GB2147825A - Wallcoverings - Google Patents

Abstract

A vinyl wallcovering having a base paper ply and a P.V.C. ply is characterised in that whilst the paper ply is conventionally about 85 g/m<2> the P.V.C. ply is significantly lower (e.g. 35 g/m<2>) than the conventional 85 g/m<2>. The loss of reliable strippability and opacity which could follow from the reduction in weight of the P.V.C. ply is made good by arranging that the paper ply has at least two sub-plies one of which is splittable from the other. The sub-ply which does not carry the P.V.C. is typically a low cost mechanical, de-inked or waste furnish with a little woodfree furnish added for extra strength and is of poor colour and brightness. The sub-ply which carries the P.V.C. is a chemically refined woodfree furnish having good colour and brightness. Loss of bulk feel, and some increase in opacity can be made good by causing a degree of foaming of the P.V.C. ply.

Description

SPECIFICATION Vinyl wallcoverings This invention relates to wallcoverings and is concerned with that type of wallcovering known as "vinyl".

Currently made vinyls comprise a mainly mechanical paper base ply and a P.V.C. ply of approximately the same weight (conventionally about 85 g/m2).

The P.V.C. ply is opacified with titanium dioxide, and is printed. Such wallcovering is inherently peelable by virtue of the strength of the P.V.C. ply. When peeling takes place some of the paper ply remains on the wall and some comes away with the P.V.C. ply by virtue of a random line of split in the paper ply.

The present invention is concerned with the matter of reducing the cost of vinyl wallcoverings.

With this matter in mind one looks, for example, to reducing the weight of the P.V.C. ply but this introduces undesirable features such as loss of bulk, loss of P.V.C. opacity and loss of reliable peelability.

The loss of opacity is troublesome as the paper ply, being customarily predominantly of mechanical wood pulp, has poor colour and low brightness and this can show through the P.V.C. ply and impair "whiteness" unless an adequate further quantity of opacifiers is employed. To increase opacifiers to make good loss of opacity due to reduction of P.V.C.

weight is not cost effective. The loss of reliable peelability is, of course, serious and represents loss of one of the main advantages arising from the use of vinyls.

The present invention provides a vinyl wallcovering which is less costly to produce but nevertheless maintains standards of performances and quality not seriously different from those possessed by conventional vinyls.

The vinyl wallcovering of the present invention has a paper base ply and a P.V.C. ply characterised in that: (a) The P.V.C. ply is of significantly lower weight than that of the paper base ply; and (b) The paper base ply has at least two sub-plies of which one is splittable from an adjacent sub-ply and the sub-ply that carries the P.V.C. ply is of good colour and brightness at its interface with the P.V.C.

ply.

(Multiply papers splittable at the interface of plies are, of course well known. See for example GB 1,023,468).

Typically the paper base ply may have a weight (conventional) of about 85 g/m2 of which 65 g/m2 is mainly a low cost "mechanical", "deinked" or "waste" furnish perhaps with a little "woodfree" furnish added for extra strength but having poor colour and brightness, and 20 glum2 is a chemically refined "woodfree" furnish of high brightness. The P.V.C. ply has a weight in the range of 30 to 50 g/m2 and preferably about 35 g/m2. This PVC may be applied as a plastisol or an aqueous emulsion coating, using reverse roll, screen, blade or air-knife coating techniques as appropriate. Thus it is possible to form a vinyl wallcovering in which the major part of its weight is derived from a low cost furnish and the weight of the P.V.C. may be less than one half the weight of this furnish.

The P.V.C. ply could include a degree of foaming which enhances bulk feel and which aids opacity.

The foaming may be performed by mechanical or chemical means.

1. A vinyl wallcovering comprising a paper base ply and a P.V.C. ply characterised in that: (a) The P.V.C. ply is of significantly lower weight than that of the paper base ply; and (b) The paper base ply has at least two-sub-plies of which one is readily splittable from an adjacent sub-ply and the sub-ply that carries the P.V.C. ply is of good colour and brightness at its interface with the P.V.C. ply.

2. A wallcovering as claimed in Claim 1 in which the paper base ply has a weight of about 85 g!m2 and the P.V.C. ply has a weight in the range of 30 to 50 g/m2, and preferably about 35 fix2.

3. A wallcovering as claimed in Claim or Claim 2 in which the paper base ply has two sub-plies, the one not carrying the P.V.C. ply being mainly a low cost mechanical, de-inked or waste furnish with or without woodfree furnish added for extra strength having poor colour and brightness, and the one carying the P.V.C. ply being a white chemically refined woodfree furnish of good colour and brightness.

4. Awallcovering as claimed in Claim 3 in which the low cost paper sub-ply is more than 50% of the weight of the wall covering and the P.V.C. ply is less than one half the weight of the paper base ply.

5. A wallcovering as claimed in any preceding claim in which the P.V.C. ply is applied as a plastisol or as an aqueous coating.

6. A wallcovering as claimed in any preceding claim in which the P.V.C. ply is foamed to enhance opacity and feeling of bulk.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Vinyl wallcoverings This invention relates to wallcoverings and is concerned with that type of wallcovering known as "vinyl". Currently made vinyls comprise a mainly mechanical paper base ply and a P.V.C. ply of approximately the same weight (conventionally about 85 g/m2). The P.V.C. ply is opacified with titanium dioxide, and is printed. Such wallcovering is inherently peelable by virtue of the strength of the P.V.C. ply. When peeling takes place some of the paper ply remains on the wall and some comes away with the P.V.C. ply by virtue of a random line of split in the paper ply. The present invention is concerned with the matter of reducing the cost of vinyl wallcoverings. With this matter in mind one looks, for example, to reducing the weight of the P.V.C. ply but this introduces undesirable features such as loss of bulk, loss of P.V.C. opacity and loss of reliable peelability. The loss of opacity is troublesome as the paper ply, being customarily predominantly of mechanical wood pulp, has poor colour and low brightness and this can show through the P.V.C. ply and impair "whiteness" unless an adequate further quantity of opacifiers is employed. To increase opacifiers to make good loss of opacity due to reduction of P.V.C. weight is not cost effective. The loss of reliable peelability is, of course, serious and represents loss of one of the main advantages arising from the use of vinyls. The present invention provides a vinyl wallcovering which is less costly to produce but nevertheless maintains standards of performances and quality not seriously different from those possessed by conventional vinyls. The vinyl wallcovering of the present invention has a paper base ply and a P.V.C. ply characterised in that: (a) The P.V.C. ply is of significantly lower weight than that of the paper base ply; and (b) The paper base ply has at least two sub-plies of which one is splittable from an adjacent sub-ply and the sub-ply that carries the P.V.C. ply is of good colour and brightness at its interface with the P.V.C. ply. (Multiply papers splittable at the interface of plies are, of course well known. See for example GB 1,023,468). Typically the paper base ply may have a weight (conventional) of about 85 g/m2 of which 65 g/m2 is mainly a low cost "mechanical", "deinked" or "waste" furnish perhaps with a little "woodfree" furnish added for extra strength but having poor colour and brightness, and 20 glum2 is a chemically refined "woodfree" furnish of high brightness. The P.V.C. ply has a weight in the range of 30 to 50 g/m2 and preferably about 35 g/m2. This PVC may be applied as a plastisol or an aqueous emulsion coating, using reverse roll, screen, blade or air-knife coating techniques as appropriate. Thus it is possible to form a vinyl wallcovering in which the major part of its weight is derived from a low cost furnish and the weight of the P.V.C. may be less than one half the weight of this furnish. The P.V.C. ply could include a degree of foaming which enhances bulk feel and which aids opacity. The foaming may be performed by mechanical or chemical means. CLAIMS

1. A vinyl wallcovering comprising a paper base ply and a P.V.C. ply characterised in that: (a) The P.V.C. ply is of significantly lower weight than that of the paper base ply; and (b) The paper base ply has at least two-sub-plies of which one is readily splittable from an adjacent sub-ply and the sub-ply that carries the P.V.C. ply is of good colour and brightness at its interface with the P.V.C. ply.

2. A wallcovering as claimed in Claim 1 in which the paper base ply has a weight of about 85 g!m2 and the P.V.C. ply has a weight in the range of 30 to 50 g/m2, and preferably about 35 fix2.

3. A wallcovering as claimed in Claim or Claim 2 in which the paper base ply has two sub-plies, the one not carrying the P.V.C. ply being mainly a low cost mechanical, de-inked or waste furnish with or without woodfree furnish added for extra strength having poor colour and brightness, and the one carying the P.V.C. ply being a white chemically refined woodfree furnish of good colour and brightness.

4. Awallcovering as claimed in Claim 3 in which the low cost paper sub-ply is more than 50% of the weight of the wall covering and the P.V.C. ply is less than one half the weight of the paper base ply.

5. A wallcovering as claimed in any preceding claim in which the P.V.C. ply is applied as a plastisol or as an aqueous coating.

6. A wallcovering as claimed in any preceding claim in which the P.V.C. ply is foamed to enhance opacity and feeling of bulk.