Substrate-free decorative surface covering

摘要

The present invention relates to a process to manufacture a substrate-free decorative surface covering, having a relief-like pattern, comprising a non-uniform arrangement of unfused and discrete colored polymer-based particles (9, 10), the particles are obtained by the shredding of a polymer based sheet, and the particles are non-uniformly embedded in, and principally surrounded by, a substantially transparent or translucent polymeric matrix 12.

主权项

1. Process to manufacture a substrate-free decorative surface covering having a relief-like appearance, said process comprising the steps of:
manufacturing a colored polymer-based sheet, cutting said sheet into particles, scattering said particles onto a band-shaped moving carrier, the band-shaped moving carrier being part of a production device, downstream of said scattering of said particles onto said band-shaped moving carrier, depositing a polymer based substantially pigment-free and substantially filler-free powder onto said particles, so that said powder covers said particles and fills the space or interstices between said particles; and heat treating said particles and said substantially pigment-free and substantially filler-free powder and compacting them in a press to form said surface covering, whereby said powder transforms into a transparent or translucent matrix in which the unfused and discrete particles are non-uniformly dispersed and embedded; the non-uniform dispersion and embedment of the unfused and discrete particles being such that the particles have a lower density towards the top surface of the transparent or translucent matrix and a higher density towards the bottom surface of the transparent or translucent matrix.