Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the manufacture of surface covering tile (SCT) comprising the steps of: (i) providing a surface layer comprising a film having a melting point of above 200° C.; (ii) printing a decorative pattern on the back side of the surface layer; (iii) providing a substrate layer comprising a polymer and a filler; (iv) bonding the back side of the surface layer onto the substrate layer and embossing the upper side of the surface layer in a hot press at a temperature and a pressure suitable for deforming the substrate layer. The invention also concerns a grained SCT comprising: a substrate layer comprising a polymer and a filler; and a surface layer comprising a film having a melting point of above 200° C., wherein the upper side of said surface layer is embossed and the back side is printed with an ink.

Abstract: The invention relates to a floorboard for a flooring system comprising a plurality of mechanically connectable floorboards. The floorboard comprises a first connecting profile along a first side and a second connecting profile along a second side that is parallel to the first side. The first connecting profile is configured for locking engagement with the second connecting profile of another floorboard both horizontally and vertically. The first connecting profile comprises a protruding strip at the bottom face of the floorboard, the protruding strip terminating outwardly in a locking element projecting towards the top face of the floor board. The second connecting profile comprises an overhanging tongue delimiting at its bottom a recess for receiving the protruding strip, the recess comprising a locking groove configured for cooperating with the locking element so as to provide a horizontal locking effect.

Abstract: A decorative surface covering element has a height of 4 mm or less from its top surface to the bottom surface. The surface covering element is configured as a multi-layered compound with a polymer-based core layer laminated between a backing layer and a wear layer, the core layer comprising a core material having a lesser shore hardness than the backing layer and the wear layer. The surface covering element comprises a first connecting profile, integral with the multi-layered compound, that extends along at least one of the edges of the surface covering element. The first connecting profile comprises at least one protrusion realized in the core layer, the protrusion having side surfaces for being seized between opposite surfaces of a recess in a second connecting profile, configured for mating with the first connecting profile, of another decorative surface covering element.

Abstract: A synthetic multilayer floor covering has floor panels, each of which comprises at least a first and a second edge with a first and a second connecting profile, respectively. The connecting profiles are complementarily shaped so that adjacent floor panels may be coupled to one another. The first connecting profile of a first floor panel and/or the second connecting profile of a second floor panel is deformed when connecting profiles become coupled with each other. The deformation comprises a component that persists as the connecting profiles remain coupled. The persistent deformation results in stress within the connecting profiles, which are made of viscoelastic material. That material undergoes significant stress relaxation. At standard ambient temperature and pressure, the stress within the first and/or the second connecting profile decreases by at least 40% within 12 hours after the connecting profiles have become coupled.

Abstract: A PVC-free surface covering comprises at least one layer of a thermoplastic composition. The composition comprises a polymer matrix and at least one filler. The polymer matrix comprises at least one ionomer and/or at least one acid copolymer; and at least one styrenic thermoplastic polymer.

Abstract: The present invention is related to improved phthalate-free polyvinyl chloride plastisol compositions for the production of decorative surface coverings, in particular floor and wall coverings with low emission of volatile organic compounds, to a method for the preparation of said phthalate-free PVC plastisols and to a process for the production of said surface coverings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a decorative welding rod, and to a method to produce a decorative welding rod, comprising a gelified plastisol-based composition comprising a PVC resin in a benzoate plasticizer, and unfused and coloured PVC-based particles.

Abstract: A process for producing a surface covering with an embossed printed surface is described. A substrate (16) is continuously moved through a production line, and this substrate (16) is first provided, in a printing equipment (12), with a printed pattern and thereafter, in an embossing equipment (14), with an embossed pattern, which is registered with the printed pattern. The printing equipment (12) produces the printed pattern in-line with the production of the embossed pattern. During printing in the printing equipment (12), the printed pattern is stretched or compressed, dynamically responsive to indicators of misalignments between the printed pattern and the embossed pattern, so as to correct or prevent the misalignments. A production line for carrying out this process is also proposed.

Abstract: The present invention describes a floor decoration kit comprising two elements, on the one hand a removable surface covering (2) and on the other an anchoring sublayer (3) while the composition of said anchoring sublayer (3) is PVC-based and comprises at least 60% by weight of a plasticizer.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the manufacture of surface covering tile (SCT) comprising the steps of: (i) providing a surface layer comprising a film having a melting point of above 200° C.; (ii) printing a decorative pattern on the back side of the surface layer; (iii) providing a substrate layer comprising a polymer and a filler; (iv) bonding the back side of the surface layer onto the substrate layer and embossing the upper side of the surface layer in a hot press at a temperature and a pressure suitable for deforming the substrate layer. The invention also concerns a grained SCT comprising: a substrate layer comprising a polymer and a filler; and a surface layer comprising a film having a melting point of above 200° C., wherein the upper side of said surface layer is embossed and the back side is printed with an ink.

Abstract: The present invention is related to decorative surface coverings, in particular floor or wall coverings, exhibiting low volatile organic compounds (VOC) emission, comprising one or more adjacent plasticized polyvinyl chloride layers and a polyurethane top-layer, said top-layer being obtained from radiation curing a 100% solids polyurethane formulation.

Abstract: A method for producing a printed resilient floor covering includes digitally printing a decorative layer onto the top surface of a support layer or the bottom surface of a wear layer with a UV curable ink; UV curing the printed decorative layer; laminating the support layer and the transparent wear layer together so that the printed decorative layer is sandwiched between the support layer and the transparent wear layer. Alternatively, the method comprises: digitally printing a decorative layer onto a decorative layer support film with a UV curable ink; UV curing the printed decorative layer on the decorative layer support film; laminating a support layer, the decorative layer support film and a transparent wear layer together, so that the decorative layer support film with the printed decorative layer is sandwiched between the support layer and the transparent wear layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multilayer surface covering (1) comprising a PVC-free support layer (2), a decorative layer (5), a transparent wear layer (4) and a coating layer (3) between said support layer (2) and said decorative layer (5), said coating layer (3) having a thickness of at least 5 ?m and a surface tension equal or higher to the surface tension of the decorative layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a PVC-free multiple layer surface covering comprising at least one layer of a thermoplastic composition, the thermoplastic composition comprising a polymer-based matrix representing 100 parts in weight and comprising one or more olefin-based polymer(s) and one or more anhydride copolymer(s), said one or more anhydride copolymer(s) representing between 5 and 40 parts in weight of the polymer-based matrix, one or more filler(s) representing in weight at least 100 parts per 100 parts of said polymer-based matrix, one or more basic or amphoteric metal oxide(s) representing between 5 and 40 parts in weight per 100 parts of said polymer-based matrix.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substructure unit (1) for a flooring system (10), said substructure unit (1) comprising a first series (2) of panels (3) arranged in parallel and being fixed under a second series (4) of panels (3) arranged in parallel, said first series and second series (2 and 4) of panels (3) being arranged in a criss-cross manner to form a diagonal lattice, said panels (3) of said first and second series (2, 4) having bevelled cut ends (5, 6) extending outwardly from said lattice to form coupling means to interconnect at least two substructure units (1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multicolor decorative welding rod (3) and a method to produce a multicolor decorative welding rod, said welding rod comprising a PVC-based component A and a PVC-based component B, in a ratio of component A/component B comprised between 10/90 to 50/50, said components A and B being associated in such a way that the composition of said component A comprises a PVC having a higher melt viscosity and/or a higher melting point, than the PVC of said component B, said components A and B being of a different color.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flooring system base unit (1), made of a resilient material, and comprising a first portion (3) having a first surface (4) which, in use, contacts the floor to cover, and a second surface (5), opposite to said first surface (4), a second portion (7) set above said first portion (3), at least one space (9) provided on said second surface (5) of said first portion (3) and provided by a side edge of said second portion (7), anchoring means provided through said first and second portions (3, 7) to anchor said base unit (1) to the floor to cover.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a PVC-free multiple layer surface covering comprising at least one layer of a thermo plastic composition, the thermoplastic composition comprising a polymer-based matrix representing 100 parts in weight and comprising one or more olefin-based polymer(s) and one or more anhydride copolymer(s), said one or more anhydride copolymer(s) rep resenting between 5 and 40 parts in weight of the polymer-based matrix, one or more filler(s) representing in weight at least 100 parts per 100 parts of said polymer-based matrix, one or more basic or amphoteric metal oxide(s) representing between 5 and 40 parts in weight per 100 parts of said polymer-based matrix.

Abstract: The present invention describes a floor decoration kit comprising two elements, on the one hand a removable surface covering (2) and on the other an anchoring sublayer (3) while the composition of said anchoring sublayer (3) is PVC-based and comprises at least 60% by weight of a plasticizer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of a surface covering comprising the steps of providing a PVC-based wear layer (1) substantially free of inorganic fillers, applying on said PVC-based layer (1) a top coating composition comprising polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and a silane compound comprising at least one amine function, heating said PVC-based layer (1) and said top coating composition at a temperature equal or superior to 150° C. to form a wear layer top coating (2).