method of preparing a synthetic floor-covering which method comprises the steps of: Providing a layer of synthetic material; Applying the one or more degradable polymeric particles to the layer of synthetic material; and Applying pressure to the layer of synthetic material to ensure that the one or more degradable polymeric particles are incorporated into the layer of synthetic material.

An adhesive layer carrying a uniform color or a color-scheme is placed within or under a colored or color-printed conformable fabric that is simultaneously or subsequently molded into a three-dimensional shape or embossed with a three-dimensional pattern. The thermoplastic adhesive layer proceeds towards the fabric surface and matches or masks the color gaps opened on the surface by molding or embossing. The fabric can also be laminated to a backing during the molding or embossing process.

A textile fabric with a three-dimensional contour that blocks fluid penetration at the surface is created by attaching a solid liquid-blocking polymeric layer conforming to the contours of the surface to a fabric layer. The surface includes elevated areas, depressed areas, a plurality of surface fibers and gaps among the plurality the plurality of surface fibers. The liquid-blocking polymeric layer is forced to follow the contours of the surface fibers and gaps using vacuum, heat and forced air. The resulting textile fabric maintains a textile appearance.

An adhesive layer carrying a uniform color or a color-scheme is placed within or under a colored or color-printed conformable fabric that is simultaneously or subsequently molded into a three-dimensional shape or embossed with a three-dimensional pattern. The thermoplastic adhesive layer proceeds towards the fabric surface and matches or masks the color gaps opened on the surface by molding or embossing. The fabric can also be laminated to a backing during the molding or embossing process.

A textile fabric with a three-dimensional contour that blocks fluid penetration at the surface is created by attaching a solid liquid-blocking polymeric layer conforming to the contours of the surface to a fabric layer. The surface includes elevated areas, depressed areas, a plurality of surface fibers and gaps among the plurality the plurality of surface fibers. The liquid-blocking polymeric layer is forced to follow the contours of the surface fibers and gaps using vacuum, heat and forced air. The resulting textile fabric maintains a textile appearance.

Patterned light-blocking elements are prepared using a method having operations A) through F), or a method having operations A) through G). Such methods include providing an ii) embossed and densified foamed opacifying layer on the back side of a i) fabric and a iii) non-foamed function composition on the ii) embossed and densified foamed opacifying layer. Embossing can be carried out using any suitable embossing means including a continuous embossing belt or web or an embossing roller or sleeve. The embossing operation provides a visible relief pattern in the ii) embossed and densified foamed opacifying layer that can be viewed from the face side of the patterned light-blocking element when appropriately backlit as a transmissive display in a darkened environment. Such elements can be used as window treatments as well as decorative fabrics in various environments.

Patterned light-blocking elements are prepared using a method having operations A) through F). Such method includes providing an ii) embossed and densified foamed opacifying layer on the back side of a i) fabric and a iii) non-foamed function composition on the ii) embossed and densified foamed opacifying layer. Embossing can be carried out using a specific i) fabric having a prefabricated visible relief pattern on its face side. During embossing and densification, this prefabricated visible relief pattern self-embosses the ii) embossed and densified foamed opacifying layer, thus providing a visible relief pattern in that layer that can be viewed from the face side of the patterned light-blocking element when appropriately backlit as a transmissive display in a darkened environment. Such elements can be used as window treatments as well as decorative fabrics in various environments.

A textile fabric having increased improved surface properties, variously including surface stability, abrasion resistance, resistance to edge fraying, moisture control, and resistance to fluid penetration is created by introducing a plurality of particles including low-melting particles onto a top surface of the textile fabric. The top surface includes elevated areas, depressed areas, a plurality of surface fibers and gaps among the plurality the plurality of surface fibers. A desired pattern of particle deposition and depth of penetration from the top surface of the plurality of particles into the gaps is established, and heat is applied to the top surface to melt the low-melting particles deposited onto the surface.

A textile fabric having increased improved surface properties, variously including surface stability, abrasion resistance, resistance to edge fraying, moisture control, and resistance to fluid penetration is created by introducing a plurality of particles including low-melting particles onto a top surface of the textile fabric. The top surface includes elevated areas, depressed areas, a plurality of surface fibers and gaps among the plurality the plurality of surface fibers. A desired pattern of particle deposition and depth of penetration from the top surface of the plurality of particles into the gaps is established, and heat is applied to the top surface to melt the low-melting particles deposited onto the surface.

An abrasion resistant pad for an automotive floor covering, characterised in that the pad comprises at least one layer comprising a thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE) material comprising crystalline polyesters and amorphous polyethers.