Linoleum flooring

Abstract

Described herein is a linoleum flooring product that includes a linoleum substrate and a printed wear layer having decorative indicia. The printed wear layer includes a wear layer and an ink print layer. The linoleum substrate may include a base linoleum layer applied on a backing material and the printed wear layer may be adhesively bonded onto the linoleum substrate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flooring tile having a first major surface opposite a second major surface, the linoleum flooring product comprising:
 a backing layer having an upper surface opposite a lower surface;   a linoleum substrate having an upper surface opposite a lower surface; and   a printed wear layer comprising an upper surface opposite a lower surface, the printed wear layer comprising:
 a transparent wear sub-layer; and 
 an inked decorative indicia sub-layer; 
   wherein the lower surface of the printed wear layer is adhesively bonded to the upper surface of the linoleum substrate, and the lower surface of the linoleum substrate is bonded to the upper surface of the backing layer.   
     
     
         2 . The flooring tile of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent wear layer is formed of polyethylene terephtalate glycol-modified. 
     
     
         3 . The flooring tile of  claim 1 , wherein the second major surface of the linoleum flooring product comprises the lower surface of the backing layer. 
     
     
         4 . The flooring tile of  claim 1 , wherein the first major surface of the linoleum flooring product comprises the upper surface of the printed wear layer. 
     
     
         5 . The flooring tile of  claim 1 , wherein the linoleum substrate comprises a base linoleum sub-layer having an upper surface opposite a lower surface; and
 a visible linoleum sub-layer having an upper surface opposite a lower surface;   wherein the lower surface of the visible linoleum sub-layer is adjacent to the upper surface of the base linoleum layer.   
     
     
         6 . The flooring tile of  claim 5 , wherein the visible linoleum layer includes additive decorative components selected from the group consisting of colored particles, granules, chips, and flakes. 
     
     
         7 . The flooring tile of  claim 1 , wherein the printed wear layer is bonded to the linoleum substrate with an ultraviolet curable adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The flooring tile of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent wear layer has a thickness of about 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The flooring tile of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative indicia is disposed in the printed wear layer below the wear layer and linoleum substrate, the decorative indicia being visible through the wear layer. 
     
     
         10 . The flooring tile of  claim 1 , the printed wear layer further comprising a pad coat sub-layer printed with the decorative indicia, the pad coat sub-layer being applied to the lower surface of the inked decorative sub-layer. 
     
     
         11 . A flooring tile having a first major surface opposite a second major surface, the linoleum flooring product comprising:
 a backing layer having an upper surface opposite a lower surface;   a linoleum substrate having an upper surface opposite a lower surface;   an adhesive layer having an upper surface opposite a lower surface; and   a printed wear layer comprising an upper surface opposite a lower surface:   wherein the adhesively layer is present between the lower surface of the printed wear layer and the upper surface of the linoleum substrate.   
     
     
         12 . The flooring tile of  claim 11 , wherein the transparent wear layer is formed of polyethylene terephtalate glycol-modified. 
     
     
         13 . The flooring tile of  claim 11 , wherein the second major surface of the linoleum flooring product comprises the lower surface of the backing layer. 
     
     
         14 . The flooring tile of  claim 11 , wherein the first major surface of the linoleum flooring product comprises the upper surface of the printed wear layer. 
     
     
         15 . The flooring tile of  claim 11 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises an ultraviolet curable adhesive. 
     
     
         16 . The flooring tile of  claim 11 , wherein the adhesive layer has a thickness of about 2 mils. 
     
     
         17 . A flooring tile having a first major surface opposite a second major surface, the linoleum flooring product comprising:
 a linoleum substrate having an upper surface opposite a lower surface;   an adhesive layer having an upper surface opposite a lower surface; and   a printed wear layer comprising an upper surface opposite a lower surface, the printed wear layer comprising a transparent wear sub-layer; and   wherein the lower surface of the printed wear layer is adhesively bonded to the upper surface of the linoleum substrate by the adhesive layer.   
     
     
         18 . The flooring tile of  claim 17 , wherein the second major surface of the linoleum flooring product comprises the lower surface of the backing layer. 
     
     
         19 . The flooring tile of  claim 17 , wherein the first major surface of the linoleum flooring product comprises the upper surface of the printed wear layer. 
     
     
         20 . The flooring tile of  claim 17 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises an ultraviolet curable adhesive.