Recyclable single polymer floorcovering article

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11084186-B2
Application number	US-201916561158-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 5, 2019
Priority date	Mar 12, 2013
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

This invention relates to tufted floorcovering articles, including carpet tiles and broadloom carpet. In particular, this invention relates to tufted floorcovering articles made from the family of polymers known as polyester. Specifically, this invention relates to tufted carpet tile products made from polyester. The polyester carpet tiles meet commercial performance specifications and are fully end-of-life recyclable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A depolymerization process for recycling a floor covering article comprising substantially 100% polyester material, said process comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a floorcovering article comprised of substantially 100% polyester material;
(b) shredding the floorcovering article;
(c) placing the material into a bath solution that optionally contains at least one catalyst;
(d) subjecting the material in the bath solution to heat and pressure to form polyester monomer material;
(e) polymerizing the polyester monomer material to form polyester polymer material; and
(f) incorporating the polyester material in a new polyester-containing article.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein depolymerization is achieved via methanolysis.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein depolymerization is achieved via glycolysis.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein depolymerization is achieved via hydrolysis.

Assignees

• Milliken & Co

Inventors

• Williams Dale R
• Wallen Joseph
• Dawson Ty Grant
• Sellman Jr Nils David
• Mcbride Daniel Taylor
• Royer Joseph R
• Sanchez John L

Classifications

• Y02W30/62

  Plastics recycling; Rubber recycling · CPC title

• A47G27/02 Primary

  Carpets; Stair runners; Bedside rugs; Foot mats (mat-like foot scrapers A47L23/22 {; doormats A47L23/26}) · CPC title

• D06N7/0081

  with at least one extra fibrous layer at the backing, e.g. stabilizing fibrous layer, fibrous secondary backing · CPC title

• B29B9/06

  in the form of filamentary material, e.g. combined with extrusion · CPC title

• Y10T428/23979

  Particular backing structure or composition · CPC title