Floor panel containing a polymer and cork
A vinyl floor panel for a flooring system prepared from a blend of a polymer and cork granules. The floor panel includes top and bottom surfaces with a first layer between both surfaces. A printed pattern is located on the top surface. The first layer is prepared from a blend of a polymer polyvinyl chloride and cork granules, where the cork granules are evenly distributed with the polyvinyl chloride throughout the length, width, and thickness of the first layer.
1. A floor panel, comprising:
a top and bottom surface, the top surface having a printable pattern;
a first layer prepared from a blend of a polymer and cork granules, the cork granules evenly distributed with polyvinyl chloride through the length, width, and thickness of the first layer; and
a second layer of flexible polymeric material and a third layer prepared from a rigid polymeric material, the second and third layers positioned on opposite surfaces of the first layer.
2. The floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the blend is a homogenous blend.
3. The floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer is polyvinyl chloride.
4. The floor panel according to claim 3 , wherein the polyvinyl chloride is a resin.
5. The floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the cork granules have a thickness of about 0.03-0.3 mm.
6. The floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the first layer is a composition of about 100 parts of polyvinyl chloride and about 15-150 parts of cork granules.
7. The floor panel according to claim 6 , wherein the first layer further includes about 40-120 parts of plasticizer.
8. The floor panel according to claim 5 , wherein the first layer thickness is about 1.5-2.7 mm.
9. The floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the second layer includes a thin coating layer, a durable wear layer and an ornamental layer having printed features.
10. The floor panel according to claim 9 , wherein the thin coating layer, the durable wear layer or the ornamental layer is textured.
11. The floor panel according to claim 9 , wherein the ornamental layer is positioned on the surface of the first layer, the printed features facing away from the third layer.
12. The floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein third layer is a uniform layer of high density plastic.
13. The floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom layer includes a fastening source that maintains connection between the floor panel and an adjacent floor panel or a surface of a floor.
14. The floor panel according to claim 1 , further comprising a fastening source.
15. The floor panel according to claim 14 , wherein the fastening source is a pre-applied adhesive.
16. The floor panel according to claim 14 , wherein the fastening source is a locking system.