DE3743296A1 - Thermoplastic homogeneous floor and wall covering - Google Patents

Abstract

Homogeneous floor coverings having improved load-bearing strength and wear resistance and having EVA as binder with or without polyolefins are producible with filler contents up to very high levels and have, on pressing from granules of different colours or marbled granules or rolling hides, a design pattern with visually (optically) distinct colour boundaries.

Description

Homogeneous PVC coverings with contents are used as floor and wall coverings widespread and allow plasticizers and fillers the production of the highest quality thermoplastic coverings with a favorable balance of resilience and wear resistance and longevity over many decades. Other advantages are simple manufacture and laying and Z. B. the weldability of sheets and plates. Such coverings are standard materials for living rooms and Office space in countless variations of colors and designs, however also as a hard to attack covering for laboratories or Homogeneous PVC coverings withstand high loads in z. B. sports halls.

The standard material is the homogeneous and solid covering in thicknesses from 1 to 3 mm.

PVC coverings also have disadvantages. Soft PVC coverings are used in such large quantities that they can be reused or a recycling of used rubbers would be desirable. However, regeneration of PVC is difficult. As waste PVC coverings on landfills practically do not rot. When burning the chlorine contained creates difficulties. PVC requires Processing stabilizers based on heavy metals.

The task was therefore to produce homogeneous and solid coverings which the above-mentioned high-quality and possibly superior Have usage properties and the disadvantages of PVC Avoid using another polymeric binder.

It was found that homogeneous and massive coverings with the above high quality or with superior usage properties can be produced on the basis of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA) and that surprisingly neither plasticizers nor Processing stabilizers containing heavy metals required  are surprising and simple procedure large amounts of fillers can be incorporated, which in the same The amount of PVC significantly deteriorates the material properties.

It was also found that very superior material properties occur as a flooring if preferably next to EVA in the binder additionally polyolefins or olefin copolymers are included; high filler contents then also result still the superior properties. Polyolefins or olefin copolymers, allow in addition to EVA in the binder at the same time a simplified processability.

The object of the invention is therefore a homogeneous and massive thermoplastic flooring or wall covering based on Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers as polymeric binders with contents of fillers and possibly auxiliary substances, characterized, that the vinyl acetate portion of the copolymer 14th to 45 wt .-% and the vinyl acetate content in the total batch 3 to 14 wt .-% and the proportion of fillers including Excipients 35 to 80 wt .-% of the total batch or coating is.

Another object of the invention is a covering that acts as a binder additionally contains polyolefins or olefin copolymers.

Suitable fillers are, for example, talc, chalk, kaolin, Quartz flour or other usual fillers, possibly also wood flour.

Auxiliaries are especially solids and pigments, possibly antistatic agents, Lubricants such as Ca stearate in amounts of at most 2 up to 4% by weight of the total batch.

The coverings according to the invention contain EVA as a binder such high proportions of filler, which with respective quality - for coverings based on the previous binders - unknown were.

Surprisingly, it was found that the inventive homogeneous floor coverings with EVA as a binding agent high quality properties with filler contents up to 80% by weight, in particular have high filler contents of 65 to 75% by weight  can, in contrast, coverings based on soft PVC with high-quality properties only filler contents up to a maximum can contain about 50 wt .-%. For example, result PVC coverings in the standard test according to DIN 51 963 depending on the Content of plasticizers already thickness losses in the order of magnitude of 0.2 mm with filler contents of 50 wt .-%, while same thickness losses in the covering according to the invention only at Filler contents of 75 wt .-% occur, so that about 20 to Contain 25% by weight of fillers in the covering according to the invention are.

The amounts according to the invention do not solve the problem only with chlorine-free binders, but also avoid them entirely Plasticizers and additives containing heavy metals.

In EVA of the binder can ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers with the same VA content or those with different EVA contents be included. The VA content of the EVA is 14 to 45, preferably 18 to 32 wt .-%.

It was surprisingly found that a proportion of vinyl acetate in the overall approach including all fillers and auxiliaries 3 to 14 wt .-%, preferably 4.5 to 10 wt .-% significantly superior properties conditional; this also applies to the extent in the total binding agent Contain polyolefins or olefin copolymers are.

It is most definitely preferred that in the polymeric binder in addition to ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a polyolefin or olefin copolymer is included. Very preferred is polypropylene, polyethylene or copolymers is also possible of propylene or ethylene with a further olefin component or a third component such as. B. in ethylene-propylene-diene copolymers (EPDM). The amounts of the olefin homopolymers or copolymers should be 0 to 15, preferably 2 to 13, very preferably 3 to 10% by weight of the covering or Total approach. Olefin homopolymers like special Polypropylene or polyethylene are preferred. As polypropylene PP is preferred, which in the batch mixture after production of a After 3 minutes of contact on the Kofler bench, start the adhesive from 160 to 200 ° C or higher. With a  The olefin component as the second component in the binder becomes one favorable combination of low residual impression, e.g. T. very little Residual impression combined with high wear resistance achieved.

It is understood as homogeneous and solid that the covering is only made of a layer with e.g. B. there is a thickness of about 1 to 3 mm, their physical properties from top to bottom are constant (homogeneous). It shouldn't have a backing layer or cover layer and fiber fleece or Fabric used neither as a reinforcement nor as a support layer will. There is no contradiction to this that the coating of chips, Granules or the like. Is very preferably produced, the Chips or granules can have different colors and good visible grain boundaries of granules of different colors stand out clearly against each other. Granules of 1 up to 5 mm average diameter preferably used. It may also contain undyed granules, which are preferred are not filled and are transparent to translucent Act.

Accordingly, in the case of the very preferred rubbers with Color samples from different colors initially several rolled skins made with different homogeneous colors, to granules or chips processed, the chips or granules in wanted ratio of the colors mixed together and again by measures known per se, such as Extrude to a rolled skin or by sintering to a sheet processed, very preferably a subsequent Compression on rolls, continuous or discontinuous Pressing or the like takes place in a manner known per se. The mixtures of monochromatic are preferred Granules for multi-colored marbled rolled skins or multi-colored Marbled granules processed and these to homogeneous Pads pressed. In this way arises, apparently causes through EVA as a binder, a special and aesthetically special attractive appearance of the covering, in which the firmly in the Embedded granules or chips very fine and have completely separate contours, which are optical result in a pattern of great clarity, in that of PVC coverings  usual blurring of the color boundaries does not occur. Such a covering based on EVA or possibly additional olefin homopolymer or olefin copolymer as a binder still allowed from a distance of 2 to 3 m for the average Eye a blurry and clear color against each other to recognize contrasting pattern, while with PVC coverings the grain boundaries emerge only at a significantly smaller distance and significantly less clearly contrasted are. This named optical design of the invention Coverings with the preferred use of granules work to the viewer as completely different material than coverings made of PVC from similar granules and corresponding Manufacturing process.

The copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate generally have low melting points, which is advantageous low temperatures allowed during processing. It is there is no obstacle that EVA, practically regardless of the content of Fillers, has a certain stickiness, so that in the usual Way release papers or release films are used. It is particularly advantageous and unexpected that the addition the polyolefins even in small proportions that makes stickiness disappear. Are of particular effect here polypropylene. This increases the processing temperature for example 30 to 40 ° C. By eliminating Release papers, Teflon foils or the like is also an advantage been achieved.

The addition of polyolefins surprisingly leads to one Improvement of the covering according to the invention with regard to the technical Data. The Shore hardness increases, for example, from numerical values in the range from 70 to 75 to numerical values of 80 and above, the remaining impression according to DIN 51 955 particularly through the addition of polypropylene as polyolefin with 0.001 as very is easy to judge. The second group is technically more important Thickness loss data in grams or millimeters according to DIN 51 963 as a measure of wear resistance is in itself with Shore hardness and residual impression are not related, but results  surprisingly also good values in the range of z. B. 0.16 up to 0.25 mm thickness loss. As a result, for special demands, e.g. B. for floor areas with constant walking numerous People in z. B. entrances or escalators, coverings with longevity that has not been achieved before. On the other hand, a covering can be used for areas with little traffic a very high percentage of PVC that cannot be absorbed Fillers and still satisfactory wear data will. Furthermore, for uses with less If necessary, linings of less thickness than before applicable.

The preferred manufacturing process from granules is very preferred by a pressing process with discontinuous pressing or very preferably pressing rolling mills with certain roll profiles executed, the surface if necessary also get a certain design, ornamentation etc. can. The type of compression at the end is surprising of significant influence on the material properties, e.g. B. when using a double belt press. This manufacturing process is in the simultaneous patent application "Process for production of multi-colored structured homogeneous plastic sheets or plates ", the content of which is described by reference is introduced here.

The coverings according to the invention with the binder made from EVA only or proportionate EVA compared to plasticizer-containing PVC the particular advantage of the lower thickness loss in mm and thereby a significantly better abrasion behavior according to the below Table. At the same binder content and fillers result surprisingly in the wide range between 55 and 20% by mass or% by weight of filler twice as much good wear behavior of the covering based on EVA, d. H. across from Soft PVC halved thickness loss values in mm. In other words, a material with the same wear behavior PVC can only contain 20 to 30% by weight of fillers, with EVA as a binder, however, 50 to 60 wt .-% filler and accordingly lower binder contents. In the invention Covering with EVA as a binder is in turn  wear behavior already in the range from 30 to 40% by weight of fillers, measured by the loss of thickness, so unexpectedly advantageous, that coverings with filler contents in the range of 20 and 30% by weight and below so little loss of thickness, so high Abrasion resistance and corresponding extreme durability, that they are for special purposes with extremely high quality requirements can be reserved.

The table shows the approximately 100% higher wear resistance of the covering according to the invention compared to one using the same method manufactured soft PVC covering with the same proportion of filler.

It is therefore preferred that the coverings of the invention for normal load contain 65 to 75 wt .-% fillers, which thickness losses and residual indentations result, the PVC with only 40 to 50 wt% filler, i.e. H. much higher proportions of binders. For high loads, the invention Coverings with 40 to 65% by weight of filler are preferred, the qualitative PVC coverings with 10 to 30 wt .-% filler and correspondingly high content of PVC and plasticizer in the binder are reachable.

Examples 1 to 9 prove low despite high filler contents Values of the residual impression and small thickness losses with variation of type and amount of EVA and fillers.  

Examples 10 to 15 show further with increasing EVA contents reduced thickness losses. Examples 16 ff at approximately the same content of the binder z. T. extremely low Wear resistance and unusually low values of the Remaining impression depending on the type and amount of the polyolefins as well as the disappearing stickiness at processing temperatures.  

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Claims (7)

1. Homogeneous and solid thermoplastic floor or wall covering based on ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer as a polymeric binder with contents of fillers and optionally auxiliaries, characterized in that the vinyl acetate content of the copolymer from 14 to 45 wt .-% and The proportion of vinyl acetate in the total amount of the covering is 3 to 14% by weight and the proportion of the fillers including the auxiliaries is 35 to 80% by weight of the total amount. 2. Rubber according to claim 1, characterized in that as Binder additionally olefin homopolymers or optionally Olefin copolymers or terpolymers, preferably Polypropylene or possibly polyethylene is included. 3. Covering according to claim 2, characterized in that the polyolefins or their copolymers in amounts up to 15, preferably Contain 2 to 13 wt .-% of the total batch are. 4. Covering according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the vinyl acetate content 13 to 14 wt .-% in Total binder made from ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and optionally olefin homopolymer or copolymer. 5. Covering according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the olefin homopolymer Polypropylene is included. 6. Rubber according to claim 5, wherein when testing the rubber on after 3 minutes the Koflerbank begins gluing from 160 to 200 ° C or higher occurs. 7. Covering according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the olefin copolymer EPDM is included.