Eurofloor, S.a.

Other

Sommer S.a.

Daniel Marchal

Jean-Francois Courtoy

Albert Roussel

Rene DuForest

Dung V Dao

Process for producing floor or wall coverings and products obtained

A process for the manufacturing of plastisol based synthetic coverings (e.g. floor or wall coverings) having improved resistance to soiling; and the product produced from the process is presented. The synthetic covering utilizes a wear layer formed from a mixture comprising at least one silicone polymer and a cross-linking agent. Preferably, this mixture also includes a catalyst. The mixture is deposited onto a conventional support as a wear layer. The silicone polymer is then cross-linked and the wear layer undergoes pre-gelling and gelling.

Process for the manufacturing of synthetic coverings having improved

A process for the production of synthetic coverings for floors, walls, etc. which exhibit a cracked effect is presented. The process includes the step of depositing on a compatible substrate, a plastisol coating composition containing a gel previously prepared from a mixture of two materials, the mixture being comprised of (1) a solid sorbent agent and (2) a solvent which causes swelling by absorption of the solvent in and on the sorbent agent; or alternately, by an aqueous dispersion of a (1) dry mixture of PVC and of (2) a plasticizer containing at least one resin forming a gel in water. Subsequent to depositing this plastisol coating on the substrate, a thermal treatment for the formation of a film or for drying is carried out at a sufficient temperature whereby an irreversible process of preliminary gelling of the coating and shrinkage of the gel by desorption of the solvent from the sorbent agent or by evaporation of the water, respectively, simultaneously occurs. Thereafter, conventional finishing operations may be carried out on the synthetic coverings.

Process for the production of coverings exhibiting a cracked appearance

A process and product is presented for obtaining selective areas of distinctive appearance, i.e., matting on synthetic coverings. The process includes, depositing a polymeric coating which contains at least one radiation initiator for polymerization onto at least a first selected area or zone on an expandable or non-expandable support substrate. Next, at least one second coating comprised of a crosslinkable monomer is deposited onto a second selected area on the substrate. This second area or zone may encompass at least a portion of the first area. Thereafter, pre-gelling is performed on the deposited material followed by a graining operation which is carried out over at least a portion of the substrate surface. The synthetic covering in the first zone or area is then polymerized by radiation initiation wherein the particular appearance thereof is fixed to the substrate. Thereafter, gelling is carried out wherein the polymer which has not been fixed by radiation initiation will flow, i.e., fluidize, such that the grained appearance in the second area or zone will disappear, i.e., smooth over. This gelling may also cause some expansion of the polymer on the substrate.

Process for obtaining areas of distinctive appearance on synthetic

A process and product is presented for obtaining selective areas of distinctive appearance, i.e., matting on synthetic coverings. This process includes, depositing a polymer coating which contains at least one first initiator for polymerization onto at least a first selected area or zone on an expandable or nonexpandable support substrate. Next, at least one second coating comprised of a crosslinkable monomer containing at least one second polymerization initiator is deposited onto a second selected area on the substrate. This second area or zone may encompass at least a portion of the first area. The first and second initiators should be triggered by distinct 'spectral zones', i.e., a range of temperature conditions, frequency conditions, etc. capable of decomposing the initiator to form free radicals or ions needed for chain propagation in a polymerization reaction. Thereafter, pre-gelling is performed on the deposited material followed by a graining operation which is carried out over at least a portion of the substrate surface. The synthetic covering in the first zone or area is then polymerized via the first initiator wherein the particular appearance thereof is fixed to the substrate. Thereafter, gelling is carried out wherein the polymer which has not been fixed by the first initiation polymerization will flow, i.e., fluidize such that the grained appearance in the second area or zone will disappear, i.e., smooth over. This gelling may also cause some expansion of the polymer on the substrate.

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Daniel Marchal