Panel and panel system for covering a surface
A panel which may be used as a part of a surface covering system, such as that for a wall or a ceiling, and which is useful to provide easy installation, durability, beneficial fire preventive performance, resistance to mold growth, and resistance to moisture. The panels may have a first major surface, a second major surface opposite the first major surface, and a side surface extending between the first and second major surfaces. The panel may be formed from polyvinyl chloride present in an amount from about 45 to about 70 wt. %; carbonate present in an amount from about 10 to about 31 wt. %; stearate present in an amount from about 1 to about 6 wt. %; and aluminum hydroxide present in an amount from about 10 to about 30 wt. %.
1 . A panel for covering a surface, the panel comprising: polyvinyl chloride present in an amount from 45 to 70 wt. %; carbonate present in an amount from 10 to 31 wt. %; stearate present in an amount from 1 to 6 wt. %; and aluminum hydroxide present in an amount from 10 to 30 wt. %; wherein the stearate comprises an alkaline earth metal stearate and a divalent transition metal stearate; and wherein the carbonate comprises a blend of calcium carbonate and sodium carbonate present at a weight ratio ranging from 10:1 to 300:1.
2 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the polyvinyl chloride is present in an amount from 50 to 65 wt. %.
3 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the carbonate comprises one or more of one or more alkali metal carbonates and alkaline earth metal carbonates.
4 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the carbonate comprises the blend of calcium carbonate and sodium carbonate present at a weight ratio ranging from 30:1 to 225:1.
5 . The panel according to claim 1 wherein the stearate comprises alkaline earth metal stearate and divalent transition metal stearate, and wherein a weight ratio of the alkaline earth metal stearate to the divalent transition metal stearate is from 1:1 to 50:1, from 15:1 to 40:1, from 17:1 to 35:1, or from 20:1 to 30:1.
6 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the stearate comprises one or more of calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, zinc stearate, copper stearate, nickel stearate, and manganese stearate.
7 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the stearate is a mixture of calcium stearate and zinc stearate.
8 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the aluminum hydroxide is present in an amount from 10 to 25 wt. %.
9 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the panel further comprises a pigment.
10 . The panel according to claim 9 , wherein the pigment is titanium dioxide or carbon black, and wherein the pigment is present in an amount from about 1 to about 10 wt. %.
11 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the panel has a density of from about 0.3 g/cm 3 to about 1.5 g/cm 3 .
12 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the panel is embossed with a woodgrain pattern.
13 . The panel according to claim 1 wherein the panel comprises a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and a peripheral edge extending between the front and rear surfaces, the peripheral edge comprising a first edge portion, a second edge portion adjacent to the first edge, a third edge portion adjacent to the second edge portion, and a fourth edge portion adjacent to the first and third edge portions, and wherein the first and second edge portions comprise a groove and the third and fourth edge portions comprise a tongue.
14 . The panel according to claim 1 wherein the panel is a ceiling panel or a wall panel.
15 . A ceiling or wall covering system comprising a plurality of the panels according to claim 1 being mounted on a substrate.
16 . The ceiling or wall covering system according to claim 15 wherein each of the panels comprises a peripheral edge comprising a tongue and a groove, and wherein the tongue of each of the panels nests within the groove of an adjacent panel.
17 . The ceiling or wall covering system according to claim 15 , further comprising an adhesive tape configured to couple the panels to the substrate.