Surface coverings containing aluminum oxide

Details Surface coverings containing aluminum oxide Surface coverings containing aluminum oxide

1997-10-22

2001-09-18

Dixon, Merrick (Department: 1774)

Stock material or miscellaneous articles

Miscellaneous

C428S195100, C428S908800, C428S423100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06291078

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to surface coverings, such as resilient floor coverings or wallpaper, and further relates to methods of preparing the same. The present invention also relates to methods to improve wear and/or stain resistance to surface coverings.
2. Description of Related Art
Present surface coverings, such as resilient flooring, can contain a resilient support surface, a wear surface, and a wear layer top coat. The top coat, in situations where the surface covering is a resilient floor, is subjected to foot traffic and wear from carts and other heavy objects coming in contact with the wear layer top coat. As a result, the top coat deteriorates leading to the exposure of lower layers of the resilient floor such as the wear layer base coat, a print layer, or even the resilient support surface. When the lower layers are exposed and subjected to the environment including foot traffic and other objects, the resilient floor becomes unsightly (e.g., dirty, difficult to clean, and susceptible to stains) and can also be partially or completely destroyed.
While efforts have been made to create more resilient surface coverings, especially in the flooring industry, such efforts have not totally solved the problem of making the wear layer top coat more resilient to the environment it is subjected to. Efforts to make the top coat more resilient have included radiation curable urethane topcoat, waterbase urethane, acrylic, or melamine coatings and the like. However, none of these efforts have proven totally satisfactory. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved surface covering which is more resilient to wear and staining.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a feature of the present invention is to provide a surface covering which has improved wear and/or stain resistance.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention. The objectives and other advantages of the present invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the written description including the drawing and appended claims.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention relates to a surface covering comprising at least one layer which contains aluminum oxide. Preferably, the aluminum oxide is present in the outermost layer or the top coat layer.
The present invention further relates to a method to improve wear and/or stain resistance to a surface covering. This method includes the steps of adding an effective amount of aluminum oxide to a top coat layer or to a formulation which is used to form a top coat layer.
The invention further relates to a method of making a surface covering which includes the steps of forming a layer comprising aluminum oxide. Preferably, this layer is a top coat layer or the outermost layer.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are intended to provide further explanation of the present invention, as claimed.


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