Element for mineral synthetic surface covering
The present invention concerns a surface covering element comprising: a mineral substrate layer, optionally coated with a suitable primer; a decor printed onto the substrate layer, forming a decor layer; and—a transparent protection layer obtained from a curable polymer formulation. It further concerns a process for its manufacture comprising the following steps: a. providing a mineral substrate layer; b. optionally, applying a primer onto at least one surface of the mineral substrate layer; c. printing a decor onto the substrate layer; and d. coating the printed decor with a transparent protection layer obtained from a curable polymer formulation.
1. A surface covering element comprising:
a mineral substrate layer;
a decor printed directly onto the mineral substrate layer, forming a decor layer; and
a transparent protection layer obtained from a curable polymer formulation;
wherein the mineral substrate layer is based on a fiber cement, and wherein the mineral substrate layer is not coated with a primer.
2. The surface covering element according to claim 1 , wherein the mineral substrate layer further comprises organic or mineral fibers.
3. The surface covering element according to claim 1 , wherein the curable polymer formulation comprises polyurethane.
4. The surface covering element according to claim 1 , wherein the transparent protection layer is obtained from a formulation comprising one or more polyurethanes, one or more polyacrylic polymers, and one or more polyesters.
5. The surface covering element according to claim 1 , wherein the surface covering is a wall covering.
6. The surface covering element according to claim 1 , wherein the surface covering is a floor covering.
7. The surface covering element according to claim 5 , further comprising a connecting system located on the edges of the surface covering element.
8. A process for the manufacture of a surface covering element according to claim 1 , comprising:
a. providing a mineral substrate layer;
b. printing a decor directly onto the mineral substrate layer, wherein the mineral substrate layer is not coated with a primer; and
c. coating the printed decor with a transparent protection layer obtained from a curable polymer formulation.
9. The process according to claim 8 , wherein b is carried out using an ink-jet printer.
10. The process according to claim 8 , wherein b is carried out using a digital printer.
11. The process according to claim 8 , wherein the temperature does not exceed 300° C.
12. The surface covering element according to claim 6 , further comprising a connecting system located on the edges of the surface covering element.
13. A surface covering element comprising:
a mineral substrate layer;
a decor directly printed onto the substrate layer, forming a decor layer wherein the mineral substrate layer is not coated with a primer; and
a transparent protection layer obtained from a curable polymer formulation wherein said mineral substrate layer is based on a geopolymer, and wherein said geopolymer is a chemical compound or mixture of compounds comprising repeating units of a material selected from the group consisting of silicon, aluminum, phosphorous, iron, and other metal cations linked together by oxygen atoms.
14. The surface covering element according to claim 13 , wherein the mineral substrate layer further comprises organic or mineral fibers.
15. The surface covering element according to claim 13 , wherein the curable polymer formulation comprises polyurethane.
16. The surface covering element according to claim 13 , wherein the transparent protection layer is obtained from a formulation comprising one or more polyurethanes, one or more polyacrylic polymers, and one or more polyesters.