1. Technical Field
This invention relates to skid resistant surfaces, particularly surfaces having exposed embedded elements such as particles of grit securely bonded to a metallic substrate and to the method of preparing such a surface.
2. Description of Related Art
This invention is directed to a new article of manufacture which can be used in a variety of applications to provide enhanced safety to persons walking, climbing, working or otherwise moving around on surfaces that may have a tendency to become slippery through repeated use, through spillage, or because the surfaces are wet. Catwalks, landings, walkways, workstations, ramps, ladders and stairs are just some of the places where the article prepared by this invention can be used. In addition it can be used in locations where operating equipment such as lifts, cranes, and towmotors move across such surfaces that tend to become slippery during use.
A variety of methods have traditionally been used to produce surfaces with skid resistant characteristics. The production of such surfaces using electric arc or gas flame spraying are shown in a number of references such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,852 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,137. The deposition of a metallic powder on a metal strip by electrostatic techniques using a gaseous aerosol is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,745,034. The use of ground rubber or cork, bonded by polyvinyl chloride, acrylic resins or polyisobutylene is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,575,780. U.S. Pat. No. 3,676,198 describes the application of granular bentonite to a substrate, with the bentonite admixed with a suitable adhesive. U.S. Pat. No. 4,243,696 describes a method for cascading a mixture of powdered resin and particulate material onto the surface of an article followed by heating to soften the resin and adhere the particles to the surface. U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,170 describes a coated abrasive article such as a sanding belt comprising a monolayer of grit particles adhered to a flexible backing using a make-coat layer and a size coat layer, either of which may contain epoxy resins.
Each of these processes or the resultant products have certain deficiencies. For example, the coated surface may not have adequate abrasion resistance, whereupon the surface is quickly abraded and the skid resistant characteristics are lost; the substrate and/or layers may be sufficiently thick so as to present a trip hazard when the product is mounted on stair treads, walkways, etc.; organic solvents may be required for production thus compelling special handling by personnel, and creating an environmental drawback; the surface may lack the ability to resist degradation when used in applications where it may be subjected to chemical spills, or environments where corrosive or other damaging vapors are present.