Vinyl heat welding rod for seam sealing vinyl resilient flooring, whether in sheet or tile form, are used to obtain a homogeneous, monolithic appearing surface. This rod is specifically made to duplicate the appearance of the flooring material. For a chip-image flooring structure, a sheet of multicolored chips having a similar, but different formulation from that of the flooring material is prepared and the sheet is cut into suitable strips, heat pressed in a rod mold, end adhered or further molded to form the desired length, and used as a vinyl heat welding rod for sealing seams in flooring. Thus, the chip pattern is evident in the seam area and does not appear different when compared to the adjacent surface.

This invention relates to investment casting compositions comprising (i) a refractory material, e.g., a ceramic material, and (ii) a soluble core material comprising one or more block polymers characterized by an ABCBA structure. This invention also relates to methods for investment casting and to the manufacture of molded articles. The soluble core materials exhibit desirable breaking strength, dissolution rate and surface characteristics.

The present invention relates to an improved water soluble crayon composition comprised of at least one ethoxylated alcohol; optionally, at least one water soluble material selected from the group consisting of an ethoxylated sorbitan fatty acid ester, ester derivatives thereof, phenols and polymeric derivatives; at least one pigment or dye; and, optionally, at least one filler. The improved crayon composition does not contain polyethylene glycols and, thus, exhibits little or no ghosting or residue left on a surface when washed with water.

The present invention provides a washable marking composition, e.g., a crayon composition, comprising an alkoxylated fatty acid, a fatty alcohol, and a pigment. The marking composition preferably further includes a filler. An example of a preferred alkoxylated fatty acid is ethoxylated stearic acid and an example of a preferred fatty alcohol is stearyl alcohol. The marks made by the composition can be easily washed off surfaces such as fabrics, wallpapers, skin, and painted surfaces. The present invention further provides a method of producing a washable crayon comprising: (a) providing an alkoxylated fatty acid, a fatty alcohol, and a pigment; (b) melt-blending said alkoxylated fatty acid, fatty alcohol, and pigment, to provide a melt-blend; and (c) shaping the melt-blend in the form of a crayon.