| 20110159208 | IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF B-STAGE RESIN IMPREGNATED PAPERS OR NON-WOVENS - A method of manufacturing a b-stage resin impregnated décor paper that is suitable for inclusion in a decorative or industrial laminate, includes impregnating a décor print base paper with a resin carried by a solvent, which resin includes one or more of melamine formaldehyde, urea formaldehyde, and phenol formaldehyde or any combination of these. Thereafter the resin impregnated paper is irradiated with near infra-red (NIR) radiation selected to partially remove solvent by evaporation of the solvent, whereby to produce a partially dried and partially cured printable b-stage resin impregnated paper. The partially dried and partially cured printable b-stage resin impregnated paper is then printed to obtain a décor paper suitable for subsequent final curing in the formation of a decorative or industrial laminate. Apparatus is also disclosed, as is a method that entails impregnating a paper with an aqueous urea solution and irradiating the wet impregnated paper with near infra-red (NIR) radiation. | 06-30-2011 |