Nonwoven fibrous backing for vinyl wallcover

Claim 1

A wallcover backing for strippable vinyl wallcovering comprised of a dimensionally stable unitary, multistratum, nonwoven fibrous web having a fibrous top stratum for secure nondelaminating engagement with a vinyl layer superimposed thereon and a fibrous base stratum integrated with said top stratum for strippable adhering engagement to a wall or the like, said top stratum comprising at least 5 percent by weight of the web and having a smooth exposed surface for direct adhesion to the vinyl layer, said multistratum web including about 15-45 percent by weight of a binder, at least said base stratum containing an adhesive penetration inhibitor to inhibit migration of a wallcover adhesive into the fibrous web and to promote strippability of the web from the wall, said top stratum including up to at least 90 percent by weight of a fusable thermoplastic fibrous material, said base stratum including at least 15 percent by weight of a synthetic fiber thermally stable up to at least the fusion temperature of said fusable fibrous material, said synthetic fibers having free ends at the surfaces of the base stratum, said top stratum being present in an amount sufficient to completely cover all the synthetic fiber free ends confronting said top stratum.