PANEL FOR FORMING A FLOOR OR WALL COVERING

Abstract

The invention relates to a panel, such as a floor panel, wall panel, or a ceiling panel, comprising at least one core layer and at least one decorative top layer, wherein at least one core layer comprises a significant of natural fibers having an average fiber length of at least 4 mm.

Claims

1. A panel, such as a floor panel, wall panel, or a ceiling panel, comprising: at least one core layer; and at least one decorative top layer; wherein at least one core layer comprises 1 wt % to 30 wt % of microfibrillated cellulose fibrils based on total weight of the at least one core layer, and wherein an average fibril length of the microfibrillated cellulose fibrils is at least 10 micrometers.

2. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the microfibrillated cellulose fibrils form natural anchors or entanglement-enabling mechanisms in the at least one core layer.

3. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the average fibril length of the microfibrillated cellulose fibrils is at least 100 micrometers, preferably at least 300 micrometers.

4. The panel according to claim 1, wherein an average fibril diameter of the microfibrillated cellulose fibrils is at most 50 nanometers, more preferably at most 20 nanometers, most preferably at most 10 nanometers.

5. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the at least one core layer further comprises 20 wt % to 70 wt % of cellulose fibers, based on total weight of core layer, wherein at least 20 wt %, and preferably at least 50 wt % of the cellulose fibers, based on total weight of the cellulose fibers, has an average fiber length of at least 4 mm.

6. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the microfibrillated cellulose fibrils and/or cellulose fibers form interconnected structures, optionally wherein the interconnected structures have a branching or dendritic appearance or wherein the interconnected structures are three-dimensional structures that resemble the branches of a tree or the dendrites of a neuron.

7. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the core layer comprises 70 wt. % to 99 wt. % of at least one inorganic material comprising at least one mineral and/or at least one ceramic material, based on total weight of the core layer.

8. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the core layer comprises cross-linking agents selected from polyethyleneimine, chitosan and/or tannic acid.

9. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the panel has a swelling rate of less than 5%, more preferably less than 4%, most preferably less than 3% when tested according to ISO 24336/NALFA 3.2.

10. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the at least one core layer of the panel has an ash content of less than 10 wt. %, more preferably less than 7 wt. %, most preferably less than 5 wt. %, preferably according to ASTM D1102 based on total weight of the core layer.

11. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the at least one core layer of the panel has a shrinking rate of less than 5%, most preferably less than 3%.

12. The panel according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the cellulose fibers are non-coniferous fibers, in particular non-coniferous fibers having an average fiber length of at least 4 mm.

13. The panel according to claim 12, wherein the non-coniferous fibers are chosen from abaca, hemp, hemp bast, Hesperaloe changii, seed flax, cotton, Hesperaloe funifera, or any combination thereof.

14. The panel according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the microfibrillated cellulose fibrils and/or at least part of the cellulose fibers have an average length to average diameter ratio of at least 100:1, preferably at least 135:1, more preferably at least 150:1.

15. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the panel has a modulus of elasticity (MOE) in the range of 4000 to 8000 MPa in particular when tested according to EN 310 or ASTM D790.

16. The panel according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the microfibrillated cellulose fibrils and/or the cellulose fibers comprise at least one natural material chosen from at least one pulp material, at least one fibrous material, at least one non-wood fibrous material, at least one agro-fiber material, at least one bamboo species, at least one kraft material, or any combination or derivative thereof.

17. The panel according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the microfibrillated cellulose fibrils and/or at least part of the cellulose fibers comprise at least one natural material chosen from Abaca, Hemp, Hemp bast, Hesperaloe changii, Seed flax, Cotton, Hesperaloe funifera, Eucalyptus, Kenaf, Kenaf bast, Sisal, Yucca elata, Albardine (Lygeum spartum), Ceiba, kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra), Paper-mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera), Ramie (Boehmeria nivea), Raphia (Raphia hookeri), Sabai (Eulaliopsis binata), Sidal (Agava sislana), Sunn (Crotaria juncea), Common reed (Phragmites communis), Cotton lint (Gossypium spp.), Flax (Linum usitatissimum), Jute (Corchrous caspsularis), Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus), Coir, Esparto, Arundo donax, or any combination, waste, and/or byproduct thereof.

18. The panel according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the microfibrillated cellulose fibrils and/or at least part of the cellulose fibers comprises at least one natural material chosen from Northern Hardwood Kraft (NHWK or NBHK), Northern Softwood Kraft (NSWK or NBSK), Softwood, Southern Softwood Kraft (SSWK), West Coast Softwood Kraft (WCSK), Coniferous wood, Deciduous wood, hardwood, Bamboo, or any combination, waste, and/or byproduct thereof.

19. The panel according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the microfibrillated cellulose fibrils and/or at least part of the cellulose fibers comprise at least one natural material chosen from Wheat (Triticum sativum), Cereal straw, Corn straw, Wheat straw, rice straw, Sugar cane (Sacchrum officiarum), Rice (Oryza sativa), Sugar cane, bagasse, sorghum stalks, Corn (Zea mays), or any combination, waste, and/or byproduct thereof.

20-38. (canceled)

39. A method for producing a panel, in particular a floor, wall or ceiling panel, preferably according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: a) providing a composition comprising 1 wt % to 30 wt % of microfibrillated cellulose fibrils based on total weight of the composition, and/or comprising 50 wt % to 70 wt % cellulose fibers, wherein at least 40 wt % and preferably at least 50 wt % of the cellulose fibers have an average fiber length of at least 4 mm; b) subjecting the composition to a force having a pressure in particular of at least 7 MPa such that a core layer is obtained; and c) attaching at least one decorative top layer to the upper core surface of the layer, preferably by applying heat and/or pressure.

40-43. (canceled)

Description

[0116] The invention will be further elucidated by means of non-limiting exemplary embodiments illustrated in the following figures, in which FIG. 1 shows a possible embodiment of a panel according to the present invention.

[0117] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a possible embodiment of a panel according to the present invention. The panel comprises a substrate or a core layer 100, a decorative top layer 101, an optionally at least one coating layer 102, and an optional backing layer 103. The decorative top layer 101 is provided on top of the core layer 100. The at least one coating layer 102 provided on the top surface of the decorative top layer 101. Optionally, a backing layer 103 is provided at the bottom part or bottom surface of the core layer 100. In the shown embodiment, the top surface of the coating layer 102 comprises embossing 104. The embossing 104 can be tactile features, impressed texture, depressions, or embossed portions. At least part of the embossing 104 can have a depth in the range of 0.05 to 0.4 mm. It is also conceivable that at least part of the embossing 104 has a depth of 0.1 to 0.2 mm and/or from 0.2 to 0.3 mm.

[0118] It will be clear that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which are illustrated and described here, but that countless variants are possible within the framework of the attached claims, which will be obvious to the person skilled in the art. In this case, it is conceivable for different inventive concepts and/or technical measures of the above-described variant embodiments to be completely or partly combined without departing from the inventive idea described in the attached claims.

[0119] The verb comprise and its conjugations as used in this patent document are understood to mean not only comprise, but to also include the expressions contain, substantially contain, formed by and conjugations thereof.