Method for manufacturing a panel including a reinforcement sheet, and a floor panel

1. A method for manufacturing a panel including a reinforcement sheet, comprising:

providing a first layer of thermoplastic material in the form of granules;

providing a reinforcement sheet having a thickness;

combining the reinforcement sheet and the first layer by laying the reinforcement sheet on the first layer, or alternatively, by performing the step of providing the first layer of thermoplastic material by applying the thermoplastic material of the first layer onto the reinforcement sheet;

after the step of combining the reinforcement sheet and the first layer, at least partially melting the first layer of thermoplastic material in a double belt press and pressing the at least partially melted first layer of thermoplastic material and the reinforcement sheet together at a first pressure to adhere the reinforcement sheet and the first layer to each other, wherein the reinforcement sheet directly engages a press element during the step of pressing at the first pressure;

after adhering the reinforcement sheet and the first layer to each other,

providing a second layer of thermoplastic material in the form of a sheet or a film which is at least partially melted, wherein the second layer of thermoplastic material is provided by melting and pressing thermoplastic material into a sheet or film using nip rollers;

applying the at least partially melted second layer directly onto the reinforcement sheet at a side of the reinforcement sheet facing away from the first layer;

adhering the at least partially melted first layer, the at least partially melted second layer and the reinforcement sheet to each other by pressing them together at a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure so as to form a reinforced laminate; and

applying, on the second layer, a printed decoration layer and a protection layer covering the printed decoration layer to form the panel;

wherein the at least partially melted first layer, the at least partially melted second layer and the reinforcement sheet are pressed together using calendering rolls so that the reinforced laminate has a smooth upper surface.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method is performed as a continuous process.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement sheet comprises a glass fiber foil having a basis weight of 25-70 g/m 2 .

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, the thermoplastic materials of the first layer and the second layer are the same.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement sheet is placed on top of the first layer before pressing them together.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first layer of thermoplastic material is made of semi rigid PVC containing at least 35% of inorganic fillers.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic material of the first layer is provided in the form of granules having a cylindrical shape with a cylinder diameter in the range of 2.5-3.5 mm and a cylinder height in the range of 0.2-2.0 mm.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the cylinder height is approximately 0.5 mm.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first pressure and a rate of melting the thermoplastic material of the first layer during the step of at least partially melting the first layer of thermoplastic material are selected such that the reinforcement sheet is impregnated by the thermoplastic material of the first layer over at least 80% of its thickness.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the adhered reinforcement sheet and first layer are cooled before the at least partially melted second layer of thermoplastic material is applied onto the reinforcement sheet.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the panel has a thickness which is between 1.5 and 5 mm.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second layer of thermoplastic material is provided in the form of a sheet.

13. A method for manufacturing a panel including a reinforcement sheet, comprising:

providing a first layer of thermoplastic material in the form of granules;

providing a reinforcement sheet having a thickness;

combining the reinforcement sheet and the first layer by laying the reinforcement sheet on the first layer, or alternatively, by performing the step of providing the first layer of thermoplastic material by applying the thermoplastic material of the first layer onto the reinforcement sheet;

after the step of combining the reinforcement sheet and the first layer, at least partially melting the first layer of thermoplastic material in a double belt press and pressing the at least partially melted first layer of thermoplastic material and the reinforcement sheet together at a first pressure to adhere the reinforcement sheet and the first layer to each other, wherein the reinforcement sheet directly engages a press element during the step of pressing at the first pressure;

after adhering the reinforcement sheet and the first layer to each other,

providing a second layer of thermoplastic material in the form of a sheet or a film which is at least partially melted, wherein the second layer of thermoplastic material is provided by melting and pressing thermoplastic material into a sheet or film using nip rollers;

applying the at least partially melted second layer directly onto the reinforcement sheet at a side of the reinforcement sheet facing away from the first layer;

adhering the at least partially melted first layer, the at least partially melted second layer and the reinforcement sheet to each other by pressing them together to form a reinforced laminate; and

applying, on the second layer, a printed decoration layer and a protection layer covering the printed decoration layer; to form the panel;

wherein the at least partially melted first layer, the at least partially melted second layer and the reinforcement sheet are pressed together using calendering rolls so that the reinforced laminate has a smooth upper surface.

14. A method for manufacturing a substrate including a reinforcement sheet for a floor panel, comprising:

providing a first layer of thermoplastic material in the form of granules;

providing a reinforcement sheet having a thickness;

combining the reinforcement sheet and the first layer by laying the reinforcement sheet on the first layer, or alternatively, by performing the step of providing the first layer of thermoplastic material by applying the thermoplastic material of the first layer onto the reinforcement sheet;

after the step of combining the reinforcement sheet and the first layer, at least partially melting the entirety of the first layer of thermoplastic material in double belt press and pressing the at least partially melted first layer of thermoplastic material and the reinforcement sheet together at a first pressure to adhere the reinforcement sheet and the first layer to each other, wherein the reinforcement sheet directly engages a press element during the step of pressing at the first pressure;

after adhering the reinforcement sheet and the first layer to each other,

providing a second layer of thermoplastic material in the form of a sheet or a film which is at least partially melted, wherein the second layer of thermoplastic material is provided by melting and pressing thermoplastic material into a sheet or film using nip rollers;

applying the at least partially melted second layer directly onto the reinforcement sheet at a side of the reinforcement sheet facing away from the first layer; and

adhering the at least partially melted first layer, the at least partially melted second layer and the reinforcement sheet to each other by pressing them together at a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure to form the substrate,

wherein the at least partially melted first layer, the at least partially melted second layer and the reinforcement sheet are pressed together using calendering rolls so that the substrate has a smooth upper surface.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the reinforcement sheet is placed on top of the first layer before pressing them together.