Patent ID: 8075987

Claim:
A fiber-reinforced, flexible matrix, wherein said matrix comprises: about 10% to about 75% by weight of waste scrap carpeting, wherein said carpeting has a first polymer backing and carpet fibers from a polymer having a melting point higher than the melting point of polyvinyl chloride and where said waste scrap carpeting comprises about 50% to about 80% by weight of non-melting filler materials including inorganic fillers based on the weight of said backing; and about 25% to about 90% by weight of a flexible second polymer, wherein said matrix is a substantially continuous phase of said first and second polymers having said carpet fibers and inorganic fillers dispersed therein, wherein said substantially continuous phase is formed by melting said first and second polymers and wherein said carpet fibers are not melted, and said matrix is a substantially homogenous mixture of polyvinyl chloride and discrete carpet fibers having a length of about ⅛ to about 2 inches.