Decorative wpc panel comprising a low-porous profiled edge and method for producing the same

Abstract

A decorative panel comprising a plate-shaped carrier made of a wood plastic composite (WPC) material, wherein the plate-shaped carrier comprises a profile and/or a cutting edge in at least one edge region, and wherein the profile and/or the cutting edge has a substantially sealed surface. A method for producing such panel including a step of subjecting a surface of a profile and/or cutting edge to a thermal treatment to at least partially melt the WPC material in the region of the profile and seal the surface.

1 . Decorative panel comprising a plate-shaped carrier made of a wood plastic composite (WPC) material, wherein the plate-shaped carrier in at least one edge region has a profile and/or a cutting edge, characterized in that the profile and/or cutting edge comprises a substantially sealed surface. 
     
     
         2 . The decorative panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the WPC material comprises a plastic material from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyisobutylene (PIB), polybutylene (PB), or mixtures or co-polymerizates thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The decorative panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a decor applied onto the plate-shaped carrier by means of direct printing. 
     
     
         4 . A method for producing a decorative panel, comprising the steps of:
 providing a plate-shaped carrier made of a WPC material;   forming a profile and/or a cutting edge in at least one edge of the plate-shaped carrier;   subjecting a surface of the introduced profile and/or cutting edge to a thermal treatment to at least partially melt the WPC material in the region of the profile and seal the surface.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the forming of the profile and/or the cutting edge is carried out by a machining or cutting process. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the melting of the WPC material is implemented by heating the a cutting or machining tool used in the machining or cutting process for the profiling and/or cutting of the at least one edge of the plate-shaped carrier to a temperature greater than or equal to a melting temperature of the WPC material and less than a decomposition temperature of the WPC material. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the machining or cutting tool is temperature controlled to a maximum temperature of 30° C. above the melting temperature of the WPC material. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the temperature control of the machining or cutting tool is implemented by a heating and/or cooling device. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the temperature of the machining or cutting tool is monitored contact-free. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein at least the profiled region of the edge of the plate-shaped carrier is cooled down to a temperature below the melting point after the melting of the WPC material and sealing of the surface. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the cooling is carried out within a period of ≦60 s. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 4 , comprising applying a decor to the carrier by a direct printing process subsequently to the providing the plate-shaped carrier. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising a step for applying a printing base prior to the step of applying a decor. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 4 , comprising applying a decor to the carrier by a direct printing process subsequently to the forming the profile and/or the cutting edge in the edge of the plate-shaped carrier. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 4 , comprising applying a decor to the carrier by a direct printing process subsequently to the forming the profile and/or the cutting edge in the edge of the plate-shaped carrier. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 4  comprising:
 the providing the carrier; 
 the forming the profile; 
 and the thermal treatment; 
 wherein the thermal treatment is performed during the forming the profile by heating a tool used in the forming the profile; and 
 applying a decor to the carrier by a printing process performed after the forming the profile. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14  further comprising applying a wear layer over the decor. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16  further comprising applying a wear layer over the decor.