FLAME RETARDANT CARPET PRODUCTS WITH COATING AND/OR ADHESIVE LAYERS FORMED FROM VINYL ACETATE/ETHLENE COPOLYMER DISPERSIONS

摘要

Disclosed are carpet products comprising at least one flexible substrate and at least one coating and/or adhesive layer associated with the at least one flexible substrate. The coating and/or adhesive layer is formed from an aqueous composition comprising: A) an emulsifier- stabilized vinyl acetate/ethylene (VAE) emulsion copolymer dispersion wherein the VAE copolymer therein comprises co-monomers which include at least vinyl acetate copolymerized with ethylene and optionally also with other additional functional and/or non- functional co-monomers; and B) at least one particulate filler material selected from particulate inorganic compounds and particulate plastic material. The vinyl acetate/ethylene copolymer in the copolymer dispersion has a selected ethylene content or glass transition temperature. It is also preferably substantially free of cross-linkable co-monomer moieties which generate formaldehyde upon curing and preferably has a particle size, dw, ranging from about 50 to about 500 nm. The carpet product is substantially free of polyvinyl chloride and bitumen and exhibits a Class Bl flame-retardancy in accordance with DIN 4102-14, corresponding to a critical heat flux of =about 4.5 kW/m2.