Floor panel

Abstract

A floor panel includes a substrate, a decorative layer and a wear layer. The decorative layer is positioned between the substrate and the wear layer. At least one of the substrates, the decorative layer and the wear layer has a thermoplastic synthetic material. The floor panel further includes a foamed backing layer attached to a side of the panel opposite to the wear layer. The foamed backing layer has a density of at least 120 kg/m3 and a compressive strength value as determined in accordance with ASTM D 3575-91 (25%) of at least 210 kPa.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A floor panel comprising a substrate, a decorative layer and a wear layer, said decorative layer being positioned between the substrate and the wear layer,
 wherein at least one of the substrates, the decorative layer and the wear layer comprises a thermoplastic synthetic material, the floor panel further comprising a foamed backing layer attached to a side of the floor panel opposite to the wear layer, the foamed backing layer having a density of at least 120 kg/m3 and a compressive strength value as determined in accordance with ASTM D 3575-91 (25%) of at least 210 kPa.   
     
     
         17 . The floor panel of  claim 16 , wherein the foamed backing layer has a compressive strength value within the range of 250 to 750 kPa. 
     
     
         18 . The floor panel of  claim 16 , wherein the density of the foamed backing layer has a density within the range of 130 kg/m3 to 350 kg/m3. 
     
     
         19 . The floor panel of  claim 16 , wherein the foamed backing layer has a thickness of between 0.50 mm and 1.0 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The floor panel of  claim 16 , wherein the foamed backing layer comprises cross-linked polyethylene. 
     
     
         21 . The floor panel of  claim 16 , wherein the substrate comprises polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         22 . The floor panel of  claim 16 , wherein a reinforcement layer is incorporated in the substrate. 
     
     
         23 . The floor panel of  claim 22 , wherein the reinforcement layer has an open structure. 
     
     
         24 . The floor panel of  claim 22 , wherein the reinforcement layer comprises glass-fibre, a nonwoven cloth or a net. 
     
     
         25 . The floor panel of  claim 22 , wherein the reinforcement layer within the substrate is closer to the foamed backing layer than to the decorative layer. 
     
     
         26 . The floor panel of  claim 16 , wherein the panel has a total thickness of between 2.5 mm and 5.0 mm. 
     
     
         27 . The floor panel of  claim 16 , wherein the decorative layer is a printed PVC layer. 
     
     
         28 . The floor panel of  claim 27 , wherein the printed PVC layer has a thickness of between 0.08 mm and 0.10 mm. 
     
     
         29 . The floor panel of  claim 16 , wherein the wear layer is a transparent PVC layer, and
 wherein the panel is provided with a topcoat, the topcoat being formed from a UV-curable lacquer layer.   
     
     
         30 . The floor panel of  claim 16 , wherein the wear layer comprises an upper surface in which a relief is realized, said relief comprising a plurality of recesses. 
     
     
         31 . A floor covering assembled from floor panels,
 wherein the floor panels comprise a substrate, a decorative layer and a wear layer, said decorative layer being positioned between the substrate and the wear layer,   wherein at least one of the substrates, the decorative layer and the wear layer comprises a thermoplastic synthetic material, the floor panel further comprising a foamed backing layer attached to a side of the floor panel opposite to the wear layer, the foamed backing layer having a density of at least 120 kg/m3 and a compressive strength value as determined in accordance with ASTM D 3575-91 (25%) of at least 210 kPa, and   wherein the floor panels are loosely installed or glued to a subfloor with an additional layer available between the subfloor and the panel.   
     
     
         32 . The floor covering according to  claim 31 , wherein the foamed backing layer comprises cross-linked polyethylene or an open or closed cell foamed polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         33 . The floor covering according to  claim 31 , wherein the substrate comprises polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         34 . The floor covering according to  claim 31 , wherein the decorative layer is a printed PVC layer. 
     
     
         35 . The floor covering according to  claim 31 , wherein the wear layer is a transparent PVC layer, and
 wherein the panel is provided with a topcoat, the topcoat being formed from a UV-curable lacquer layer.