Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Structurally defined web or sheet – Including components having same physical characteristic in...
Patent
1994-06-21
1996-08-20
Sluby, P. C.
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Structurally defined web or sheet
Including components having same physical characteristic in...
428323, 4284231, 428518, B32B 2706, C08L 2706
Patent
active
055477410
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to vinyl floor coverings with improved anti-slip characteristics, stain resistance and scratch resistance, particularly to such coverings in sheet or tile form and especially to flexible floor coverings and to floor coverings which have a clear wear layer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vinyl sheet and vinyl tile floor coverings are well-known and have enjoyed considerable commercial success. They are based on homopolymers or copolymers of vinyl chloride, for example vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymers. The homopolymers and the copolymers are both commonly referred to as PVC resins or PVC polymers. Compositions which comprise PVC resin are commonly referred to as PVC compositions or simply as PVC. The amounts of the various components in a PVC composition are commonly expressed either as percentages by weight on the whole composition or as parts per hundred by weight of PVC resin (phr). PVC compositions which contain little or no plasticiser (for example up to about 2% by weight) are relatively rigid and brittle, and they are commonly referred to as rigid PVC, unplasticised PVC or UPVC. PVC compositions which contain relatively large amounts of plasticiser (for example around 10%-40% by weight or 10 to 50 phr) are more flexible and have a lower modulus, and they are commonly referred to as flexible PVC, plasticised PVC or PPVC. The plasticiser may be a simple ester plasticiser, also known as a monomeric plasticiser. Rigid and flexible PVC have significantly different properties, technology and end-uses. Vinyl sheet and vinyl tile floor coverings are based on flexible PVC.
PVC Technology, ed. W. V. Titow, Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, 4th Edition ( 1984 ), describes the manufacture, properties and uses of PVC. It uses the same terminology as that defined above. An article entitled "Vinyl Chloride Polymers" in Encyclopaedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, Wiley-Interscience, 3rd Edition, Supplement Volume (1989), pages 822-889, also describes the manufacture, properties and uses of PVC. An article entitled "Flooring Materials" in Encyclopaedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, Wiley-Interscience, 3rd edition, Volume 7 (1987), pages 233-247, describes the manufacture and uses of vinyl sheet and vinyl tile floor coverings. Vinyl sheet and vinyl tile floor coverings are usually composite materials constructed from a number of layers, each layer being specially formulated for a particular duty. The layers are generally films which are laminated together. Thus, the topmost layer, which is commonly called the wear layer, is formulated for good resistance to abrasion and wear. In one known form of construction the wear layer is transparent, so that the colouring or patterning of lower layers can be seen through it, and it may then be referred to as a clear wear layer. Flexible PVC compositions for use in a clear wear layer preferably have high clarity and transparency. It is also important that at least the upper layer of the wear layer should have good anti-slip characteristics. Known flexible vinyl floor coverings generally have good anti-slip characteristics when dry, but they may be less satisfactory when wet. Floor coverings are also known which have a wear layer of a filled PVC composition. Such filled PVC compositions contain a large amount, typically 200-500 phr, of solid fillers such as whiting and asbestos. Floor coverings of this type have good anti-slip properties, but they are not flexible and they have a matt appearance which is generally less aesthetically desirable than that of flexible floor coverings which have a clear or lightly-pigmented wear layer.
Vinyl floor coverings with a polyurethane coating are known. They are mentioned in Encyclopaedia of Polymer Science and Engineering (Wiley-Interscience) in the aforementioned article entitled "Flooring Materials" and in an article entitled "Polyurethanes" in Volume 13 (1988), pages 243-303. Such coatings are said to possess good gloss retention, stain resistance and wear characteristics.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3678129 (1972-07-01), Fischer
patent: 3857915 (1974-12-01), Crowley
patent: 3882191 (1975-05-01), Balatoni et al.
patent: 3991005 (1976-11-01), Wallace
patent: 4337296 (1982-06-01), Varadhachary
patent: 4678528 (1987-07-01), Smith et al.
patent: 4778547 (1988-10-01), Becker et al.
P. V. Foote, Review of Current Literature on the Paint and Allied Industries, vol. XL, No. 295, Jan. 1967, p. 186.
Extract from the brochure entitled "Additives and Modifiers for PVC and other plastics", published by Bayer AG, KU Business Group, Leverkusen, Germany, page entitled Baymod PU (May, 1988).
Datasheet entitled "Baymod PU", published by Bayer AG, KU Business Group, Leverkusen, Germany, page entitled Baymod PU (Sep. 1988).
Sluby P. C.
The Amtico Company Limited
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