Process of forming an embossed surface covering

A process of forming an embossed surface covering, which process comprises:

• (a) depositing a mechanically frothed foam or forming a chemically blown foam on a backing, at least a portion of said foam being capable of being cross-linked, the foam comprising at least one polymer and having at least a first phase region and a second phase region, both phase regions existing at least in the surface region of said foam;
• (1) the first phase region exhibiting a flow temperature above room temperature and being present in the foam in an effective amount to hold the compressed shape of the foam in step (c) below,
• (2) the second phase region remaining elastomeric at the flow temperature of the first phase region,
• (b) heating the foam to a temperature at least equal to the flow temperature of the first phase region;
• (c) compressing the heated foam sufficient to form a level print surface and cooling the foam in the compressed shape to a temperature below the flow temperature of the first phase region such that the first phase region holds the compression of the foam upon removal of the compressing force, thus forming a level, printable, compressed foam surface;
• (d) cross-linking a portion of the foam while the foam is in the compressed shape;
• and
• (e) reheating the resulting compressed foam to a temperature at least equal to the flow temprature of the first phase region to permit the noncross-linked portion of the compressed foam to return to substantially its precompressed shape.