FOUNDATIONS 875 Latex

Carboxylated Styrene / Acrylate Latex

Moisture Barrier and Wet Strength Performance
Safety & Handling Considerations

Applications

FOUNDATIONS™ 875 High Performance Latex for Carpet offers properties not available in standard styrene-butadiene latexes. FOUNDATIONS 875 Latex is a high-solids acrylic latex that provides outstanding wet strength and moisture barrier properties. FOUNDATIONS 875 Latex provides superior delamination, tuft bind, and edge ravel values with a soft hand. The unique design of the polymer allows the formulator to incorporate post-industrial and/or post-consumer fillers into the backing compound. FOUNDATIONS 875 Latex can be run on existing carpet coaters with little to no modifications.

FOUNDATIONS 875 Latex is used primarily in the precoat compound for commercial carpet backing applications. FOUNDATIONS 875 Latex can also be used in synthetic grass and carpet tile with attached cushion applications.

Benefits

Moisture Barrier
Soft Hand
Excellent edge ravel
High Solids
Compatible with carpet coating chemistries
High strength when either dry or wet

Typical Latex Properties

Property	Value
Solids	57%
Particle Size	2600 Å
pH	8.3
Glass transition temperature (Tg)	2.0°C
Minimum film formation temperature (MFFT)	<32°F
Brookfield viscosity	950 cPs (#2 @ 50 rpm)
Specific Gravity	1.08
Carboxylation level	moderate

¹ Not to be construed as specifications.

Additional Information

Technical Data Sheet (54KB PDF)
Dow Latex Storage and Handling Guide (2.2MB PDF)

Contact Us for SDS Information.

Moisture Barrier and Wet Strength Performance

FOUNDATIONS 875 Latex has exceptional wet properties which produce beneficial results in applications where moisture penetration or wet extraction cleanings are a concern. A carpet backing with superior wet strength should be selected in installations with wet extraction cleanings and limited drying times are common. Figure 1 below shows the wet strength properties for FOUNDATIONS 875 Latex compared to other latexes.

For installations in which moisture penetration and wick back stains are a concern, a carpet backing with a moisture barrier should be used. FOUNDATIONS 875 Latex provides a moisture barrier which will help prevent spills from seeping into the carpet backing and sub-floor, where adequate cleaning is impossible.

Figure 1

Safety & Handling Considerations

Observation of reasonable care and cleanliness should avoid exposure problems in the handling of Dow latexes. While exposure to most latex products is a relatively low hazard to personnel, the best practice is to avoid human contact and to have workers wear the appropriate personal protective equipment per the product safety data sheet.

Dow latexes contain a biostat to prevent microbial growth when the product is shipped. Latexes are, however, an ideal nutrient medium for microbes, which can grow if conditions are suitable. To limit contamination by airborne microbes, tank hatches and covers should generally be kept closed. A bulk storage system should be cleaned on a regular basis. Generally, a six-month to one-year cleaning frequency is sufficient.

All Dow latexes are filtered during processing. They are also filtered just prior to loading. However, most latexes are excellent film formers and may develop skins or particles during shipping and storage. During storage, a skin layer usually forms on the surface of the latex exposed to air and acts as a floating cover that rises and falls with the level of the latex. Periodic circulation with jet-mixing has been shown to minimize this floating layer as well as skin formation on the walls. Skins and residue can be removed by filtering the latex just prior to use in the production plant. Latexes must be protected against freezing and against extended exposure to temperatures above 100ºF. The desired storage temperature is 40 – 90°F. Most Dow latexes are storage stable with a shelf life of at least six months. During periods of extended storage, latex may show tendencies to stratify (layer) or pH drift. Such tendencies are accelerated by storage at elevated temperatures. Stratification does not impact latex quality, and periodic recirculation of the latex in the storage tank usually prevents such separation. Occasionally, with long-term storage, a downward drift in pH might be observed and could indicate a product performance change. Latex performance can also be affected by cross contamination with other products or raw materials. Contact your Dow sales representative for assistance if necessary.

NOTICE: Any products with the prefix "XU", "XZ", "XQ", or "XG" are experimental and may not become available for commercial sale. No freedom from any patent owned by Dow or others is to be inferred. Because use conditions and applicable laws may differ from one location to another and may change with time, recipient is responsible for determining whether products and the information in this document are appropriate for recipient’s use and for ensuring that recipient’s workplace and disposal practices are in compliance with applicable laws and other governmental enactments. Dow assumes no obligation or liability for the information in this document. NO WARRANTIES ARE GIVEN; ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR USE FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPERSSLY EXCLUDED.

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