Panel having sealed panel edge and method for producing said panel
By forming a chamfer and impregnating it with a moisture-resistant agent, the method enhances panel edge protection against moisture ingress, addressing the susceptibility of existing panels to joint-related damage and swelling, ensuring durability and ease of installation.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CA · CA
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SURFACE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO KG
- Filing Date
- 2021-02-17
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-28
AI Technical Summary
Existing panels with chamfers are susceptible to moisture ingress, leading to potential swelling and damage, especially at the panel edges where joints are formed, compromising moisture protection and durability.
A method involving forming a chamfer between panel edges and impregnating it with an impregnating agent, such as dipropylene glycol alkyl ether, followed by sealing with a lacquer to create a moisture barrier that overlaps with subsequent surface finishes, ensuring the impregnation does not penetrate into the joint.
The method provides enhanced moisture protection by preventing moisture absorption at the panel edges, allowing for durable and easy installation while maintaining aesthetic appeal, suitable for various materials including wood-based panels.
Abstract
Description
Panel having sealed panel edge and method for producing said panel Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for producing a panel having a sealed panel edge, a raw panel having a sealed panel edge and an assembly of a panel comprising such a raw panel with a baseboard. Background Panels with retaining profiles are known per se and can be used in particular as decorated wall or floor panels, wherein the term wall panel also refers to panels suitable for ceiling or door cladding. They usually consist of a carrier or core made of a solid material, for example a wood material, plastic or composite material, which is covered on at least one side with a decorative layer and a top layer and optionally with further layers, for example a wear layer arranged between the decorative layer and the top layer. The decorative layer is, for example, a printed paper impregnated with a resin. The top layer and the other layers also usually made of resin, too. Such known panels comprise retaining profiles at the panel edges in a manner known per se. The retaining profiles hold the panels together in the installed state by means of a form-fit connection. In this respect, various retaining profiles are known. Simple tongue- and-groove joints comprise a simple groove and a complementary tongue, which act per- pendicularly to the panel plane. More complex retaining profiles are known in particular for panels for glueless installation. In this case, the complementary retaining profiles of two panels to be connected are designed in such a way that the form-fit connection by hooks and undercuts also prevents the panels from being pulled apart. Thus, the panels can be laid floating, i.e. they do not have to be glued to the floor, and they also need not be glued together. This makes the installation of such panels particularly simple and fast, and due to the flexibility of the connections the bottom can also adapt to a certain extent to unevennesses of the floor and can also react to temperature fluctuations. In addition, with glueless installation, panels can be easily replaced if they are damaged. However, one problem with panels installed in this manner is that the joints are suscepti- ble to liquid ingress. Here the panel edges are exposed to moisture without protection. While the surface of panels is usually designed to withstand heavy use and is also protected against moisture accordingly, the various layers of the panel are exposed at the panel edges. However, these are not all impervious to moisture. The various layers of the panel can therefore potentially absorb moisture when moisture penetrates into the joints and, for example, swell up unintentionally. Thus, there is a need to seal the panel edges of panels. Known panels may have circumferential chamfers. Chamfers make the panels more resistant to wearout due to impacts at the edges and give them a more attractive appear- ance. However, a disadvantage of such chamfers is that when panels are joined together, V-joints are formed in which water can be collected, for example, when the floor is mopped. Thus, the otherwise advantageous panels comprising chamfers are particularly susceptible to the ingress of liquids into the joints and the panel edges. The moisture protection of panels thus still offers potential for improvement. Summary of the Invention It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide panels with improved moisture protection. Preferred embodiments of the invention are provided in the description or in the figures wherein further features described or shown in the description or in the figures may indi- vidually or in any combination constitute a subject matter of the invention, unless the contrary is not clearly deduced from the context. The invention proposes a method for producing a panel having a sealed panel edge, comprising at least the steps of: a) providing a raw panel comprising a panel upper face, a panel lower face and at least a pair of opposing panel edges, wherein said raw panel comprises a carrier plate core and a print substrate layer applied to the panel upper face, b) forming a chamfer between at least one panel edge of the pair of opposing panel edges and the panel upper face, c) sealing the at least one panel edge, wherein the sealing comprises impregnating with an impregnating agent, wherein the impregnating agent is applied onto the at least one panel edge and onto the chamfer. Surprisingly, it has been shown that panels made of such raw panels offer particularly good moisture protection. In particular, by combining the chamfer with the impregna- tion of the chamfer and the panel edge, it can be achieved that the impregnation of the panel edge can overlap with a subsequent surface finish, such as a decorative layer or a wear layer. Thus it can be achieved that no moisture penetrates between moisture- protecting layers into the panel edge. By forming a chamfer and impregnating the chamfer, it can moreover be achieved that moisture is already not absorbed by the chamfer and thus collects in a formed joint instead of being drawn into the joint as by a capillary. In the sense of the invention, the term "panel" means in particular wall, ceiling, door or floor panels. These can comprise a decoration simulating a decorative template ap- plied to a carrier plate core. Decorative panels are used in a variety of ways, both in the field of interior design of rooms and for the decorative cladding of buildings, for example in exhibition stand construction. One of the most common fields of application of decorative panels is their use as floor covering. In many cases, the decorative pan- els comprise a decoration that is intended to imitate a natural material. In the sense of the invention, the term "panel edge" means the surface that connects the panel upper face to the panel lower face. The term "carrier panel core" is to be understood in the sense of the invention to mean that the core of the raw panel consists essentially of a carrier plate. Depending on the desired field of application of the panels, carrier plates can be made of different mate- rials. In particular, the material of the carrier plate can be selected depending on the field of application. For example, the carrier plate may be made of a wood-based ma- terial, provided that the panel is not exposed to excessive moisture or weather condi- tions. If, on the other hand, the panel is to be used, for example, in damp rooms or outdoors, the carrier plate may, for example, be made of a plastic material. Since the present invention relates to the sealing of panel edges, the invention is particularly advantageous for water-sensitive carrier plates, such as carrier plates made of a wood- based material. In this context, wood-based materials in the sense of the invention are, in addition to solid wood materials, materials such as cross-laminated timber, glue-laminated tim- ber, blockboard, veneered plywood, laminated veneer lumber, parallel strand lumber and bending plywood. In addition, wood-based materials in the sense of the invention are also chipboards such as pressboards, extruded boards, oriented structural boards (OSB) and laminated strand lumber as well as wood fiber materials such as wood fiber insulation boards (HFD), medium hard and hard fiberboards (MB, HFH) and in particular medium density fiberboards (MDF) and high density fiberboards (HDF). Even modern wood-based materials such as wood polymer materials (wood plastic composite, WPC), sandwich boards made of a lightweight core material such as foam, rigid foam or honeycomb paper and a layer of wood applied thereto, and minerally hardened, for example with cement, chipboards are wood-based materials in the sense of the invention. Moreover, cork represents a wood-based material in the sense of the invention. In the sense of the invention, a "print substrate layer" means a layer which is suitable for printing. In the sense of the present invention, a "chamfer" is to be understood as the surface which is formed when an edge of two adjacent surfaces is chamfered and which con- nects the two surfaces to each other. Thus, a method described above is particularly useful for producing raw panels having a sealed panel edge. Such raw panels can be further processed by known methods into corresponding panels, in particular into decorative panels. Preferably, it may be provided that providing a raw panel comprises the method steps: d) providing a carrier plate, e) applying a print substrate layer onto an upper face of the carrier plate to form a layer stack, f) compressing the layer stack obtained in step e) to form a multilayer panel, while forming a non-destructively detachable bond between the carrier plate and the print substrate layer, g) dividing the multilayer panel obtained in step f) into raw panels comprising the panel upper face, the panel lower face and the at least one pair of opposing panel edges. Thus, advantageously, a raw panel can be provided, the panel edge of which can be sealed particularly well by the method described above. In particular, it can be advan- tageously provided that the method steps d) to g) are carried out together with method steps a) to c) in a continuous process. Thus, the panel edges can be sealed directly after production. Thus, it can be achieved that the raw panels can already be readily stored as semi-finished products. It can thus be achieved in particular that the storage of the raw panels obtained does not involve particularly high humidity requirements. In the sense of the invention, a carrier plate can be understood in particular to mean a large plate or a web-shaped carrier. In this context, a "web-shaped carrier" can be understood to mean a carrier which, for example in its manufacturing process, has a web-like shape and thus has a significantly greater length compared to its thickness or width, and the length of which can be greater than 15 meters, for example. In the sense of the present invention, a "large plate" can also be understood as a carrier whose dimensions several times exceed the dimensions of the final decorative panels, and which in the course of the manufacturing process is separated in a corresponding plu- rality of decorative panels, for example by sawing, laser or water jet cutting. For exam- ple, the large plate can correspond to the web-shaped carrier. The compressing can advantageously be a compressing by use of a short-cycle press, a belt press or a calender. In the sense of the invention, the separating of the multilayer plate can be understood in particular as a separation of the multilayer plate into a plurality of panels. Separation in this context means in particular cutting along a longitudinal direction of the multilayer plate. For example, in a continuous process, in particular in an endless process, this can be understood to mean cutting along a conveying direction of the carrier. Preferably, it can be provided that the application of the print substrate layer comprises at least applying a first melamine resin layer onto the carrier plate and applying a fiber layer onto the first melamine resin layer, and optionally applying a second melamine resin layer onto the fiber layer. In this way, it can advantageously be achieved that the print substrate layer can be particularly well bonded to the carrier and that a printed decoration adheres particularly well to the print substrate layer. In the sense of the invention, the term "melamine resin layer" is to be understood as a layer comprising a melamine resin, preferably consisting essentially of a melamine resin. Melamine resin in this context means the condensation product of melamine and formaldehyde. This also includes modified melamine resins. For example, the mela- mine resin layer may comprise urea-modified melamine resin, i.e. the condensation product of melamine, urea and formaldehyde. A fiber layer means a layer of a fiber material. In the sense of the present invention the term fiber materials means materials such as paper and nonwoven fabrics on the basis of plant, animal, mineral or even synthetic fibers as well as cardboards. Examples of fiber materials made of plant fibers in addition to papers and nonwoven fabrics made of cellulose fibers are boards made of biomass such as straw, maize straw, bamboo, leaves, algae extracts, hemp, cotton or oil palm fibers. Examples of animal fiber mate- rials are keratin-based materials such as wool or horsehair. Examples of mineral fiber materials are mineral wool or glass wool. Particularly preferably, the fiber layer may be a paper layer. Preferably, it can be provided that after the sealing the method comprises a surface finishing, comprising the method steps: h) printing a decoration onto the panel upper face, i) applying a lacquer-containing top layer onto the panel upper face, and i) optionally structuring the lacquer-containing top layer, wherein the surface finishing optionally also includes the chamfer. Advantageously, this allows the raw panel to be processed into a panel. In particular, it can advantageously be achieved in this way that the surface is adapted according to the desired application of the panel. Advantageously, the lacquer-containing top layer can at least adjoin the sealed panel edge and thus also reduce moisture ingress from above behind the seal. Preferably, the printing of the panel upper face may be direct printing. In the sense of the invention, the term "direct printing" is understood to mean applying a decoration directly onto the panel surface. In contrast to conventional methods, in which a decorative layer previously printed with a desired decoration is applied onto a carrier, in direct printing the decoration is printed directly in the course of surface coat- ing or panel manufacture. Here, different printing techniques, such as flexographic printing, offset printing or screen printing, can be used. Here, in particular, digital print- ing processes such as inkjet processes or laser printing processes can be used. The term "digital printing process" is to be understood in the sense of the invention as a computer-controlled direct printing process. Alternatively, it is not excluded in the sense of the present invention that the decoration is applied in such a way that, for example, an already printed fiber layer, such as a paper layer, or also an already printed film, such as of polyethylene, polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride, is applied onto the substrate. In the sense of the invention, a top layer is to be understood as a layer which essentially serves to protect the surface. For example, the top layer may also be an anti-wear layer. In one embodiment, it may be provided that, prior to printing the panel upper face with a decoration, a resin composition, preferably a melamine resin, comprising solids and / or pigment is applied onto the print substrate layer. Preferably, the resin layer comprises solids and / or pigments with a grain diameter <semantics>d50<annotation encoding="application / x-tex">d_{50}< / annotation>< / semantics> between <semantics>≥0.1μm<annotation encoding="application / x-tex">\geq 0.1 \ \mu m< / annotation>< / semantics> and <semantics>≤<annotation encoding="application / x-tex">\leq< / annotation>< / semantics> 120 µm, preferably between ≥ 1 µm and <semantics>≤<annotation encoding="application / x-tex">\leq< / annotation>< / semantics> 100 µm, in a range from ≥ 5 wt.-% to <semantics>≤<annotation encoding="application / x-tex">\leq< / annotation>< / semantics> 85 wt.-%, preferably from <semantics>≥<annotation encoding="application / x-tex">\geq< / annotation>< / semantics> 10 wt.-% to <semantics>≤<annotation encoding="application / x-tex">\leq< / annotation>< / semantics> 80 wt.-%, more preferably between <semantics>≥<annotation encoding="application / x-tex">\geq< / annotation>< / semantics> 35 wt.-% and ≤ 75 wt.-%. The solids may preferably be selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, barium oxide, barium chromate, zirconium(IV)oxide, silicon dioxide, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum oxide, iron oxide, iron(III)hexacyanofer- rate, chromium oxide, cadmium oxide, cadmium sulfide, cadmium selenite, cobalt ox- ide, cobalt phosphate, cobalt aluminate, vanadium oxide, bismuth vanadium oxide, tin oxide, copper oxide, copper sulfate, copper carbonate, lead antimonate, lead chro- mate, lead oxide, lead carbonate, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, calcium alumi- nate sulfate, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, arsenic sulfide, mercury sulfide, carbon black, graphite, or mixtures thereof. The pigments may preferably be selected from the group consisting of Berliner blue, brilliant yellow, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, chromium oxide green, cobalt blue, cobalt coelin blue, cobalt violet, irgazin red, iron oxide black, manganese violet, phthalocyanine blue, Terra di Siena, titanium white, ultramarine blue, ultramarine red, umber, kaolin, zirconium silicate pigments, monoazo yellow and monoazo orange, thioindigo, beta-naphthol pigments, naphthol AS pigments, pyrazo- lone pigments, N-acetoacetic anilide pigments, azometal complex pigments, diaryl yel- low pigments, quinacridone pigments, diketopyrrolopyrrole pigments (DPP), dioxazine pigments, perylene pigments, isoindolinone pigments, copper phthalocyanine pig- ments and mixtures thereof. By using such solids, in particular, a colored print substrate can be provided whose coloring has a property that supports decorative printing. For example, in the case of a decorative design intended to represent a dark wood species, a print substrate with a brown or brownish basic color can be applied, while in the case of a decorative design intended to represent a light wood species or a light-colored stone, a print substrate with a yellow or white basic color can be applied. In the sense of the invention, the term "lacquer-containing top layer" is to be under- stood as a layer comprising a topcoat, preferably consisting essentially of a topcoat. The application of the lacquer-containing top layer can also comprise the application of several top layers. Preferably, it can be provided that the lacquer-containing top layer is cured after appli- cation, preferably radiation cured, particularly preferably radiation cured with UV radi- ation with a wavelength in a range from ≥ 10 nm to ≤ 450 nm. The curing may be a complete curing or a partial curing. Preferably, it can be provided that the lacquer- containing top layer comprises an acrylate-based lacquer, in particular a polyurethane- modified acrylate-based lacquer. In this way, it can be achieved that the lacquer-con- taining top layer can be easily cured and well structured. Preferably, it may be provided that the lacquer-containing top layer comprises hard materials, preferably in an amount between 5 wt.-% and 40 wt.-%, wherein the hard materials preferably have a grain diameter d50 between 10 μm and 250 μm. Generally known methods, such as laser diffraction, can be used to determine the grain diameter. This allows to determine grain diameters in the range from a few nanometers up to several millimeters. This method can also be used to determine d50 and d98 val- ues, respectively, which indicate that 50% (d50) and 98% (d98) of the grains measured are smaller than the specified value. These values, too, can preferably be determined by means of laser diffraction. In the case of a deviation of the measured values ob- tained by means of different measuring methods, the value determined by means of laser diffractometry is considered by the applicant to be decisive. In the sense of the invention, the term "hard materials" is understood to mean materials which have a sufficient hardness. For example, the hard materials may have a Mohs hardness of at least <semantics>≥8<annotation encoding="application / x-tex">\geq 8< / annotation>< / semantics>, preferably at least <semantics>≥9<annotation encoding="application / x-tex">\geq 9< / annotation>< / semantics>. Examples of suitable hard materials are titanium nitride, titanium carbide, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, boron carbide, tungsten carbide, tantalum carbide, aluminum oxide (corundum), zirconium oxide, zir- conium nitride or mixtures thereof. Advantageously, this enables the lacquer-containing top layer to be particularly abra- sion-resistant. Hard materials in the lacquer-containing top layer provide abrasion pro- tection over the entire surface of the lacquer-containing top layer. Preferably, it can be provided that the lacquer-containing top layer is structured. In the sense of the invention, structuring means producing a haptically perceptible structure. It may be provided that the structuring follows a simple pattern. Alternatively, it may be provided that the structure is formed at least partially synchronously with the decora- tion. Thus, preferably, it may be provided that the structuring of the surface comprises forming a structure that is at least partially synchronous with the decoration. Synchronous structuring is understood to mean that the structure is adapted in its shape and pattern to the applied decoration in order to achieve a reproduction as faithful as possible to the original, for example of a natural material, even with regard to the haptic. Preferably, it can be provided that the structure is identical to the three- dimensional structure of a template. When structuring the lacquer-containing top layer, the structure can be introduced di- rectly into the applied lacquer layer by embossing tools. Preferably, the structure can also be produced by a digital printing process. Particularly preferably, it may be provided that the surface finishing also encompasses the chamfer. The fact that the surface finishing also encompasses the chamfer is understood to mean that the method steps described above are also applied to the chamfer in addi- tion to the panel upper face. Thus, the chamfer can be printed with a decoration and provided with a lacquer-containing top layer, which can optionally be structured. This makes it possible to achieve a particularly preferred seal between the print sub- strate layer and the carrier plate core. The surface finishing can be bonded on the chamfer directly to the impregnated carrier plate core. A layer boundary between the carrier plate core and the printing base layer, which lies open at the chamfer, can thus be covered with the decoration and with the lacquer-containing top layer. In one embodiment, it may be provided that a backing paper is applied to the rear side of the carrier plate prior to compressing. In this way it can advantageously be achieved that no stress imbalance is generated between the panel upper face and the panel lower face. Thus, undesired warping of the panel can be prevented. Preferably, it can be provided that the raw panel comprises two pairs of opposing panel edges. Preferably, it may be provided that a chamfer is formed at each panel edge. It may further preferably be provided that each panel edge is sealed. In this way, it can be achieved that the panel is sealed circumferentially. Preferably, it may be provided that the impregnating agent is applied onto the at least one panel edge and onto the chamfer in adjacent areas. In this way, it can advantageously be achieved that for installed panels the transition between an exposed surface of the chamfer to the non-exposed surfaces of the panel edge is impregnated throughout. Thus, it can advantageously be achieved that the panel is particularly well protected against moisture at this transition. Preferably, the pair of opposing panel edges can be profiled while forming complemen- tary retaining profiles prior to the sealing. The term "retaining profile" is understood to mean the geometric design of the panel edge. The term is also understood to include multi-part retaining profiles. The term "complementary retaining profile" is understood to mean a retaining profile whose geometric design essentially complements that of another retaining profile. In other words, a retaining profile that has a tongue essentially where the other retaining profile has a groove, and vice versa. Two complementary retaining profiles can there- fore be fixed to each other in a form-fitting manner. In this case, cavities may remain between the complementary retaining profiles. For example, one retaining profile may comprise a groove and a complementary retaining profile a tongue, or one retaining profile may have a hook and a complementary retaining profile a corresponding under- cut, or both retaining profiles may have hooks and undercuts. Interlocking grooves and tongues, which in a fastened state of two complementary retaining profiles abut one another, are to be understood in the sense of the invention under the term "locking groove". In this way, it can advantageously be achieved that the panels can be laid particularly easily. By forming the retaining profiles prior to sealing, it can advantageously be achieved that the retaining profiles are sealed when the panel edge is sealed. By seal- ing the retaining profiles, it can be achieved that these are protected against moisture, too. Retaining profiles are usually particularly susceptible to moisture, since even slight changes in shape result in that the retaining profiles no longer engage properly with one another. Preferably, it can be provided that the impregnating agent is applied to the at least one panel edge in an area in which the complementary retaining profile forms a locking groove with the complementary retaining profile of an opposite panel edge, wherein the impregnating agent is preferably also applied in this area onto the other panel edge of the pair of opposing panel edges. In this way it can advantageously be achieved that the sealing forms a barrier by means of the tightly abutting surfaces of the retaining profiles. Thus, moisture can advanta- geously not penetrate into the panel edges and is additionally prevented from pene- trating through the joint of two panels attached to each other. Preferably, it can be provided that the impregnating agent is applied onto the chamfer and / or onto the panel edge over the entire surface. In this way, it can advantageously be achieved that the sealing of the panel edge is particularly effective. Preferably, it can be provided that the impregnating agent comprises a dipropylene glycol alkyl ether, preferably a dipropylene glycol methyl ether, particularly preferably 2-methoxy-methylethoxy-propanol. Surprisingly, it has been found that these impregnating agents are particularly suitable for sealing the panel edges. Advantageously, with these impregnating agents it can be achieved that the impregnating agent is at least partially absorbed into the panel edge. This prevents the sealant from being easily removed again. In addition, these impreg- nating agents are particularly odorless, which is why such panels are particularly suit- able for use in living rooms. Furthermore, it has been found that such impregnating agents do not evaporate easily even when exposed to heat, so that the sealant is du- rable even in sunlight, for example. Furthermore, it has surprisingly been shown that the impregnating agent described above does not subsequently impair a subsequent surface finish. For example, the impregnating agents do not impair the adhesion of the decoration or the lacquer-con- taining top layer to the chamfer. Preferably, it may be provided that the impregnating agent comprises dipropylene gly- col alkyl ether in an amount based on the impregnating agent in a range from greater than or equal to 1 wt.-% to less than or equal to 20 wt.-%, preferably greater than or equal to 2.5 wt.-% to less than or equal to 10 wt.-%. In this way, it can be achieved that the impregnating agent can be applied particularly uniformly. Preferably, it can be provided that the impregnating agent comprises a solvent, wherein the solvent preferably consists essentially of C11-C13 isoalkanes. In this way, it can advantageously be achieved that the application of the impregnating agent can be implemented in a particularly simple technical manner. In this way, for example, it can be achieved that the impregnating agent can be sprayed onto the area to be impregnated. In addition, such solvents are advantageously particularly odorless. Preferably, it can be provided that the impregnating agent comprises a dye. In this way it can advantageously be achieved that the correct application of the im- pregnating agent can be easily checked. Preferably, it may be provided that the sealing of the at least one panel edge comprises coating the chamfer with a sealing lacquer. In this way, it can advantageously be achieved that an additional sealing of the chamfer is achieved. In particular, it can be achieved in this way that the impregnation of the chamfer is particularly durable. The sealing lacquer can prevent the impregnation from evaporating via the chamfer over time. Preferably, it can be provided that the sealing lacquer is cured after application, pref- erably radiation-cured, particularly preferably radiation-cured with UV radiation with a wavelength in a range from <semantics>≥<annotation encoding="application / x-tex">\geq< / annotation>< / semantics> 10 nm to <semantics>≤<annotation encoding="application / x-tex">\leq< / annotation>< / semantics> 450 nm. In this way, it can advantageously be achieved that the sealing lacquer can be applied particularly precisely and that the sealing lacquer is particularly stable. It may be provided that the curing is carried out in a first curing step with UV radiation having a wavelength in a range from ≥ 315 nm to ≤ 450 nm, preferably ≥ 380 nm to ≤ 410 nm, and in a second curing step with UV radiation having a wavelength in a range from <semantics>≥<annotation encoding="application / x-tex">\geq< / annotation>< / semantics> 10 nm to <semantics>≤<annotation encoding="application / x-tex">\leq< / annotation>< / semantics> 250 nm, preferably from <semantics>≥<annotation encoding="application / x-tex">\geq< / annotation>< / semantics> 170 nm to <semantics>≤<annotation encoding="application / x-tex">\leq< / annotation>< / semantics> 225 nm. Preferably, it can be provided that the sealing lacquer comprises an acrylate-based lacquer, in particular a polyurethane-modified acrylate-based lacquer. In this way, it can advantageously be achieved that the sealing lacquer can be applied easily and has a good mechanical strength. Preferably, it can be provided that the sealing lacquer is applied at least partially on to the impregnating agent. In this way, an overlap between sealing lacquer and impregnating agent can be achieved, whereby the sealing can be particularly dense. The sealing lacquer can be applied by conventional methods. Preferably, it may be provided that the sealing lacquer is applied by a printing process. In this way, it can be achieved that the sealing lacquer can be applied particularly pre- cisely. The invention also proposes a raw panel with a sealed panel edge produced according to the method described above. The raw panel includes a panel upper face and a panel lower face and at least one pair of opposing panel edges, wherein the raw panel com- prises a carrier plate core and a print substrate layer applied onto the panel upper face, wherein the raw panel comprises a chamfer between at least one panel edge of the pair of opposing panel edges and the panel upper face, and the at least one panel edge comprises a sealing, wherein the at least one panel edge and the chamfer com- prise an impregnating agent. Advantageously, the aforementioned raw panels are particularly well protected against ingress of moisture at the panel edge. Thus, the raw panels can be stored as semi- finished products without particularly high requirements. The raw panels can then be further processed into panels in due course. Preferably, it can be provided that the pair of opposing panel edges comprises com- plementary retaining profiles. This allows the raw panels to be easily further processed into panels comprising com- plementary retaining profiles. The invention also proposes a panel comprising a previously described raw panel com- prising a sealed panel edge. Advantageously, such panels can also be easily wet-cleaned, wherein the risk of swell- ing of the panels is reduced. Thus, even for applications in which high demands are placed on the resistance of panels to moisture, panels can be used which comprise a swellable carrier material, such as panels comprising a carrier plate core made of a wood-based material. Thus, for example, renewable carrier materials can be used for more humid rooms, resulting in increased environmental friendliness. The invention also proposes an assembly of a panel comprising the aforementioned raw panel comprising a baseboard. The baseboard has a decorative side and at least one baseboard edge adjacent to the decorative side, wherein the baseboard comprises a carrier plate core and a print substrate layer applied onto the decorative side, and wherein the baseboard edge comprises the impregnating agent. Preferably, the baseboard edge can be sealed in the same manner as the at least one panel edge as described above. In this way, it can advantageously be achieved that laid panels whose panel edges do not abut the panel edge of an adjacent panel are also well protected against ingress of moisture. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide a method for producing a method for pro- ducing a panel comprising a sealed panel edge, including at least the steps of: a) provid- ing a raw panel comprising a panel upper face, a panel lower face and at least one pair of opposing panel edges, wherein the raw panel comprises a carrier plate core and a print substrate layer applied onto the panel upper face; b) forming a chamfer between at least one panel edge of the pair of opposing panel edges and the panel upper face, c) sealing said at least one panel edge, wherein said sealing comprises impregnating with an im- pregnating agent, wherein said impregnating agent is applied onto the at least one panel edge and onto the chamfer, and wherein the impregnating agent comprises a dipropylene glycol alkyl ether. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide a raw panel comprising a raw panel com- prising a sealed panel edge produced as described herein, comprising a panel upper face and a panel lower face and at least one pair of opposing panel edges, wherein the raw panel comprises a carrier plate core and a print substrate layer applied onto the panel upper face, wherein the raw panel comprises a chamfer between at least one panel edge of the pair of opposing panel edges and the panel upper face, and wherein the at least one panel edge has a sealing, wherein the at least one panel edge and the chamfer comprise an impregnating agent. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is further explained below with reference to the figures. The figures show possible embodiments of the invention. In principle, however, combinations or variations of the embodiments are also possible within the scope of the invention. Figs. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D schematically show a detail of the cross-section of a raw panel after various process steps according to one embodiment of the method; and Fig. 2 schematically shows a cross-section of two interlocked panels with complementary retaining profiles according to one embodiment of the raw panel. Detailed Description Fig. 1A schematically shows a detail of the cross-section of a raw panel 10 which is pro- vided for implementing the method according to one embodiment. The raw panel 10 has a panel upper face 11 and a panel lower face 12 (not shown) and a pair of opposing panel edges 13 (one not shown). The raw panel 10 comprises a carrier plate core 14 and a print substrate layer 15 applied onto the panel upper face 11. The print substrate layer 15 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1A comprises three layers obtained by applying a first melamine resin layer 16 onto the carrier plate, applying a paper layer 17 onto the first melamine resin layer 16, and applying a second melamine resin layer 18 onto the paper layer 17. Fig. 1B schematically shows the detail of the cross-section of the raw panel 10 of Fig. 1A, wherein a chamfer 19 has been formed between a panel edge 13 of the pair of opposing panel edges and the panel upper face 11. The chamfer 19 was for example obtained by milling the corner between the panel edge 13 and the panel upper face 11. Fig. 1C schematically shows the detail of the cross-section of the raw panel 10 from Fig. 1B, wherein the panel edge 13 has been sealed. An impregnating agent 20 was applied onto the panel edge 13 and the chamfer 19. The impregnating agent 20 was a solution of 7 wt.-% 2-methoxy-methylethoxy-propanol in C11-C13 isoalkanes, which was sprayed onto the chamfer 19 and the panel edge 13. Here, the impregnating agent is absorbed into the raw panel 10 at the points where it was applied. Fig. 1D schematically shows the detail of the cross-section of the raw panel 10 of Fig. 1C, wherein the panel edge 13 was additionally sealed by coating the chamfer 19 with a sealing lacquer 23. The sealing lacquer was a polyurethane-modified acrylate-based lacquer which was at least partially cured at a wavelength in a range of ≥ 10 nm to ≤ 450 nm. As a result, a raw panel 10 with sealed panel edges 13 was obtained. Fig. 2 schematically shows the cross-section of two interlocked panels 10 comprising complementary retaining profiles 21 according to one embodiment of the raw panel 10. The dashed box exemplarily shows the detail shown in Figures 1A to 1D. The panels 10 have a panel upper face 11 and a panel lower face 12 and a pair of opposing panel edges 13 (one shown in each case). The raw panel 10 comprises a carrier plate core 14 and a print substrate layer 15 (not shown) applied onto the panel upper face 11. Prior to sealing, the panels 10 were provided with complementary retaining profiles 21 and a chamfer 19. The complementary retaining profiles 21 form locking grooves 22 together with opposing panel edges 13. During sealing, the impregnating agent is also applied in the area of the locking groove. Reference symbols: 10 raw panel 11 panel upper face 5 12 panel lower face 13 panel edge 14 carrier plate core 15 print substrate layer 16 first melamine resin layer 10 17 paper layer 18 second melamine resin layer 19 chamfer 20 impregnating agent 21 complementary retaining profiles 15 22 locking groove 23 sealing lacquer
Claims
<pat:ClaimStatement>CLAIMS:< / pat:ClaimStatement> <pat:Claims com:id="claims"> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00001"> <pat:ClaimNumber>1< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>1. A method for producing a panel comprising a sealed panel edge, including at least the steps of: a) providing a raw panel comprising a panel upper face, a panel lower face and at least one pair of opposing panel edges, wherein the raw panel comprises a carrier plate core and a print substrate layer applied onto the panel upper face; b) forming a chamfer between at least one panel edge of the pair of opposing panel edges and the panel upper face, C) sealing said at least one panel edge, wherein said sealing comprises impregnating with an impregnating agent, wherein said impregnating agent is applied onto the at least one panel edge and onto the chamfer, and wherein the impregnating agent comprises a dipropylene glycol alkyl ether. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00002"> <pat:ClaimNumber>2< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>2. The method for producing a panel comprising a sealed panel edge according to claim 1, wherein the impregnating agent is applied onto the at least one panel edge and onto the chamfer areas adjacent each other. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00003"> <pat:ClaimNumber>3< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>3. The method for producing a panel comprising a sealed panel edge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein prior to sealing the pair of opposing panel edges is profiled to form complementary retaining profiles. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00004"> <pat:ClaimNumber>4< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>4. The method for producing a panel comprising a sealed panel edge according to claim 3, wherein the impregnating agent is applied onto the at least one panel edge in an area in which the complementary retaining profile forms a locking groove together with the complementary retaining profile of an opposing panel edge, wherein the impregnating agent is also applied onto the other panel edge of the pair of opposing panel edges in this area. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00005"> <pat:ClaimNumber>5< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>5. The method for producing a panel comprising a sealed panel edge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the impregnating agent is applied onto the cham- fer and / or onto the panel edge over the entire area. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00006"> <pat:ClaimNumber>6< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>6. The method for producing a panel comprising a sealed panel edge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the impregnating agent comprises a dipropylene glcol methyl ether. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00007"> <pat:ClaimNumber>7< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>7. The method for producing a panel comprising a sealed panel edge according to claim 6, wherein the dipropylene glycol methyl ether is 2-methoxy-methylethoxy- propanol. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00008"> <pat:ClaimNumber>8< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>8. The method for producing a panel comprising a sealed panel edge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the impregnating agent comprises dipropylene glycol alkyl ether in an amount relative to the impregnating agent in a range from greater than or equal to 1 wt.-% to less than or equal to 20 wt.-%, or greater than or equal to 2.5 wt.-% to less than or equal to 10 wt.-%. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00009"> <pat:ClaimNumber>9< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>9. The method for producing a panel comprising a sealed panel edge according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the impregnating agent comprises a solvent, wherein the solvent consists essentially of C11-C13 isoalkanes. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00010"> <pat:ClaimNumber>10< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>10. The method for producing a panel comprising a sealed panel edge according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the impregnating agent comprises a dye. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00011"> <pat:ClaimNumber>11< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>11. The method for producing a panel comprising a sealed panel edge according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the sealing of the at least one panel edge in- cludes coating the chamfer with a sealing lacquer. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00012"> <pat:ClaimNumber>12< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>12. The method for producing a panel comprising a sealed panel edge according to claim 11, wherein the sealing lacquer is radiation-cured after application with UV radiation having a wavelength in a range from ≥ 10 nm to ≤ 450 nm. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00013"> <pat:ClaimNumber>13< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>13. The method for producing a panel comprising a sealed panel edge according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the sealing lacquer comprises an acrylate-based lacquer or a polyurethane-modified acrylate-based lacquer. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00014"> <pat:ClaimNumber>14< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>14. The method for producing a panel comprising a sealed panel edge according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the sealing lacquer is applied at least partially onto the impregnating agent. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00015"> <pat:ClaimNumber>15< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>15. A raw panel comprising a sealed panel edge produced according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising a panel upper face and a panel lower face and at least one pair of opposing panel edges, wherein the raw panel comprises a carrier plate core and a print substrate layer applied onto the panel upper face, wherein the raw panel comprises a chamfer between at least one panel edge of the pair of opposing panel edges and the panel upper face, and wherein the at least one panel edge has a sealing, wherein the at least one panel edge and the chamfer comprise an impregnating agent. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00016"> <pat:ClaimNumber>16< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>16. The raw panel comprising a sealed panel edge according to claim 15, wherein the pair of opposing panel edges comprise complementary retaining profiles. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00017"> <pat:ClaimNumber>17< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>17. A panel assembly comprising the raw panel according to claim 15 or 16 comprising a baseboard, wherein the baseboard comprises a decorative side and at least one baseboard edge adjacent to the decorative side, wherein the baseboard comprises a carrier plate core and a print substrate layer applied onto the decorative side, and wherein the baseboard edge comprises the impregnating agent. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> < / pat:Claims>