Removable and recyclable/reusable vinyl tile and method of using same

Abstract

A recyclable and reusable tile includes at least three layers, a stability layer, a design layer, and a wear layer. The tile defines an upper surface and a lower surface. The stability layer includes a glass or glass-based reinforcement, and the tile has a flexural modulus in a range of about 1000 MPa to about 3000 MPa, preferably in a range of about 1500 MPa to about 1700 MPa, and preferably about 1600 MPa. A combination of a recyclable and reusable tile and a low tack tackifier, and a method of installing a recyclable and reusable vinyl tile surface on an associated subfloor, and reusing such a tile are also disclosed.

1 . A recyclable and reusable tile comprising:
 at least three layers, a stability layer, a design layer, and a wear layer, the tile defining an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the stability layer includes a glass or glass-based reinforcement, the tile having a flexural modulus in a range of about 1000 MPa to about 3000 MPa.   
     
     
         2 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein the flexural modulus is in a range of about 1500 MPa to about 1700 MPa. 
     
     
         3 . The tile of  claim 2 , wherein the flexural modulus is about 1600 MPa. 
     
     
         4 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein the tile is a vinyl tile. 
     
     
         5 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein the stability layer is a PVC-based material. 
     
     
         6 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein the tile includes a backing. 
     
     
         7 . The tile of  claim 6 , wherein the backing is a PVC-based material. 
     
     
         8 . The tile of  claim 6 , wherein the backing has surface roughness less than about 5 μm. 
     
     
         9 . The tile of  claim 8 , wherein the surface roughness is less than about 2 μm. 
     
     
         10 . The tile of  claim 6 , wherein the backing is a non-PVC-based material. 
     
     
         11 . The tile of  claim 10 , wherein the non-PVC-based material is one or a combination of polyethylene, polypropylene, olefin copolymers, rubbers, and ethylene vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         12 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein the stability layer includes a glass fleece material. 
     
     
         13 . The tile of  claim 12 , wherein the stability layer further includes a filler. 
     
     
         14 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein the tile includes at least four layers, and wherein the at least four layers include a stability layer, a design layer, a wear layer, and a surface layer. 
     
     
         15 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein the design layer is printed on the stability layer. 
     
     
         16 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein the stability layer is formed having a partial cellular structure. 
     
     
         17 . In combination, a recyclable and reusable tile, and an adhesive,
 the recyclable and reusable tile comprising at least three layers, a stability layer, a design layer, and a wear layer, the tile defining an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the stability layer includes a glass or glass-based reinforcement, the tile having a flexural modulus in a range of about 1000 MPa to about 3000 MPa, wherein the stability layer is a PVC-based material and includes a glass fleece material, and   wherein the adhesive is a low tack adhesive.   
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 17 , wherein the adhesive comprises an acrylic copolymer based material. 
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 18 , wherein the acrylic copolymer based material has a low glass transition temperature. 
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 17 , wherein the adhesive is a moisture resistant polymeric material. 
     
     
         21 . The combination of  claim 17 , wherein the adhesive is a pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         22  The combination of  claim 17 , wherein the flexural modulus is in a range of about 1500 MPa to about 1700 MPa. 
     
     
         23 . The combination of  claim 22 , wherein the flexural modulus is about 1600 MPa. 
     
     
         24 . The combination of  claim 22 , wherein the tile includes a backing. 
     
     
         25 . The combination of  claim 24 , wherein the backing is a PVC-based material. 
     
     
         26 . The combination of  claim 25 , wherein the backing has surface roughness less than about 5 μm. 
     
     
         27 . The combination of  claim 26 , wherein the surface roughness is less than about 2 μm. 
     
     
         28 . The combination of  claim 22 , wherein the backing is a non-PVC-based material. 
     
     
         29 . The combination of  claim 28 , wherein the non-PVC-based material is one or a combination of polyethylene, polypropylene, olefin copolymers, rubbers, and ethylene vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         30 . A method of installing a recyclable and reusable vinyl tile surface on an associated subfloor comprising:
 providing a tile having at least three layers, a stability layer, a design layer, and a wear layer, the tile defining an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the stability layer includes glass fleece reinforcement material, the tile having a flexural modulus in a range of about 1000 MPa to about 3000 MPa;   applying a low tack adhesive to the associate subfloor; and   applying the tile to the adhesive.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the adhesive is applied as a nonconformal coating. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the nonconformal coating provides channels between areas of adhesive. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , further including removing the tile from the subfloor and wherein upon removal of the tile from the subfloor, less than about five percent of the adhesive remains on the tile. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein less than about 1 percent of the adhesive remains on the tile. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the tile is reapplied to another associated subfloor. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the tile includes a backing. 
     
     
         37  The method of  claim 36 , wherein the backing is a PVC-based material. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the backing has surface roughness less than about 5 μm. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the surface roughness is less than about 2 μm. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the backing is a non-PVC-based material. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the non-PVC-based material is one or a combination of polyethylene, polypropylene, olefin copolymers, rubbers, and ethylene vinyl acetate.