SE1651417A1 - Method of producing a thermoplastic marking - Google Patents

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method of producing a thermoplastic marking (1), the method comprising the steps of: i. heating and extruding (120) a thermoplastic material composition (1) comprising a) thermoplastic material, b) filler material, and c) pigment, ii. extruding (120) the thermoplastic material composition (1) from an extruder (20) onto a conveyor (30), the thermoplastic material composition (1) having an exit temperature (Tit) of between 100-190 °C when leaving the extruder (30), iii. controlling (130) a surface temperature of the surface (la) of the thermoplastic material composition (1) to a temperature (T) being 0-180 °C lower than the exit temperature (Tit) and being between the melting temperature (T) and the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the thermoplastic material (1), and iv. introducing (140) by force a plurality of stamping tools (41) into the extruded and thus cooled thermoplastic material composition (1) to a predetermined depth (d) from a first surface (la) of the extruded thermoplastic material composition (1).Elected for publication: Fig 2

Description

METHOD OF PRODUCING A THERMOPLASTIC MARKING Field of invention The invention relates to a method of producing a therrnoplastic marking.

Technical BackgroundIt is known to produce pre-manufactured therrnoplastic markings having the shape of the total intended marking or having the shape of a part of the intendedmarking. Such pre-manufactured therrnoplastic markings may e. g. be adapted to beplaced on a road surface or the like and then be subjected to heat, e. g. by the use of ablow torch, until it reaches an almost liquefied state suff1cient for it to adhere to theroad surface. Pre-manufactured therrnoplastic markings are e. g. known from GB-A-2 030 586, SE-B-399 575, SE-B-341 873, and US-4 708 518.

It is known to provide pre-manufactured therrnoplastic markings with so-called temperature indicators, e.g. by providing colour changing indicators or byscoring or punching pattems. Such a pre-manufactured therrnoplastic marking is e. g.known from EP 0 882 159 Bl, in which it is disclosed to provide deforrnations in theform of cuts in the shape of scores or punched pattems.

However, cutting or punching a pre-manufactured therrnoplastic marking istypically associated with excessive wear of the cutting or punching tool; especiallyconsidering that the markings typically include abrasive f1llers designed to providefriction to the marking. Moreover, cutting, punching or other kinds of deformation ofthe pre-manufactured therrnoplastic markings also introduces the risk of cracksforming and propagating through the material. Even though cracks often ultimatelywill disappear when the marking is heated during application to the road surface, suchcracks may make transportation more difficult and they may especially make it moredifficult to handle the marking on site where the marking is to be positioned andapplied to the road surface. If the pre-manufactured marking has cracked duringtransport or handling on site, it is often required that someone pushes the piecestowards each other during the heating step. This includes a work hazard and also introduces the need for one additional road worker.

Summary of inventionIt is an object of the invention to address the above mentioned problems.

This object has been achieved by a method of producing a therrnoplastic marking, the method comprising the steps of: i. heating and extruding a therrnoplastic material composition comprisinga) therrnoplastic material,b) f1ller material, andc) pigment, ii. extruding the therrnoplastic material composition from an extruder onto aconveyor, the therrnoplastic material composition having an exit temperature ofbetween 100-190 °C when leaving the extruder, iii. controlling a surface temperature of the surface of the therrnoplasticmaterial composition to a temperature being 0-180 °C lower than the exit temperatureand being between 20 °C lower than the melting temperature of the therrnoplasticmaterial and 10 °C, and iv. introducing by force a plurality of stamping tools into the extruded andthus tempered therrnoplastic material composition to a predeterrnined depth from afirst surface of the extruded thermoplastic material composition.

With the above production method, it is possible to produce a therrnoplasticmaterial provided with indents instead of cutting scores or the like. The indents mayduring application of the marking to the road surface be used as an indicator thattherrnoplastic marking has been heated to such an extent that it has becomesufficiently liquefied to adhere to the road surface. When the indents disappear by thetherrnoplastic material composition flowing into a smooth upper surface, this may beconsidered as an indicator conceming that sufficient heating for correct adherence tothe road surface has been achieved.

To be able to provide consistent information to the road worker applying themarking to the road surface, the indents need to be produced in accordance with amethod making it possible to provide this consistency in the appearance andbehaviour of the indents. The method disclosed above makes it possible to providesuch consistency.

By ii. extruding the therrnoplastic material composition from an extruder ontoa conveyor, the therrnoplastic material composition having an exit temperature ofbetween 100-190 °C when leaving the extruder, iii. controlling a surface temperature of the surface of the therrnoplasticmaterial composition to a temperature being 0-180 °C lower than the exit temperatureand being between 20 °C lower than the melting temperature of the therrnoplasticmaterial and 10 °C, and iv. introducing by force a plurality of stamping tools into the extruded andthus tempered therrnoplastic material composition to a predeterrnined depth from a first surface of the extruded therrnoplastic material composition, the indents will be formed in the therrnoplastic material composition undercircumstances where the therrnoplastic material composition will at its surface haveshape stability suff1cient to retain the shape of the indents given by the stamping toolswhile surface and especially the core of the therrnoplastic material composition willbe suff1ciently viscous or at least sufficiently plastic to allow for the deforrnation tooccur without forrnation of cracks. Moreover, the therrnoplastic material compositionwill under these circumstances be easy to deforrn which in turn will allow for the useof a simple apparatus supporting the stamping tools and still accomplishing welldefined indents thereby providing the desired consistency. The controlling of thesurface temperature may include heating or cooling. The controlling of the surfacetemperature will in most practical cases be a form of cooling; such as a passivecooling where the heated and extruded therrnoplastic material simply dissipates heatto its cooler surroundings or an active cooling of some kind.

A method with heating, extrusion and cooling will result in a temperaturegradient with a therrnoplastic marking having comparably a warrner core and a coolersurface facilitating the consistent formation of the indents.

The cooling may be performed by cooling in air, such as by introducing theextruded therrnoplastic material composition to ambient air. This may also includeactively blowing air towards or past the extruded therrnoplastic material composition.The air may have ambient temperature or may be actively cooled to a temperaturelower than the prevailing ambient temperature. The cooling may altematively or as acomplement be performed with the use of water or any other cooling agent,preferably a liquid cooling agent, compatible with the therrnoplastic material. Thewater may be sprayed onto the extruded therrnoplastic material composition. Thewater may have ambient temperature, which is an easy and often cost-effective wayof providing the cooling. The water may have a temperature higher than ambienttemperature and lower than the temperature of the extruded therrnoplastic materialcomposition, which is a way of providing a slow and controlled cooling. The watermay be actively cooled to a temperature lower than the prevailing ambienttemperature, which is a way of providing a rapid cooling. The above discussionconceming the temperature of the water is also applicable for other kinds of liquid orgaseous cooling agents. This also makes it possible to provide the indents byintroducing the stamping tools and keeping them introduced in the therrnoplasticmaterial composition only for a short time period, even as short as about 0,01seconds. It may be noted that keeping the stamping tools introduced in the extrudedtherrnoplastic material composition for a longer time makes it easier to secure that the material will cool suff1ciently to reach suff1cient shape stability to provide well- defined indents. However, a long time will require a long cycle time or a complexapparatus moving the stamping tools with the extruded therrnoplastic materialcomposition on the conveyor. Preferably the stamping tools are kept introduced intothe extruded therrnoplastic material composition for a time period being between 0,01and 10 seconds. The stamping tools may e.g. be provided on a rotating shaft or drum.Altematively, the stamping tools may e. g. be provided separately or on frame movingup and down and possibly also back and forth.

Preferred embodiments appear in the dependent claims and in the description.

The therrnoplastic material composition may be extruded onto the conveyorwith a second surface, opposite the first surface, of the extruded therrnoplasticmaterial composition facing the conveyor, wherein the second surface of the therrnoplastic material may be supported,and preferably conveyed, on the conveyor while the stamping tools are introducedand kept introduced into the therrnoplastic material composition.

This allows for a secure handling of the extruded therrnoplastic materialcomposition and, if the material also is conveyed, it furtherrnore allows for acontinuous process. In the latter case the stamping tools may e.g. be provided on arotating shaft or drum. The conveyor may be basically of any kind capable ofconveying the extruded therrnoplastic material composition from the extruder. It maybe a conveyor belt. It may be a plurality of active and/or passive rollers. It may be achute or similarly designed surface upon which the extruded therrnoplastic materialcomposition may slide, optionally facilitated by an air-flow from below. Theconveyor may also be a combination of the above and other kinds of conveyors. Inshort it may be said that the conveyor preferably is capable of providing adequate andsufficiently well-defined support to the second surface of the extruded therrnoplasticmaterial composition such that the interaction between the stamping tools and the firstsurface of the extruded therrnoplastic material composition will be well-definedwhich in tum will result in well-defined indents.

The step keeping the stamping tools introduced into the extrudedtherrnoplastic material composition may include cooling the therrnoplastic materialcomposition by applying water to the therrnoplastic material composition about theareas where the stamping tools are kept introduced into the therrnoplastic materialcomposition while the stamping tools are kept introduced into the therrnoplasticmaterial composition. This will make it possible to quickly cool the extrudedtherrnoplastic material composition and thereby provide sufficient shape stability tothe indents even though the extruded therrnoplastic material composition before introduction of the stamping tools has a temperature higher than what would be suitable for the provision of shape stable indents. This also makes it possible to onlykeep the stamping tools introduced in the extruded therrnoplastic materialcomposition for a short time period. It may also be used to provide a significantcooling of the extruded therrnoplastic material composition such that not only will theindents reach sufficient shape stability but the extruded therrnoplastic materialcomposition as such will be imparted a significant part of the overall cooling in thisstep.

The stamping tool may be provided with a tack-free surface. This may be usedas a complement to the active cooling of the therrnoplastic material compositionwhile the stamping tools are kept introduced or as an altemative in which there is noactive cooling while the stamping tools are kept introduced into the therrnoplasticmaterial composition. This tack-free surface may e. g. be a Teflon surface.

The therrnoplastic material is preferably chosen from the group consisting oftherrnoplastic resins and therrnoplastic polymers. Such materials are suitable formixing with filler and pigments to provide a wear resistant road marking. The resinmay e.g. be petrochemical based and/or colophony based. The polymers may e. g. beEVA or SIS. Preferably the therrnoplastic material constitutes between l0-90% byweight of the therrnoplastic material composition. More preferably the therrnoplasticmaterial constitutes between 10-3 0% of the therrnoplastic material composition.

The pigment is preferably chosen from the group consisting of TiO2, organicpigments and inorganic pigments. The organic pigment may e.g. be PYl3. Theinorganic pigments may e.g. be PB29.

The filler may comprise, preferably mainly comprises, inorganic substances.The filler may e.g. be chosen from the group comprising, and may preferably mainlycomprise, Dolomite, CaCO3, sand and/or chalk. These fillers are considered cost-effective and suitable to use when providing a wear resistant road marking.

The therrnoplastic material composition may be extruded to a materialthickness of between l,0 and 8mm, and wherein the stamping tools may beintroduced from the first surface to a depth within l0-l00%, preferably within 25- 75% of the material thickness. These dimensions and ratios are considered suitable when it comes to providing a wear resistant road marking having well-defined indents which will consistently function as temperature indicators.

Brief description of the drawings The invention will by way of example be described in more detail withreference to the appended schematic drawings, which shows a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a block-diagram schematically disclosing the method of producingthe marking.

Figure 2 is a schematic drawing disclosing a side view of an apparatus bywhich the method may be accomplished.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of selected parts of the apparatus of Figure 2.

Figure 4a is a side view of an extruded therrnoplastic material compositionprovided with an indent.

Figure 4b is a top plan view corresponding to Figure 4a.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments As is briefly indicated in Figure 1, the method in short comprises a mixingstep 100 in which the different constituents of the therrnoplastic marking are broughttogether. The constituents include a) therrnoplastic material, b) f1ller material, and c)pigment. Other constituents, such as glass beads, friction material or the like may alsobe mixed into the material composition at this point.

After or during mixing 100 there is typically a heating step 110. After theconstituents have been mixed 100 and optionally preheated 110 they are introducedinto an extruder 20. In the extruder 20, the therrnoplastic material composition istypically heated and extruded 120. The extruder may be a so-called screw extruderforcefully extruding the material out of the extruder. The extruder may also heat thetherrnoplastic material to such an extent that the material may basically be poured outof the extruder more or less using gravity as the extruding force. The material maye.g. be smeared out on the conveyor using a blade.

The therrnoplastic material composition 1 is extruded from the extruder 20onto a conveyor 30. The therrnoplastic material composition has an exit temperatureof between 100-190 °C when leaving the extruder.

Next, in step 130, the surface la of the therrnoplastic material composition 1 istempered, typically cooled, to a temperature being 0-180 °C lower than the exittemperature and being between 20 °C below the melting temperature of thetherrnoplastic material and 10 °C.

In step 140 a plurality of stamping tools is by force introduced into theextruded and thus cooled therrnoplastic material composition to a predeterrnineddepth from a first surface la of the extruded therrnoplastic material composition 1.This step 104 may be said to be a step of indenting. The step 140 of indenting alsoincludes keeping the stamping tools introduced into the extruded therrnoplastic material composition for a time period being at least 0,1 seconds.

Optionally the step 140 of indenting also includes Cooling the therrnoplasticmaterial composition by applying water, or any other suitable cooling agent, to thetherrnoplastic material composition about the areas where the stamping tools are keptintroduced into the therrnoplastic material composition while the stamping tools arekept introduced into the therrnoplastic material composition.

Moreover, the step 140 of indenting may optionally, separately or incombination with the water cooling above, include keeping the stamping toolsintroduced into the extruded therrnoplastic material composition for a time periodsufficient for the therrnoplastic material composition to cool 0-180 °C from thetemperature the therrnoplastic material composition had at the time the stamping toolswere introduced into the therrnoplastic material composition.

After the therrnoplastic material composition has been provided with theindents, the material is cooled 150, cut 160 to the desired shape and then transported170 to a storage facility or to the site of application.

In figure 2 and 3 there is disclo sed an apparatus by which the above methodmay be realised.

The constituents of the therrnoplastic marking are introduced into a mixingvessel 10. The mixing vessel is provided with some kind of mixing mechanism 12effectively mixing the constituents with each other. The mixing vessel 10 is alsoprovided with heating element(s) 11 by which the therrnoplastic material compositioninside the mixing vessel 10 may be heated.

When the therrnoplastic material composition has been sufficiently mixed andoptionally sufficiently heated, the composition is transferred to an extruder 20. Theextruder 20 may e. g. be a so-called screw extruder or an extruder where thetherrnoplastic material composition is allowed to flow out onto the conveyor 30. Theextruder 20 is typically also provided with heating element(s) 21.

As is shown in figure 2, the therrnoplastic material composition may beextruded onto the conveyor 30 with a second surface 1b, opposite the first surface 1a,of the extruded therrnoplastic material composition 1 facing the conveyor 30. Whenleaving the extruder 20, the therrnoplastic material composition has an exittemperature Taxa of between 100-190 °C. In the preferred embodiment the conveyor30 is a so-called belt conveyor 30. It is also conceivable to use a conveyor formed ofa plurality of rollers extending across the conveying direction 31. Other examples ofconveyors 30 are also conceivable.

As shown in figure 2, the extruded therrnoplastic material composition 1 isthen cooled and the surface of the therrnoplastic material composition reaches a temperature T@S(=T enter stamp) being 0-180 °C lower than the exit temperature Texit and being between 20 °C below the melting temperature of the therrnoplastic materialand 10 °C. This cooling is e.g. perforrned by spraying water onto the upper surface 1aof the extruded therrnoplastic material composition 1 with the aid of water spraynozzles 50.

The extruded therrnoplastic material composition 1 is conveyed by theconveyor 30 along the direction indicated by arrow 31. Once the extrudedtherrnoplastic material composition 1 has cooled as indicated in the paragraph aboveto the temperature Teg, a plurality of stamping tools 41 are i11troduced by force intothe extruded and thus cooled therrnoplastic material composition 1 to a predeterrnineddepth d from a first surface la of the extruded therrnoplastic material composition 1.The stamping tools 41 may e.g. be protrusions 41 on a rotating drum or shaft 40. Thedrum 40 rotates with the conveyor 30 as indicated by the arrow 42. By having thedrum 40 rotating with the conveying direction 31, preferably with the same tangentialspeed as the upper run of the conveyor 30, the stamping tools will be kept introducedinto the extruded therrnoplastic material composition for a time, preferably withoutany relative speed in the conveying direction 31. In the preferred embodiment thestamping tools are kept introduced into the extruded therrnoplastic materialcomposition for a time period being at least 0,1 seconds, preferably between 0,1 and10 seconds, more preferably between 0,5 and 5 seconds. Thereafter the stampingtools 41 are removed from the extruded therrnoplastic material composition 1.

As it is apparent from figure 2, the step keeping the stamping tools 41introduced into the extruded therrnoplastic material composition 1 includes coolingthe therrnoplastic material composition 1 by applying water from water spray nozzles60 to the therrnoplastic material composition 1 about the areas where the stampingtools 41 are kept introduced into the therrnoplastic material composition 1 while thestamping tools 41 are kept introduced into the therrnoplastic material composition 1.In the shown embodiment, the drum is formed of a mesh or bars e. g. extending alongthe generatrices of the drum 40, thereby allowing the water spray nozzles 60 to beplaced inside the drum 40. Altematively, the water spray nozzles 60 are placed just infront of or just behind the drum (as seen along the conveying direction 31). In such ascase they can spray water onto the extruded therrnoplastic material composition 1 justbefore the extruded therrnoplastic material composition 1 enters into the clampingaction between the stamping tools 41 and the conveyor 30 whereby the water on theextruded therrnoplastic material composition 1 will continue to cool the extrudedtherrnoplastic material composition 1 while the stamping tools 41 are kept introducedinto the extruded therrnoplastic material composition 1. If water spray nozzles 60 are positioned just after drum 40, it is preferred that they are directed towards the area where the stamping tools 40 are kept introduced into the extruded therrnoplasticmaterial composition 1. There may also be provided nozzles spraying water or anyother cooling liquid on the backside lb of the therrnoplastic material composition 1on the conveyor 30. As an alternative to or as a complement to the water spraynozzles, the therrnoplastic material composition may be trained through a water bath(or a bath or any other cooling liquid).

The stamping tools 41 are kept introduced into the extruded therrnoplasticmaterial composition 1 for a time period sufficient for the therrnoplastic materialcomposition 1 to cool 0-180 °C from the temperature Teg the therrnoplastic materialcomposition 1 had at the time the stamping tools 41 were introduced into thetherrnoplastic material composition 1. Thereafter the stamping tools 41 are removedfrom the extruded therrnoplastic material composition 1.

As shown in figure 2, the second surface 1b of the therrnoplastic material issupported, and in the preferred embodiment also conveyed, on the conveyor 30 whilethe stamping tools 41 are introduced and kept introduced into the therrnoplasticmaterial composition 1.

After the stamping tools 41 have been kept introduced into the therrnoplasticmaterial composition 1 they will leave a plurality of indents 1c in the therrnoplasticmaterial composition 1. This is indicated by the dashed squares 1c on the right handside of the conveyor 30 in figure 3.

The therrnoplastic material may be chosen from the group consisting oftherrnoplastic resins and therrnoplastic polymers. Such materials are suitable formixing with filler and pigments to provide a wear resistant road marking. The resinmay e.g. be petrochemical based and/or colophony based. The polymers may e.g. beEVA or SIS. Preferably the therrnoplastic material constitutes between 10-90% byweight of the therrnoplastic material composition. More preferably the therrnoplasticmaterial constitutes between 10-3 0% of the therrnoplastic material composition.

The pigment may e. g. be chosen from the group consisting of TiO2, organicpigments and inorganic pigments. The organic pigment may e.g. be PY13. Theinorganic pigments may e.g. be PB29.

The filler may comprise, preferably mainly comprises, inorganic substances.The filler may e.g. be chosen from the group comprising, and may preferably mainlycomprise, Dolomite, CaCO3, sand and/or chalk. These fillers are considered cost-effective and suitable to use when providing a wear resistant road marking.

With reference to figures 4a and 4b, the therrnoplastic material composition 1may be extruded to a material thickness t of between 1,5 and 8mm, and wherein the stamping tools 41 may be introduced from the first surface la to a depth d within 15- 100%, preferably within 25-75% of the material thickness t. These dimensions andratios are considered suitable when it comes to providing a wear resistant roadmarking having well-defined indents which will consistently function as temperatureindicators.

The stamping tools 41 and the resulting indents 1c may each have a widthbeing between 1-8 mm. The width may be between 0,5 to 2 times the depth. Thesedimensions and ratios are considered suitable when it comes to providing indents 1cgiving a consistent behaviour when the marking is subj ected to heating, e. g. by theuse of a blow torch, during application of the marking to the road surface. The indents1c may have different lengths L. It is preferred that the length L is greater than thewidth w. It is e.g. preferred that the indents 1c have a length of at least 10 mm,preferably a length of about 10-30 mm. The indents may have other shapes, such ashaving the shape of a triangle, a circle or any other shape.

It is contemplated that there are numerous modifications of the embodimentsdescribed herein, which are still within the scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

It may e. g. be noted that the material may be extruded onto a first conveyorand then be transferred to another conveyor where the stamping tools interact with thematerial.

The conveyor may for instance be basically of any kind capable of conveyingthe extruded therrnoplastic material composition from the extruder. It may be aconveyor belt. It may be a plurality of active and/or passive rollers. It may be a chuteor similarly designed surface upon which the extruded therrnoplastic materialcomposition may slide, optionally facilitated by an air-flow from below. Theconveyor may also be a combination of the above and other kinds of conveyors. Inshort it may be said that the conveyor preferably is capable of providing adequate andsufficiently well-defined support to the second surface of the extruded therrnoplasticmaterial composition such that the interaction between the stamping tools and the firstsurface of the extruded therrnoplastic material composition will be well-defined which in tum will result in well-defined indents.

Claims (10)

1. Method of producing a therrnoplastic marking (1), the method comprisingthe steps of: i. heating and extruding (120) a therrnoplastic material composition (1)comprising a) therrnoplastic material,b) f1ller material, andc) pigment, ii. extruding (120) the therrnoplastic material composition (1) from anextruder (20) onto a conveyor (3 0), the therrnoplastic material composition (1) havingan exit temperature (Texit) of between 100-190 °C when leaving the extruder (20), iii. controlling (130) a surface temperature of the surface (la) of thetherrnoplastic material composition (1) to a temperature (Teg) being 0-180 °C lowerthan the exit temperature (Texit) and being between 20 °C lower than the meltingtemperature (Tm) of the therrnoplastic material (1) and 10 °C, and iv. introducing (140) by force a plurality of stamping tools (41) into theextruded and thus tempered therrnoplastic material composition (1) to apredeterrnined depth (d) from a first surface (la) of the extruded therrnoplastic material composition (1).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the therrnoplastic materialcomposition (1) is extruded (120) onto the conveyor (30) with a second surface (lb),opposite the first surface (la), of the extruded therrnoplastic material composition (1)facing the conveyor (30), wherein the second surface (lb) of the therrnoplastic material (1) is supported,and preferably conveyed, on the conveyor (30) while the stamping tools (41) are introduced and kept (140) introduced into the therrnoplastic material composition (1).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step (140) keeping thestamping tools (41) introduced into the extruded therrnoplastic material composition(1) includes cooling (140) the therrnoplastic material composition (1) by applying acooling agent to the therrnoplastic material composition (1) about the areas where thestamping tools (41) are kept introduced into the therrnoplastic material composition(1) while the stamping tools (41) are kept introduced into the therrnoplastic material composition (1). 12

4. Method according to any one of claims 1-3, Wherein the stamping tool isprovided With a tack-free surface.

5. Method according to any one of claims 1-4, Wherein the step (140) keepingthe stamping tools (41) introduced into the extruded therrnoplastic materialcomposition (1) includes keeping the stamping tools (41) introduced into the extrudedtherrnoplastic material composition (1) for a time period sufficient for thethermoplastic material composition (1) to cool 20-100 °C from the temperature (Tas)the therrnoplastic material composition (1) had at the time the stamping tools (41) Were introduced into the therrnoplastic material composition (1).

6. Method according to any one of claims 1-5, Wherein the therrnoplasticmaterial is chosen from the group consisting of therrnoplastic resins andtherrnoplastic polymers.

7. Method according to any one of claims 1-6, Wherein the pigment is chosen from the group consisting of TiO2, organic pigments and inorganic pigments.

8. Method according to any one of claims 1-7, Wherein the f1ller material comprises, preferably mainly comprises inorganic substances.

9. Method according to any one of claims 1-8, Wherein the f1ller material ischosen from the group comprising, preferably mainly comprises, Dolomite, CaCOS,sand and chalk.

10. Method according to anyone of claims 1-9, Wherein the therrnoplasticmaterial composition (1) is extruded (120) to a material thickness (t) of between 1,5and 8mm, and Wherein stamping tools (41) are introduced from the first surface (la) to adepth (d) Within 15-100%, preferably Within 25-75% of the material thickness (t).