Floor element for forming a floor covering, a floor covering, and a method for manufacturing a floor element
A floor element for forming a floor covering, the floor element comprising a decorative layer comprising a brittle material, and a resin material that permeates a lower surface of the decorative layer.
1. A floor element for forming a floor covering, the floor element comprising:
a decorative layer comprising a brittle material;
a resin material that permeates a lower surface of the decorative layer and covers 80 percent or more of the lower surface of the decorative layer; and
a support layer arranged below the decorative layer, the support layer having a flexural modulus between 1.5 and 3.5 GPa,
wherein the resin content of the floor element is at least 150 g/sqm.
2. The floor element according to claim 1 , wherein the resin material comprises epoxy.
3. The floor element according to claim 1 , wherein the resin material is free from fillers.
4. The floor element according to claim 1 , wherein the decorative layer is made of a ceramic material.
5. The floor element according to claim 4 , wherein the decorative layer has an apparent porosity comprised between 0.1% and 10% measured according to ASTM C373.
6. The floor element according to claim 4 , wherein the decorative layer has a volume of open pores comprised between 0.01 cc and 1 cc measured according to ASTM C373.
7. The floor element according to claim 4 , wherein the decorative layer comprises a red body ceramic tile.
8. The floor element according to claim 4 , wherein the decorative layer comprises a porcelain tile.
9. The floor element according to claim 4 , wherein the decorative layer comprises a glazed upper surface.
10. The floor element according to claim 1 , wherein the support layer comprises rigid polyvinylchloride (PVC).
11. The floor element according to claim 1 , wherein the support layer has a thickness less than 6 mm.
12. The floor element according to claim 1 , wherein the support layer comprises edges provided with coupling elements configured to realize a mechanical coupling with coupling elements of an adjacent floor element.
13. The floor element according to claim 12 , wherein the coupling elements are configured such that the mechanical coupling results in a locking between the coupling edges in a vertical and/or one or more horizontal directions.
14. The floor element according to claim 12 , wherein, the coupling elements are coupled with play in the coupled condition.
15. The floor element according to claim 13 , wherein the play is such that the coupling elements are coupled to each other without being deformed.
16. A floor covering comprising a plurality of floor elements according to claim 1 .