DECORATIVE SURFACE COVERING INCLUDING UNIFORM DENSITY STRAND BOARD
A surface covering including a uniform density strand board and a top layer, where the top layer, which can include a decorative surface is adhered to the strand board. This surface covering is useful in an engineered flooring construction.
1 . A surface covering comprising:
(a) a uniform density strand board and
(b) a top layer.
2 . The surface covering of claim 1 , further comprising a bottom layer.
3 . The surface covering of claim 1 , wherein the surface covering is a panel.
4 . The surface covering of claim 3 , wherein said panel includes edges having a connection point.
5 . The surface covering of claim 4 , wherein the connection point includes a tongue and groove configuration or a locking profile.
6 . The surface covering of claim 1 , wherein the surface is a subfloor.
7 . The surface covering of claim 1 , wherein said top layer is selected from the group consisting of a veneer, a decorative veneer, a coating, paper, and combinations thereof.
8 . The surface covering of claim 2 , wherein said bottom layer is selected from the group consisting of a veneer, a coating, paper, cork, foam, underlayment, and combinations thereof.
9 . The surface covering of claim 1 , wherein the uniform density strand board is bonded to the top layer with an adhesive.
10 . The surface covering of claim 9 , wherein said adhesive is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, urea formaldehyde, acid-catalyzed phenolic resin, methylene diphenylene isocyanate (MDI), and combinations thereof.
11 . The surface covering of claim 1 , wherein said uniform density strand board comprises wood strands and a resin.
12 . The surface covering of claim 11 , wherein said resin is selected from the group consisting of methylene dipheneylene isocyanate (MDI), phenol formaldehyde, melamine fortified urea formaldehyde (MUF), and combinations thereof.
13 . The surface covering of claim 11 , wherein said wood strand is selected from the group consisting of pine, poplar, yellow poplar, Aspen, maple, other hardwood species, and combinations thereof.
14 . The surface covering of claim 11 , wherein said wood strands are randomly oriented.
15 . The surface covering of claim 1 , wherein said surface covering is decorative or non-structural.
16 . The surface covering of claim 1 , wherein said uniform density strand board has a low density.
17 . The surface covering of claim 16 , having a thickness wherein said uniform density strand board had a density within 25% of a target density throughout the thickness.
18 . A process for preparing a surface covering comprising:
(a) providing a uniform density strand board;
(b) providing a top layer; and
(c) adhering said uniform density strand board to said top layer.
19 . The process of claim 18 , wherein said uniform density strand board is prepared by providing a heat source, combining wood strands with a resin, forming sheets and pressing the sheets.
20 . The process of claim 19 , wherein said wood strands and resin are preheated before pressing.
21 . The process of claim 19 , wherein a continuous press or batch process is used for pressing sheets.
22 . The process of claim 21 , wherein a multiple opening press is used.
23 . The process of claim 21 wherein a roller having a temperature of about 380° F. to about 430° F. is used for pressing the sheets.
24 . The process of claim 19 , wherein said heat source is selected from the group consisting of steam, microwave, and combinations thereof.