Panel and methods for manufacturing panels

1. A panel comprising:

a substrate; and

a top layer provided on the substrate;

wherein the top layer includes a printed motif provided on a paper sheet and a transparent or translucent synthetic material layer;

wherein the paper sheet is impregnated with polyurethane or polyisocyanate;

wherein the synthetic material of the transparent or translucent synthetic material layer is polyurethane;

wherein the transparent or translucent synthetic material layer is paper-free;

wherein the top layer and the substrate are adhered to one another without an intermediary of external glue layers; and

wherein the panel is provided with mechanical coupling parts that allow two or more of such panels to be coupled to each other.

2. The panel of claim 1 , wherein the panel has a surface that includes recesses extending into the transparent or translucent synthetic material layer.

3. The panel of claim 2 , wherein the recesses do not penetrate into the printed motif.

4. The panel of claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane is of the aliphatic type.

5. A panel comprising:

a substrate; and

a top layer provided on the substrate;

wherein the top layer includes a printed motif provided on a paper sheet and a transparent or translucent synthetic material layer;

wherein the paper sheet is impregnated with polyurethane or polyisocyanate;

wherein the synthetic material of the transparent or translucent synthetic material layer includes polyurethane;

wherein the transparent or translucent synthetic material layer is paper-free;

wherein the top layer and the substrate are adhered to one another without an intermediary of external glue layers; and

wherein the panel is provided with mechanical coupling parts that allow two or more of such panels to be coupled to each other.

6. The panel of claim 5 , wherein the paper sheet is situated directly against the substrate.

7. A method for manufacturing a panel that includes a substrate and a top layer provided on the substrate, wherein the top layer includes a printed motif provided on a paper sheet impregnated with a first synthetic material and a transparent or translucent layer including a second synthetic material, the method comprising:

impregnating the paper sheet with the first synthetic material;

providing the substrate;

applying the second synthetic material;

wherein the first synthetic material is polyurethane or polyisocyanate;

wherein the second synthetic material is polyurethane;

wherein the transparent or translucent layer is paper-free;

adhering the top layer and the substrate to one another without an intermediary of external glue layers; and

providing the panel with mechanical coupling parts that allow two or more of such panels to be coupled to each other.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein applying the second synthetic material comprises transferring the second synthetic material from a carrier material to the substrate, without transferring the carrier material.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the first and the second synthetic materials comprise polyurethane.

10. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

performing a press treatment on the transparent or translucent layer using a metal press platen.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the press platen includes a structure that is copied into the transparent or translucent layer during the press treatment.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein heating is performed during the press treatment.

13. The panel of claim 1 , wherein the transparent or translucent synthetic material layer is aliphatic polyurethane.

14. The panel of claim 5 , wherein the transparent or translucent synthetic material layer includes aliphatic polyurethane.

15. The method accordingly to claim 7 , wherein the second synthetic material is aliphatic polyurethane.