DE102011105443A1 - Linoleum or corkment based fabric with sublimation printing - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fabric based on linoleum or corkment, comprising at least one layer of linoleum or corkment into which at least one sublimation dye has diffused, a process for producing the fabric according to the invention, and the use of the fabric according to the invention.

Description

The present invention relates to a fabric based on linoleum or Korkment, comprising at least one layer of linoleum or Korkment, in which at least one sublimation dye is diffused, a method for producing the sheet according to the invention and the use of the fabric according to the invention.

Linoleum flooring has been produced in different colors and designs for many years. However, the nature of the surface designs that can be produced using the previously known methods is subject to relatively great restrictions with regard to the achievable patterning.

In principle, it is possible to print the surface of a corresponding linoleum covering to achieve a surface design. However, the achievable with the previously known printing techniques products are so far always the disadvantage of having only a low abrasion resistance.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet which allows a high degree of design freedom of the surface and at the same time avoids the disadvantages associated with the use of conventional printing techniques for this purpose.

This object is achieved by the features characterized in the claims.

In particular, a linoleum or corkment-based sheet is provided, comprising at least one layer of linoleum or corkment into which at least one sublimation dye has diffused.

Surprisingly, it has been found that the sublimation printing, which has hitherto mainly been used in the textile industry for printing on fabrics, can be successfully applied to linoleum or corkment as a material to be printed. According to the invention, the normally open-pored structure of linoleum or corkment allows a corresponding sublimation dye to diffuse sufficiently deep into the linoleum or corkment material so as to ensure lasting color durability.

The 1 shows a linoleum tile printed according to the invention.

The 2 shows according to the invention printed linoleum.

The sublimation printing is a relatively new printing process in which the ink is evaporated (sublimed) into the carrier and thus diffused into the carrier. After transferring to the material to be printed, the sublimation printing does not cause any inking since the ink completely evaporates into the material. Beforehand, a corresponding carrier is printed with the sublimation ink and then transferred by heat and under pressure to the material to be printed with a transfer press.

According to the present invention, the at least one layer of linoleum comprises conventional components, such as binders (so-called Bedford cement or B cement of a partially oxidized linseed oil and at least one resin as tackifier), at least one filler and optionally at least one colorant. Softwood flour and / or cork flour (with the simultaneous presence of wood flour and cork powder typically in the weight ratio 90:10) and / or chalk, kaolin (China clay), kieselguhr and barite are usually used as filler. In addition, precipitated silica and small amounts of water glass, for example water glass, in an amount of up to 15% by weight, based on the amount of the layer, may be added as a filler for the mass to be ground.

The linoleum compound usually contains at least one colorant, such as an inorganic (eg, titanium dioxide) and / or organic pigment, and / or other common dyes. As colorants, any natural or synthetic dyes and inorganic or organic pigments, alone or in any combination, can be used. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a basic pigmentation is chosen so that it optimally supports the effect of the sublimation pressure.

A typical linoleum composition contains, based on the weight of the linoleum layer, about 40% by weight of binder, about 30% by weight of organic substances, about 20% by weight of inorganic (mineral) Fillers and about 10 wt .-% colorant. Further, in the linoleum compound, conventional additives such as processing aids, antioxidants, UV stabilizers, lubricants, dimensional stabilizers and the like may be contained, which are selected depending on the binder.

As examples of dimensional stabilizers, mention may be made of chalk, barium sulfate, schist meal, silicic acid, kaolin, quartz flour, talc, lignin, cellulose, glass powder, textile or glass fibers, cellulose fibers and polyester fibers, in an amount of about 1 to 20% by weight on the total weight of the relevant layer.

According to the present invention, the at least one layer of corkment comprises a mixture comprising B cement and milled cork as a filler, in analogy to the above description of the at least one layer of linoleum, but the milled cork as filler, in contrast to the composition of linoleum ( DIN EN 548 ) occupies a significantly higher proportion ( DIN EN 12455 ). Thus, a typical Korkment composition, based on the weight of Korkment layer, about 40 wt .-% binder, about 40 wt .-% milled cork, about 20 wt .-% inorganic (mineral) fillers and optionally colorants. Further, conventional additives such as processing aids, antioxidants, UV stabilizers, lubricants, dimensional stabilizers and the like, which are selected depending on the binder, may be contained in the Korkment compound.

Examples of dimensional stabilizers are as mentioned above. The possible proportion is about 1 to 20 wt .-%, based on the total weight of the relevant layer.

The linoleum or corkment-based sheet of the invention can be used without a carrier (cf. DE 199 10 389 A1 ) or comprise a carrier. As a carrier material, a material based on natural or synthetic fabrics, knitted fabrics, nonwovens, scrims or braids and textile materials can be used. Examples include jute fabric, blended fabrics of natural fibers such as cotton and viscose staple fiber, glass fiber fabric, adhesively coated glass fiberglass fabric or fiberglass fabric, synthetic fiber blended fabric, core / sheath fiber fabric with e.g. As a core of polyester and a sheathing made of polyamide, called. As a bonding agent for glass (fiber) or fiberglass scrim, for example, a coating of the glass fibers of a styrene-butadiene latex can be used.

According to a preferred embodiment of the sheet according to the invention, the at least one sublimation dye is diffused from the useful side. In this case, the penetration depth is preferably 20 to 200 μm, more preferably 70 to 500 μm. At best, according to the present invention, complete penetration of the at least one layer of linoleum or corkment with the sublimation dye is achieved.

In the present invention, the sublimation dye is preferably selected from the group consisting of water-based sublimation dyes, solvent-based sublimation dyes, and oil-based sublimation dyes, singly or in combination.

Usually, 1 to 7 sublimation dyes are provided on a thermal printing paper (for example from Transfertex GmbH & Co. KG). These are previously printed on the thermal print paper. To print a corresponding material, the thermal transfer paper thus printed is brought into contact with it using heat and optionally pressure. Although paper is generally chosen as the basis of the thermal printing material, other supports can also be used according to the invention, provided that they can first be printed or otherwise treated with sublimable dyes or pigments.

The diffusion of the at least one sublimation dye into the layer of linoleum or corkment of the fabric of the present invention thus takes place with the application of heat, preferably in a temperature range of 110 to 220 ° C. A more preferred temperature range is from 120 to 190 ° C, most preferably from 150 to 180 ° C.

Moreover, in the fabric of the present invention, the at least one sublimation dye is preferably diffused by using pressure. A corresponding pressure range is from 150 to 250 bar, more preferably from 175 to 200 bar.

The printing of the linoleum or corking usually takes place after its maturation. In this case, a corresponding layer of linoleum or Korkment still has a residual moisture content of about 5%. Especially in the case of the use of water-based sublimation dyes according to the invention, there is the danger in the printing and application of heat that correspondingly exiting water vapor runs the pressure or the base layer of linoleum or corkment is subject to bubble formation. Accordingly, it is inventively preferred to make the printing of the layer of linoleum or Korkment under pressure, which advantageously avoids the disadvantages described above.

In the fabric according to the invention may also be applied to the at least one layer of linoleum or Korkment a finish or a paint. In particular, it is preferred that the surface of the wear layer is sealed with polyurethane-based paints (so-called PU sealers). Such PU seals, the water-based or solvent-free, z. UV curable, typically have layer thicknesses in the range of about 5 microns to about 50 microns.

• – Bereitstellen einer Trägerschicht mit mindestens einem Sublimationsfarbstoff,
• – Bereitstellen mindestens einer Schicht aus Linoleum oder Korkment,
• – Zusammenführen der Trägerschicht und der mindestens einen Schicht aus Linoleum oder Korkment, und
• – Übertragen des mindestens einen Sublimationsfarbstoffes von der Trägerschicht auf die mindestens eine Schicht aus Linoleum oder Korkment unter Anwendung von Wärme.

Moreover, the present invention provides a method for producing the sheet described above. In particular, the present invention provides a process for producing a linoleum or corkment-based sheet comprising at least one layer of linoleum or corkment in which at least one sublimation dye is diffused, comprising the following steps:

• Providing a carrier layer with at least one sublimation dye,
• Providing at least one layer of linoleum or corkment,
• - merging the carrier layer and the at least one layer of linoleum or Korkment, and
• Transferring the at least one sublimation dye from the carrier layer to the at least one layer of linoleum or corkment using heat.

The diffusion of the at least one sublimation dye into the linoleum or corkment layer of the fabric of the present invention is carried out using heat, preferably in a temperature range of 110 to 220 ° C. A more preferred temperature range is from 120 to 190 ° C, most preferably from 150 to 180 ° C.

According to a preferred embodiment, the transfer of the at least one sublimation dye takes place with additional application of pressure. A preferred pressure range here is from 150 to 250 bar, more preferably from 175 to 200 bar.

According to the invention, the transfer can take place on an automatic laminating machine (also called AUMA). In this continuous process, for example, a paper (print carrier) is fed together with the linoleum or Korkment and passed by the heated AUMA drum. After the drum, the paper is peeled off the linoleum.

As already stated above, although paper is generally chosen as the basis of the thermal printing material, other support layers can also be used in the process according to the invention, provided that they can first be printed or otherwise treated with sublimable dyes or pigments.

Alternatively, according to the invention, a discontinuous, ie static, method can also be used. In this case, a heated press is used accordingly.

According to the present invention, the time of contact of, for example, transfer paper and linoleum or corking to be printed is generally between 30 and 180 seconds.

Finally, the present invention provides the use of a linoleum or corkment-based sheet as a wall covering, ceiling covering, floor covering, decorative cover or veneer. According to the invention, the use of the fabric based on linoleum or corkment is preferred as floor covering. As a floor covering, the sheet of the present invention may be in the form of a sheet or tile, for example.

The sublimation transfer printing method according to the present invention advantageously provides durably printed linoleum or corkment which avoids the previous drawbacks of color abrasion since it is now possible to transfer the dye (s) sufficiently deep into the linoleum or corkment. In addition, a better rapport corresponding pattern can be obtained in that all colors of the example, printed transfer paper can be transferred simultaneously, while in the conventional methods, one color after the other color is printed, so that a perfect repeat and pressure is almost impossible.

The present invention, as well as other advantages thereof, will be more fully understood in the following description with reference to the embodiments described in the examples.

Examples

Linoleum base layer

First, all of the components listed in Table 1 below for the linoleum mass are mixed in a suitable mixing unit to form a homogeneous mass (mixed mass) which is as homogeneous as possible. The mixed mass thus obtained is processed by a rolling mill to produce skins and a scrubber or granulator, after which the mixed mass particles thus obtained are fed to a calender and pressed under pressure and a temperature of usually 10 ° C to 150 ° C, for example, jute carrier material , Subsequently, the resulting fabrics are stored for 2 to 3 weeks in a ripening room at about 80 ° C.

In Table 1, a recipe is listed by way of example, wherein the stated values relate to wt .-%, based on the amount of the total mixture (linoleum layer). The individual constituents of the formulation given in Table 1 are to be selected such that the value for each specific formulation for the linoleum layer is 100% by weight. Table 1 recipe (Wt .-%) Lino cement 30-55 cork flour 0-25 wood flour 5-45 chalk 0-60 Titanium dioxide 1-15 Color pigments 0-5 diatomaceous 0-8 zinc oxide 0-5 Flame retardants 0-30

Printing the linoleum basecoat

The printing paper is placed with the printed image to the linoleum side on the linoleum, then in a static press at z. B. heated 140 ° C for 2 min. And a pressure of 30 bar. Thereafter, the linoleum is removed and the printing paper (= backing paper) deducted. A correspondingly obtained tile is in 1 and accordingly obtained linoleum in 2 shown.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 19910389 A1 [0017]

Cited non-patent literature

• DIN EN 548 [0015]
• DIN EN 12455 [0015]

Claims (11)

Linoleum or Korkment-based sheet comprising at least one layer of linoleum or corkment into which at least one sublimation dye has diffused. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the at least one sublimation dye is diffused from the useful side. The sheet of claim 1 or 2, wherein the sublimation dye is selected from the group consisting of water-based sublimation dyes, solvent-based sublimation dyes, and oil-based sublimation dyes, singly or in combination. A fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one sublimation dye is diffused by the application of heat. The sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the penetration depth of the at least one sublimation dye is from 20 to 200 μm. A fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the layer of linoleum or corkment has a base pigmentation. Fabric according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein on the at least one layer of linoleum or Korkment a finish or a lacquer is applied. A process for producing a linoleum or corkment based sheet comprising at least one layer of linoleum or corkment into which at least one sublimation dye has been diffused, comprising the following steps: Providing a carrier layer with at least one sublimation dye, Providing at least one layer of linoleum or corkment, - merging the carrier layer and the at least one layer of linoleum or Korkment, and Transferring the at least one sublimation dye from the carrier layer to the at least one layer of linoleum or corkment using heat. The method of claim 8, wherein the transfer of the at least one sublimation dye is carried out with additional application of pressure. Use of the linoleum or Korkment-based sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 7 as a wall covering, ceiling covering, floor covering, decorative cover or veneer. Use of the fabric based on linoleum or Korkment base according to one of claims 1 to 7 as a floor covering.

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