Floor panel for forming a floor covering
Floor panel for forming a floor covering, where the floor panel includes a carrier on the basis of a thermoplastic material and a top layer provided on the carrier. The thermoplastic material is free from plasticizers or includes a plasticizer in an amount up to maximum 20 phr, where the thermoplastic material is foamed or expanded, and where the carrier is provided with a reinforcement layer.
1. A floor panel for forming a floor covering, wherein the floor panel comprises:
a carrier consisting of a first layer comprising a first thermoplastic material; wherein said first thermoplastic material is a thermoplastic polyester or polypropylene; wherein said carrier has a calibrated thickness and forms at least 40 percent of a thickness of said floor panel; said first layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein said bottom surface forms an underside of said floor panel;
a top layer provided on the carrier, the top layer including at least a print and at least a wear layer; wherein said print is applied on a synthetic material film, wherein said synthetic material film is directly fused to said top surface or bonded to said top surface of the first layer with an adhesive agent;
wherein said floor panel is provided on at least two opposite edges with coupling means which allow that two of such floor panels can be coupled to each other in such a manner that a locking is obtained in a vertical direction perpendicular to a plane of coupled panels as well as in a horizontal direction perpendicular to coupled edges and in the plane of the floor panel; wherein the coupling means are provided substantially in said carrier.
2. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein said first thermoplastic material is polyethylene terephthalate.
3. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein said first layer further comprises fillers.
4. The floor panel of claim 3 , wherein said fillers comprise inorganic filler.
5. The floor panel of claim 4 , wherein said first layer further comprises separate glass fibers.
6. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein said print has a wood pattern representing an image of a single wooden plank.
7. The floor panel of claim 6 , wherein said top layer comprises embossments providing a relief simulating a wood texture.
8. A floor panel for forming a floor covering, wherein the floor panel comprises:
a carrier consisting of a first layer comprising a first thermoplastic material and inorganic filler; wherein said first thermoplastic material is polyethylene terephthalate or polypropylene; wherein said carrier has a calibrated thickness and forms at least 40 percent of a thickness of said floor panel; said first layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein said bottom surface forms an underside of said floor panel;
a top layer provided on the carrier, the top layer including at least a print and at least a wear layer; wherein said print is applied by means of a digital printer on a basic layer or primer provided on said top surface of the first layer and wherein said wear layer comprises a lacquer layer solidified at least by UV light or excimer radiation;
wherein said floor panel is provided on at least two opposite edges with coupling means which allow that two of such floor panels can be coupled to each other in such a manner that a locking is obtained in a vertical direction perpendicular to a plane of coupled panels as well as in a horizontal direction perpendicular to coupled edges and in the plane of the floor panel; wherein the coupling means are provided substantially in said carrier.
9. The floor panel of claim 8 , wherein said first layer further comprises separate glass fibers.
10. The floor panel of claim 8 , wherein said print has a wood pattern representing an image of a single wooden plank, and said top layer comprises embossments providing a relief simulating a wood texture.
11. A method for manufacturing a floor panel, wherein said method at least comprises:
the step of providing a carrier, wherein said carrier consists of a first layer comprising a first thermoplastic material; wherein said first thermoplastic material is a thermoplastic polyester or polypropylene; said first layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein said bottom surface forms an underside of said floor panel;
the step of calibrating said carrier to provide said carrier with a calibrated thickness;
the step of providing a top layer to said carrier, at least by providing a basic layer or primer on said top surface of the first layer and digitally printing on said basic layer or primer; and providing a wear layer on said print; wherein said wear layer comprises a lacquer layer, wherein said lacquer layer is solidified at least by means of UV light or at least by means of excimer radiation;
the step of providing said floor panel by means of a milling operation on at least two opposite edges with coupling means which allow that two of such floor panels can be coupled to each other in such a manner that a locking is obtained in a vertical direction perpendicular to a plane of coupled panels as well as in a horizontal direction perpendicular to coupled edges and in the plane of the floor panel; wherein the coupling means are provided substantially in said carrier;
wherein said carrier forms at least 40 percent of a thickness of said floor panel.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said first thermoplastic material is polyethylene terephthalate.
13. The floor panel of claim 11 , wherein said first layer further comprises inorganic fillers.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said first layer further comprises separate glass fibers.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein said print has a wood pattern representing an image of a single wooden plank, and wherein said method further comprises the step of providing embossments in said top layer, wherein said embossments provide a relief simulating a wood texture.