METHOD FOR PRODUCING AND RECYCLING AN OBJECT CONSISTING OF A PANEL DURABLY PROVIDED WITH A SURFACE COVERING
The present invention pertains to a method for producing and recycling an object consisting of a panel durably provided with a surface covering, comprising bringing the panel and the surface covering in a spatially aligned relationship, providing a layer of hot melt adhesive between the panel and the surface covering, heating the hot melt adhesive to a temperature above its melting temperature, pressing the surface covering against the panel with the molten hot melt adhesive in between the panel and surface covering, cooling down the hot melt adhesive to a temperature below its melting temperature to form the object, and after an end-of-life of the object, heating the hot melt adhesive to a temperature above its melting temperature, and separating the panel from the surface covering. The invention also pertains to a method of producing such an object and a panel for use in this method.
1 . A method for producing and recycling an object consisting of a panel durably provided with a surface covering, comprising:
bringing the panel and the surface covering in a spatially aligned relationship,
providing a layer of hot melt adhesive between the panel and the surface covering, wherein the hot melt adhesive is non reactive and comprises less than 5 mass % of solvents,
heating the hot melt adhesive to a temperature above its melting temperature,
pressing the surface covering against the panel with the molten hot melt adhesive in between the panel and surface covering,
cooling down the hot melt adhesive to a temperature below its melting temperature to form the object, and
after an end-of-life of the object, heating the hot melt adhesive to a temperature above its melting temperature, and
separating the panel from the surface covering.
2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the hot melt adhesive has a melting temperature between 40 and 150° C.
3 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the layer of hot melt adhesive has a thickness of between 50 and 400 g/m 2 .
4 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the layer of hot melt adhesive is heated by using radiation.
5 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the layer of hot melt adhesive is provided by connecting this layer to a surface of the panel before the panel and surface covering are brought in the spatially aligned relationship.
6 . A method according to claim 5 , wherein the layer of hot melt adhesive is applied to the surface of the panel using a roller provided with a mass of molten hot melt adhesive.
7 . A method according to claim 5 , wherein the layer of hot melt adhesive is cooled down to a temperature below the melting temperature of the hot melt adhesive before the panel and surface covering are brought in the spatially aligned relationship.
8 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein the layer of hot melt adhesive is provided at a location remote from a production location of the object, wherein the panel provided with the layer of hot melt adhesive is transported to the production location.
9 . A method according to claim 8 , wherein multiple panels provided with a layer of hot melt adhesive are transported and/or stored while being in a stacked arrangement without a protective foil being present on each layer of hot melt adhesive.
10 . A method according to claim 8 , wherein the method comprises a step of removing exogenous particles from the surface of the layer of hot melt adhesive before the hot melt adhesive is heated to a temperature above its melting temperature.
11 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the panel and/or surface covering are heated before the panel and surface covering are pressed together.
12 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the panel is a fibrous material.
13 . A method according to claim 12 , wherein the fibrous material comprises cellulosic fibres.
14 . A method according to claim 13 , wherein the fibrous material comprises artificial polymer in addition to the cellulosic fibres.
15 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the hot melt adhesive comprises a polyester polymer.
16 . A method according to claim 15 , wherein the polymer is a condensation polymer.
17 . A method according to claim 15 , wherein the polymer has a weight averaged molecular weight (Mw) between 15,000 and 30,000 g/mol.
18 . A method according to claim 15 , wherein the polymer has a crystallinity of between 5 and 40%.
19 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein for separating the surface covering from the panel, the hot melt adhesive is heated to a temperature above its melting temperature using radiation.
20 . A method for producing an object consisting of a panel durably provided with a surface covering, comprising:
providing a layer of hot melt adhesive on the panel,
bringing the panel and the surface covering in a spatially aligned relationship,
heating the hot melt adhesive to a temperature above its melting temperature,
pressing the surface covering against the panel while the hot melt layer is an intermediate layer,
cooling down the hot melt adhesive to a temperature below its melting temperature to form the object.
21 . A method according to claim 20 , wherein the panel has a surface larger than 0.3 m 2 .
22 . A panel, one surface of which is provided with a layer of hot melt adhesive having a melting temperature between 40 and 150° C., wherein the thickness of the layer is 50-400 g/m 2 .