MULTILAYER OR MONOLAYER FLOORING

Abstract

The invention relates to a flooring comprising at least a VA layer, wherein said VA layer comprises: at least one thermoplastic polymer, at least one ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) polymer, at least one ethylene-butyl acrylate (EBA) polymer,
wherein the at least one EVA polymer of the VA layer contains overall at least 30 mol % of vinyl acetate monomer.

This flooring can be used in any kind of applications, preferably in any of the following: airplane, office, public transport, housing, industry, sports.

Claims

1. Flooring comprising at least a VA layer, wherein said VA layer comprises: at least one thermoplastic polymer, at least one ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) polymer, at least one ethylene-butyl acrylate (EBA) polymer, wherein the at least one EVA polymer of the VA layer contains overall at least 30 mol % of vinyl acetate monomer.

2. Flooring according to claim 1, characterized in that the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polypropylene copolymers (PP), high density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG), ethylene-octene copolymers (EO), and mixtures thereof.

3. Flooring according to claim 1, characterized in that the VA layer further comprises at least one compatibilizing agent and/or at least one filler coupling agent.

4. Flooring according to claim 1, characterized in that the VA layer further comprises: at least one compatibilizing agent, which is selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride grafted polymers and glycidyl methacrylate grafted polymers, and/or at least one filler coupling agent, which is selected from the group of organo silicones like alkoxy silane, organo silane, silicone oligomers, silanols, siloxanes, silyl chlorides and silyl hydrides.

5. Flooring according to claim 1, characterized in that the VA layer further comprises between 1 and 9 wt % of at least one compatibilizing and/or at least one filler coupling agent, by weight as compared to the weight of the VA layer, preferably between 3 and 5 wt %.

6. Flooring according to claim 1, characterized in that the VA layer further comprises at least one homogeneizing agent.

7. Flooring according to claim 1, characterized in that the VA layer further comprises at least one homogeneizing agent, which is a styrenic block copolymers selected from the group consisting of styrene ethylene butylene styrene copolymer, styrene ethylene propylene styrene copolymer, styrene butadiene styrene copolymer, styrene isoprene styrene copolymer.

8. Flooring according to claim 1, characterized in that the VA layer further comprises between 1 and 10 wt % of at least one homogeneizing agent, by weight as compared to the weight of the VA layer, preferably between 4 and 7 wt %.

9. Flooring according to claim 1, characterized in that the VA layer further comprises at least one filler.

10. Flooring according to claim 1, characterized in that the VA layer further comprises at least one filler, which is selected from the group consisting of chalk, kaolin, talcum, alumina trihydrate, magnesium hydroxide, hydroxyapatite, glimmer, graphite, microspheres, titanium dioxide, dolomite, antimony trioxide, zinc borate, zinc stannate and zinc hydroxy stannate.

11. Flooring according to claim 1, characterized in that the VA layer further comprises between 20 and 70 wt % of at least one filler, by weight as compared to the weight of the VA layer, preferably between 45 and 55 wt %.

12. Flooring according to claim 1, characterized in that the VA layer is homogeneous.

13. Flooring according to claim 1, characterized in that the VA layer contains by weight as compared to the weight of the VA layer: between 5 and 20 wt % of at least one thermoplastic polymer, between 5 and 20 wt % of at least one ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) polymer, between 5 and 30 wt % of at least one ethylene-butyl acrylate (EBA) polymer, between 1 and 9 wt % of at least one compatibilizing agent and/or at least one filler coupling agent, between 1 and 10 wt % of at least one homogeneizing agent, between 20 and 70 wt % of at least one filler.

14. Flooring according to claim 1, characterized in that the VA layer is free of any fibrous backing or free of poly(vinyl chloride).

15. Flooring according to claim 1, characterized in that the flooring is a monolayer flooring made of the VA layer.

Description

EXAMPLES

[0079] Eight monolayer floorings have been prepared according to the invention. Their respective compositions are listed in table 1. The monolayers are made a VA layer.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 flooring composition Flooring 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 TP 10.sup.(2) 10.sup.(1) 10.sup.(2) 10.sup.(1) 9.sup.(1) 9.sup.(1) 10.sup.(1) 10.sup.(1) EBA.sup.(g) 18 19 19 24 22.5 22.5 19 19 EVA 13.sup.(3) 14.sup.(3) 14.sup.(3) 14.sup.(4) 10.sup.(3) 10.sup.(3) 9.sup.(4) + 10.sup.(5) 9.sup.(4) + 10.sup.(5) Homogenizer.sup.(c) 4 5 5 5.5 5.5 Compatibilizer 2.5.sup.(8) 2.sup.(8) 2.sup.(8) 2.sup.(8) 3.sup.(7) 3.sup.(6) 2.sup.(8) 2.sup.(8) Filler 1.sup.(a) 29.5 29.5 29.5 29.5 29.1 29.1 30 29.5 Filler 2.sup.(b) 24.3 19.6 19.6 19.6 20 20 19.1 19.1 Lubricant.sup.(d) 0.6 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 Stabilizer.sup.(e) 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 Filler coupling 0.5 agent.sup.(f) TP = thermoplastic polymer .sup.(a)chalk .sup.(b)kaolin .sup.(c)SEBS: linear triblock copolymer based on styrene and ethylene/butylene .sup.(d)calcium stearate .sup.(e)pentaerythritol tetrakis 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate; CAS number: 6683-19-8 .sup.(f)ultra-high molecular weight siloxane polymer dispersed in ethylene vinyl acetate polymer .sup.(g)copolymer consisting of ethylene and butyl acrylate .sup.(1)polypropylene copolymer .sup.(2)high-density polyethylene .sup.(3)ethylene-vinylacetate copolymer .sup.(4)ethylene-vinylacetate copolymer .sup.(5)ethylene-vinylacetate copolymer .sup.(6)terpolymer of ethylene, acrylic ester and glycidyl methacrylate .sup.(7)SEBS polymer with maleic anhydride (MA) grafted .sup.(8)modified polyethylene grafted with maleic anhydride (MA)

[0080] Floorings 1-8 have been calendered at 170 C. Their properties are listed in Table 2.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 properties of floorings 1-8. Flooring 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Tensile 6.66 8.14 5.16 8.85 7.89 8.14 8.71 7.68 Strength (N/mm.sup.2) Elongation 87.26 152.54 241.65 126.94 127.58 151.75 152.73 174.86 at break (%) 1% 3.35 2.9 3.11 3.58 2.11 2.54 3.81 4.04 Modulus (N/mm) Torsion 79 78 73 67 78 65 65.8 66 () Density 1.421 1.3459 1.3467 1.3474 1.3713 1.3658 1.3603 1.3416 (g/cm.sup.3) Thickness 2 2 1.98 2.01 1.99 1.9 2.04 2.09 (mm) Weight 2842.08 2691.84 2693.44 2694.72 2742.56 2731.6 2420.64 2683.1 (g/m.sup.2) Shore D 38.97 38.93 38.7 41.9 40.3 40.1 42.85 42.38

[0081] As shown in Table 2, these eight flooring according to the invention exhibit sufficient properties in terms of mechanical strength, rigidity and resistance to scratches.

[0082] To illustrate the influence of the VA-content of the VA layer varnish adhesion and glue adhesion, a comparative example was prepared. VA-content influences surface free energy which is known to be a prerequisite for varnish adhesion and glue adhesion.

[0083] In a first example, a monolayer flooring consisting in a VA layer according to the invention and comprising 13 wt % of EVA with 28% VA-content has been prepared. Gluing strength was measured according to EN1372:2015. This VA layer obtained a gluing strength of 0.27 N/mm.

[0084] A second monolayer flooring consisting of a VA layer according to the invention and comprising 14 wt % of EVA with 50% VA-content has been prepared. This second VA layer obtained a gluing test value of 0.75 N/mm.