Patent ID: 6245697
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: C08F,Y10T

Abstract:
A flexible mat for absorbing liquids for use on floors and other surfaces, the mat comprising:a) a waterproof component;b) a polymeric foam sheet having a front side and a back side wherein the waterproof component is attached to the back side such that the back side is liquid impervious, and the polymeric foam sheet comprises a polymerized water-in-oil emulsion having:1) an oil phase comprising:a) from about 85 to about 98% by weight of a monomer component, said monomer component comprising:i) from about 45% to about 70%, by weight of the monomer component, of a substantially water-insoluble, monofunctional monomer capable of forming a homopolymer having a Tg of about 25.degree. C. or less;ii) from about 25% to about 45%, by weight of the monomer component, of a substantially water-insoluble, monofunctional comonomer capable of imparting toughness about equivalent to that provided by styrene;iii) from about 3% to about 25%, by weight of the monomer component, of a first substantially water-insoluble, polyfunctional crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of divinylbenzenes, trivinylbenzenes, divinyltoluenes, divinylxylenes, divinylnaphthalenes divinylalkylbenzenes, divinylphenanthrenes, divinylbiphenyls, divinyldiphenylmethanes, divinylbenzyls, divinylphenylethers, divinyldiphenylsulfides, divinylfurans, divinylsulfide, divinylsulfone, and mixtures thereof; andiv) from 0 to about 15%, by weight of the monomer component, of a second substantially water-insoluble, polyfunctional crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of polyfunctional acrylates, methacrylates, acrylamides, methacrylamides, and mixtures thereof;v) wherein the weight ratio of the monofunctional comonomer capable of imparting toughness (ii) to the sum of the first and second polyfunctional crosslinking agents (iii+iv) is at least about 1:1;b) from about 2% to about 15%, by weight of the oil phase, of an emulsifier component which is soluble in the oil phase and which is suitable for forming a stable water-in-oil emulsion; and2) a water phase comprising from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of a water-soluble electrolyte; and3) a volume to weight ratio of water phase to oil phase of at least about 12:1;wherein said sheet has a thickness between about 1.5 mm and about 5 mm.