Decorative Panel Top Coat With Light-Scattering Particles for 3D Depth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing decorative panels lack the ability to enhance the visual appearance of three-dimensional structures and contrasting parts in their decorative images, particularly when depicting starkly contrasting elements, and there is a need to improve the inherent visual effects.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a top coat layer with a transparent matrix material and dispersed solid particles, such as light-reflective, light-absorbing, and transparent chips, which are microscopic in size and aligned with the decorative image to enhance depth and contrast, while maintaining the panel's appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a standard top coat layer is used, then the panel has basic protective function, but the visual appearance and depth of the decorative image are not enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The top coat layer is formulated as a composite material containing a transparent matrix material (such as polyurethane or melamine resin) with dispersed solid particles having different light-interacting properties. This composite structure allows the top coat to simultaneously provide protection and enhance the visual appearance of the decorative image by creating depth effects through light reflection, absorption, and refraction variations.
Solution Approach 2:
Different types of solid particles (light-reflective, light-absorbing, and transparent particles with different refractive indices) are dispersed throughout the top coat layer to create localized variations in light interaction. These particles are distributed to correspond with different areas of the decorative image, enhancing specific features such as contrast, depth, and dimensional appearance in different zones of the panel surface.
2Manufacturing precision
If light-reflective solid particles are added to enhance contrast, then the visual depth is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention controls the dispersion of solid particles by adjusting parameters such as particle size distribution (ranging from fine to coarse particles), particle concentration, and particle shape. By optimizing these parameters, the manufacturing process achieves uniform distribution of particles with different light-interacting properties throughout the top coat layer, ensuring consistent visual enhancement without excessive manufacturing complexity.
3Illumination intensity
If transparent particles with different refractive indices are used, then the three-dimensional effect is enhanced, but the material selection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The top coat layer incorporates multiple types of transparent solid particles with different refractive indices (such as glass particles, plastic particles, or metal oxide particles) dispersed in the matrix material. Each particle type contributes differently to light refraction and reflection, creating varied depth effects and visual interest across different regions of the decorative image, thereby enhancing the overall three-dimensional appearance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances the perceived depth and contrast of the decorative image, providing a more convincing and natural visual effect without compromising the basic appearance, and optionally includes antimicrobial properties from metallic particles.
Implementation Method 1
light-reflective solid particles, in particular chips, that have an outer surface of light reflective material, such that preferably more than 50% of incident light is reflected
Implementation Method 2
light-absorbing solid particles, in particular chips, that have an outer surface of light absorbing material, such that preferably more than 50% of incident light is absorbed
Implementation Method 3
substantially transparent solid particles, in particular chips, that are made from a substantially transparent material which is preferably transparent for more than 50% of incident light, and which has a different refractive index than the at least partially, preferably substantially, more preferably entirely, transparent matrix material
Data Source
AI summary
Panel, in particular a wall, ceiling or floor panel, of a planar design having a top side, a bottom side and side edges, which panel is constructed from a laminate structure of layers that are adhered to each other, wherein the layers include a core layer, a decorative layer which includes a decorative image on its upper side, which decorative layer is provided directly or indirectly on an upper side of the core layer, and a top coat layer that is transparent and includes a layer of transparent matrix material, which top coat layer is provided directly or indirectly on an upper side of the decorative layer.