Recyclable surface covering and method and system for manufacturing a recyclable surface covering

Abstract

A process and system for making a laminated surface covering and the surface covering itself are described. The covering includes several layers bonded to each other. The system performs the process. One example of the process includes passing a first material across a first conveyor, passing a second material across a second conveyor, passing a bonding material across a third conveyor, contacting the first material and the second material to the bonding material, and heating at least one of the first material and the second material. The process also includes introducing the first material, the second material, and the bonding material into a pressure zone such that the bonding material is introduced between a bottom surface of the first material and a top surface of the second material. The process applies pressure to bond the first material and second material together via the bonding material to produce a laminated material.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A process for making a laminated surface covering, comprising:
 conveying a facing material;   conveying a backing material;   heating at least one of the facing material and the backing material;   after said heating, contacting the facing material and the backing material to a bonding material, such that the bonding material is sandwiched between the facing and backing materials;   introducing the sandwiched facing, backing, and bonding material into a laminator; and   applying pressure to bond the facing material and backing material together via the bonding material to produce a laminated material.