TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The disclosure generally relates to methods of applying nanoparticles on a surface
to create a layer with embedded photo catalyst nanoparticles. Furthermore, the invention
relates to a method to achieve a homogenous distribution of nanoparticles in the upper
layer of boards and panels.
BACKGROUND
[0002] It is well known to produce laminated building panels with a surface comprising laminated
paper sheets. Also known is a new type of panel called Wood Fibre Floor (WFF) that
is disclosed in
WO2009/065769, which shows both products and methods to produce such a product also using nanoparticles.
Furthermore it is shown in
WO2009/062516 to apply nanoparticles on a laminate surface or on an overlay paper
[0003] The documents below describe several ways to treat papers or impregnated papers prior
to the final oven and before the paper can be used in laminate panels.
[0004] US2009/0208646A1 describes a wet-in-wet application of a coating to an impregnated overlay by means
of a coating inlet. The control of the thickness of the layer is obtained by wipers
that wipe of the excess coating. The document shows a method of producing an overlay,
in particular for laminates, involving impregnation of a paper with the following
method steps:
- 1) Unrolling of an overlay base paper from a roll for the purpose of obtaining a paper
web (10);
- 2) Moistening of the paper web (10) on one side with an impregnating medium (14);
- 3) Impregnating the paper web (10) with an impregnating medium (18)
- 4) Wet-in wet application of a coarse corundum and resin dispersion (27) on one side
onto the paper web (10)
- 5) Opposite wet-in-wet application of a coating substance (29), in the form of resin
and fine corundum, onto the paper web (10);
- 6) A dosage of the applied coating substance (29) by a wiper (32), to the desired
application weight;
- 7) Drying the paper web (10) using a drying duct.
[0005] US3798111 describes the incorporation of particles in the paper machine where the particles
can be found throughout the paper, entangled by the fibres.
[0006] WO2007144718 discloses a hard nanoparticle suspension applied to the resin pre-treated carrier
sheet. The method states that the suspension comprises resin. The method comprises
adding the suspension by means of a wire doctor roll and/or a raster roll or other
methods comprising rolls and/or knifes. Also air-knives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Embodiments of the invention relates to a method of applying nanoparticles on a surface
to create a sheet or a surface layer with photocatalytic nanoparticles. The aim is
to improve the effect of the photocatalytic nanoparticles when the particles are embedded
in the sheet or the surface layer, i.e. keeping the activity level at a high level
and maintaining the desired properties of the sheet or the layer with the embedded
particles.
[0008] It is shown in
WO2009/062516A2 to use photocatalytic nanoparticles in a surface layer for improvement of e.g. the
cleanability. Furthermore a method to apply the nanoparticles is disclosed. The method
according to embodiments of the invention provides an improved transparency, increased
lifetime and improved distribution of the nanoparticles.
[0009] A first aspect of the invention is a method of manufacturing a sheet comprising photocatalytic
nanoparticles, the method comprising the steps of:
- impregnating a sheet with a polymer resin, preferably comprising wear resistant particles;
- spraying the sheet, freshly impregnated with the polymer resin in an uncured and wet
state, with an impregnation fluid composition comprising dispersed photocatalytic
nanoparticles;
- drying and/or at least partly curing said impregnated sheet comprising the polymer
resin and the impregnation fluid.
[0010] The sheet may comprise cellulose fibres.
[0011] Preferably, the impregnation fluid composition comprises a solvent comprising water.
[0012] The method may comprise a step between impregnating and spraying step in which step
the polymer resin is partly dried.
[0013] By applying the photocatalytic nanoparticles in a wet surface particularly the distribution
of the particles is improved.
[0014] The impregnation fluid composition may comprise photocatalytic nanoparticles and
a solvent, said solvent being selected from water, ethylene glycol, butyl ether, aliphatic
linear, branched or cyclic or mixed aromatic-aliphatic alcohols, such as methanol,
ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol, benzyl alcohol or methoxypropanol
or combinations thereof.
[0015] A second aspect of the invention is a method to produce a laminate board or panel
by arranging the sheet produced according to the first aspect on a core, preferably
an HDF panel and applying heat and pressure.
[0016] A third aspect of the invention is a method of manufacturing a sheet comprising photocatalytic
nanoparticles, the method comprising the steps of:
- mixing the photocatalytic nanoparticles in a polymer resin, to obtain an impregnation
mix;
- applying the impregnation mix to a sheet, preferably by spraying.
[0017] A fourth aspect of the invention is a method to produce a paper sheet comprising
photocatalytic nanoparticles in the paper plant, preferably prior to rolling of the
paper.
[0018] A fifth aspect of the invention is a method to produce a WFF panel comprising photocatalytic
nanoparticles, the method comprises the step of:
- 1) Scattering of a dry mix comprising wood fibres, a thermosetting resin, preferably
melamine resin, and wear resistant particles on a core;
- 2) Applying an organic solvent on the mix on the core;
- 3) Spraying an impregnation fluid composition comprising dispersed photocatalytic
nanoparticles, preferably dispersed in water;
- 4) Applying heat and pressure.
[0019] Step 2 and 3 of the method may be applied in any of the methods disclosed in
WO2009/065769 and
WO2009/124704 for production of WFF panels.
[0020] The method is preferably performed in the numbered order 1-4.
[0021] The organic solvent preferably comprises ketone, such as acetone and methyl ethyl
ketone, and/or alcohol, such as ethanol, propanol and methanol, and/or acetate, such
as butyl acetate, ethyl acetate. The organic solvent is in a preferred embodiment
ethanol.
[0022] In another embodiment the method comprised the step of applying, preferably before
step 2, a fluid with a wetting agent on the mix, preferably in the form of water containing
1% weight content of BYK-348 from BYK Chemie. The fluid with the wetting agent and
the organic solvent may also be applied together.
[0023] It is well known that a nanomaterial is not just a nanomaterial, and the characteristics
of the embedded nanoparticles are important for their performance and e.g. the properties
of said board or panel. In a particularly preferred embodiment in any of the aspects
the embedded nanoparticles have a primary particle size or crystal size of < 50 nm,
such as < 30 nm, preferably a primary particle or crystal size of < 20 nm. Hereby,
the efficacy of the nanoparticles is improved and/or less nanoparticles are needed
to obtain a specific effect.
[0024] Primary particles are rarely present as individual primary particles, but in a more
or less aggregated form. An efficient control of the agglomerate and/or cluster size
is greatly preferred. Hence, in preferred embodiments the embedded nanoparticles have
a cluster or aggregate size of < 100 nm, such as < 80 nm, preferably a cluster or
aggregate size of < 60 nm, such as < 40 nm, and even more preferably a cluster or
aggregate size of < 30 nm, such as < 20 nm. Thereby, said nanoparticles may be easier
to disperse homogeneously in said overlaying layer, and said layer become more optically
transparent.
[0025] In any embodiment of the present invention, the concentration of said nanoparticles
in said impregnation fluid may be > 1 wt%, such as > 5 wt%, preferably a concentration
of said nanoparticles > 10 wt%, such as > 15 wt%, and even more preferably a concentration
of said nanoparticles > 20 wt%, such as > 25 wt%.
[0026] Further, in any embodiments the nanoparticles in said impregnation fluid composition
may have a cluster or aggregate size of < 100 nm, such as < 80 nm, preferably a cluster
or aggregate size of < 60 nm, such as < 40 nm, and even more preferably a cluster
or aggregate size of < 30 nm, such as < 20 nm.
[0027] In all of the aspects of the invention the amount of impregnation fluid composition
per square meter of overlaying sheet(s) may be in the range 1-200 ml/m2, such as in
the range 5-100 ml/m2, and preferably in the range 10-50 ml/m2, such as 20-40 ml/m2,
of said impregnation fluid composition per square meter of overlaying sheet(s) to
be impregnated.
[0028] The polymer resin used for said polymer resin composition comprising nanoparticles,
may be selected from the group comprising melamine formaldehyde resin, phenol formaldehyde
resin, urea formaldehyde resin, melamine urea formaldehyde resin, acrylamide resins,
urethane resins, epoxy resins, silicon resins, acrylic resins, vinylic resins or mixtures
thereof.
[0029] In embodiments of the invention the photocatalytic nanoparticles in said nanoparticle
polymer resin composition may be introduced as a dry powder, as a paste or as a suspension
and then dispersed in the polymer resin.
[0030] In embodiments of the invention a solvent of said suspension of photocatalytic nanoparticles
to be dispersed in the polymer resin composition is selected from water, ethylene
glycol, butyl ether, aliphatic linear, branched or cyclic or mixed aromatic-aliphatic
alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol, benzyl
alcohol or methoxypropanol or combinations thereof.
[0031] Embodiments of the invention may in a sixth aspect be obtained by a method of manufacturing
a board or a panel, the method comprising
- providing the upper surface of a base or an assembled laminate board or panel with
a coating applying a coating fluid composition comprising photocatalytic nanoparticles;
and
- drying and/or curing said base or laminate board or panel, subsequent to said coating
step.
[0032] The coating fluid may in any of the above aspects be applied to said material surface
by spraying, dipping, rolling, brushing or by other conventional application methods.
The amount of coating fluid composition per square meter of said material surface
may be in the range 1-200 ml/m2, such as in the range 5-100 ml/m2, and preferably
in the range 10-50 ml/m2, such as 15-25 ml, of said coating fluid composition per
square meter of said material surface.
[0033] Several combinations of the ingredients can be made into fully functional products.
Three examples are given below as to show three functional embodiments of the innovation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] The disclosure will in the following be described in connection to preferred embodiments
and in greater detail with reference to the appended exemplary drawing, wherein
- Fig 1
- Illustrates a production line for producing an overlay paper.
- Fig 2
- Illustrates a production line for producing an overlay paper comprising spraying unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0035] The present invention is concerned with manufacturing of an overlay or boards or
panels, such as laminate boards or panels, comprising different types of photocatalytic
nanoparticles, which makes the manufactured products photocatalytic active. Each layer
and process step can be preferred from the others e.g. depending upon the price of
the laminate boards and panels (low cost/high cost product) and the facilities available
by the laminate manufacturers.
[0036] Laminate boards and panels are typically made of a base of fibre board (mainly high
density fibre board HDF) and 3 or more sheets: a decor sheet, an overlay sheet of
cellulose on top and one or more backing sheets sitting on the opposite side of the
fibre board base to balance the board and prevent it from curving. Other sheets are
often placed between the fibre board and the decor sheet. The decor sheet could be
monochromatic or patterned to look like e.g. wood, cork, stone, tiles or a more abstract
pattern. The overlay sheet typically contains wear resistant particles, normally a
certain amount of alumina oxide (Al2O3), to give the laminate better abrasive resistance.
Furthermore, the overlay sheet is impregnated with a polymer resin, typically melamine
formaldehyde resin. The other sheets, most often paper sheets, are also impregnated
with resin. The decor sheet is typically impregnated with melamine formaldehyde resin
whereas phenol formaldehyde resin often is used in the core of the laminate. The laminate
board or panel is assembled applying heat and pressure, making the resin polymerise
in a thermosetting reaction. After lamination the polymerised overlay sheet and decor
paper constitute the top layer of the laminate board or panel and thus needs to be
optically transparent right from the upper surface of the laminate through to the
decorative print of the decor paper.
[0037] In one embodiment of the invention (fig 2) the photocatalytic nanoparticles are applied
as a wet-in-wet spray coating (43, 40) to the upper and/or lower surface of the paper
(10), after a first (42) and/or a second (41) impregnation of the paper (10) with
a resin and wear resistant particles, preferably aluminium oxide. The paper may be
dried (44,45) after each impregnation. Preferably the photocatalytic nanoparticles
are applied after the impregnation step but before the drying step. In one embodiment
the paper (10) is in a first step (46) moistened with a resin and/or impregnated in
a resin through. This method of spraying the photocatalytic nanoparticles may be incorporated
in any production line for producing overlay or decor paper, also in the line shown
in fig 1 and described above under
US2009/0208646. The spraying of the photocatalytic nanoparticles may in the fig 1 line be performed
at any stage after the moistening (14) of the paper web (10).
[0038] A suitable type of spray nozzle for the spray coating of photocatalytic nanoparticles
is an electronically controlled Autojet Pulsajet B10000jjau.
[0039] Preferred spray velocity of overlay or decor paper may be > 1 m/s, such as > 2 m/s,
preferably a velocity of > 5 m/s, such as > 8 m/s, and even more preferably a velocity
of > 10 m/s.
[0040] In another embodiment the photocatalytic nanoparticles are applied as a wet-on-dry
spray coating to the upper and/or lower surface of the overlay and/or decor paper,
after a first or a second impregnation of the paper with resin and wear resistant
particles, preferably aluminium oxide. The paper is normally dried after each impregnation.
[0041] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the photocatalytic nanoparticles may be
mixed with a wetting agent and/or an alcohol prior to the spray coating step to improve
the wettability of the impregnation fluid on the overlay and/or decor sheet.
[0042] In another embodiment of the invention the photocatalytic nanoparticles may be applied
as a combination between wet-in-wet and wet-in-dry spray coating.
[0043] In another embodiment of the invention photocatalytic nanoparticles are applied as
a polymer mixture in the resin impregnation step.
[0044] In another embodiment of the invention photocatalytic nanoparticles are incorporated
into an overlay sheet, e.g., in the decor paper itself prior to polymer resin impregnation.
Thus using said photocatalytic overlay sheet or decor paper a photocatalytic layer
can be readily introduced applying the existing methods used for manufacturing laminate
boards or panels i.e. polymer resin impregnation of the photocatalytic overlay sheet
or decor paper followed by laminate board fabrication in a heat pressing laminating
step.
[0045] Said photocatalytic nanoparticle impregnation and drying/curing steps may be incorporated
into an existing production line immediately prior to the polymer resin impregnation
of said overlay sheet or decor paper or said photocatalytic impregnated and cured
overlay sheet or decor paper can be stored until needed.
[0046] A suitable type of nanoparticle for use in the coating fluid composition is Titania.
The nanoparticles of Titania may according to some aspects of the present invention
further comprise other elements. In some embodiments such elements may be introduced
into said nanoparticles with the aim to improve the photocatalytic activity of said
nanoparticles by altering the absorption range of said titania photocatalytic nanoparticles.
[0047] The solvent of said coating fluid composition may comprise water, methanol, ethanol
or isopropanol or combinations thereof, or may just be water.
[0048] The particle concentration of said photocatalytic nanoparticles in the manufactured
board or panel may be increased by repeating said coating step several times.
[0049] A preferred embodiment of the produced impregnated paper comprises discrete photocatalytic
nanoparticles on and in said overlay sheet or decor paper. Said nanoparticles or clusters
of nanoparticles may in many applications according to the present invention be of
substantially the same size as the effective particle size in said impregnation fluid
composition.
[0050] The produced impregnated paper, comprising the photocatalytic nanoparticles, may
be used in all known process, to produce laminated building panel, preferably floorboards,
wall panels and kitchen tabletops
[0051] The photocatalytic composition to be dispersed in the polymer resin may preferably
comprise photocatalytically active nanoparticles of Titania (TiO2). In a preferred
embodiment said nanoparticles comprise the anatase and/or the rutile and/or the brookite
crystal form of Titania or a combination thereof. Further, said photocatalytically
active nanoparticles are according to the present invention predominantly present
in their final crystal form in said composition i.e. no heat treatment is required
for transformation of said nanoparticles into their active form. The average primary
particle size or crystallite size of the nanoparticles, e.g. Titania expressed as
an equivalent spherical diameter may preferably be below 30 nm, such as below 20 nm,
and preferably below 15 nm, such as below 10 nm. The average primary particle size
or crystallite size may be measured by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) using Scherer's formula.
It is further preferred that the particle size distribution of said nanoparticles
is relatively narrow.
[0052] The photocatalytic composition to be dispersed in the polymer resin, whether it is
introduced as a powder, a paste or a suspension, may be added to the polymer resin
at any given time. In one embodiment of the invention the photocatalytic composition
is dispersed into the polymer resin immediately prior to the impregnation of overlay
sheets or decor papers with polymer resin. Said dispersion process may be aided by
a specially designed machine or apparatus.
EXAMPLES
[0053] Having described the basics aspects of the invention, the following examples are
given to illustrate specific embodiments thereof.
Example 1 Wet in Wet
[0054] This example illustrates the production of a polymeric surface containing embedded
nanoparticles. The particles were applied as dispersion via a spray system onto the
freshly impregnated polymeric surface while still wet.
[0055] The following dispersion was used as a feedstock. 30% TiO2 dispersion in water containing
particle agglomerates of no bigger size than 80 nm as determined using the Particle
Matriz Nanotrack NPA 252. The stock solution was then sprayed onto freshly impregnated
melamine paper right after the paper had left the impregnation roller. The dispersion
was applied onto the paper using an autojet spray system, pumping the fluid to the
nozzles via a low pressure tank whit a pressure of 1.8 bar. The nozzles were pulsejet
nozzles with air atomizing tips (air pressure 1.5 bar) placed 35 cm above the freshly
impregnated paper right in front of the entrance to the first drying oven.
[0056] The autojet system was set to deliver 30ml fluid/m2 of paper; the paper was then
dried in two consecutive heating ovens. This yielded a melamine paper with embedded
TiO2 agglomerates of a very small size, penetrating approximately the first couple
of hundred micrometers of the melamine paper.
Example 2 Wet on Dry
[0057] This example illustrates the production of a polymeric surface containing embedded
nanoparticles. The particles were applied as dispersion via a spray system onto the
polymeric surface after this was dried in the heating oven.
[0058] The same liquid and spray system as used in Example 1 was used in this experiment.
Example 3 Wet on Raw Paper
[0059] This example illustrates the production of a polymeric surface containing embedded
nanoparticles.
[0060] The particles were applied as dispersion via a spray system onto the raw paper before
the paper was impregnated with melamine.
Test Results
[0061] The table below shows the result of different methods to apply the photocatalytic
particles:
- Test I: Applying a photocatalytic top layer by impregnation of overlay paper wet-in-wet
by spraying.
- Test II: Applying a photocatalytic top layer by impregnation of overlay paper wet-on-dry
by spraying.
- Test III: Applying a photocatalytic top layer by impregnation of overlay paper wet-on-dry
by spraying on raw overlay paper before melamine impregnation.
[0062] The appearance, the stability and the distribution are evaluated.
Treatment |
Appearance (a) |
Stability (b) |
Distribution (c) |
Blank - Reference |
1 |
1 |
- |
Test I: Wet-in-wet |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Test II: Wet-on-dry |
2 |
1 |
3 |
Test III: Wet- in-dry |
4 |
4 |
2 |
- a) The appearance on a scale from 1-5, as judged by transparency and haziness, where
1 is no visible difference from non-embedded laminate and 5 is very hazy.
- b) The process stability was evaluated on a scale from 1-5, as judged by material
lifetime and flexibility, where 1 is no difference from non-embedded laminate and
5 is very sensitive to process changes.
- c) The distribution of embedded particles was evaluated on a scale from 1-5, where
1 is complete homogenous distribution of photocatalytic nanoparticles.
Embodiments:
[0063]
Item 1. Method of manufacturing a sheet comprising photocatalytic nanoparticles, the
method comprising the steps of:
- impregnating (41, 42) the sheet (10) with a polymer resin, preferably comprising wear
resistant particles;
- spraying (43, 40) the sheet (10), freshly impregnated with the polymer resin in an
uncured and wet state, with an impregnation fluid composition comprising dispersed
photocatalytic nanoparticles;
- drying and/or at least partly curing (44, 45) said impregnated sheet comprising the
polymer resin and the impregnation fluid.
Item 2. The method as in item 1, wherein the sheet comprises cellulose fibres.
Item 3. The method as in item 1 or 2, wherein the impregnation fluid composition comprises
a solvent comprising water.
Item 4. The method as in any one of the preceding items, wherein the method comprises
a step between impregnating and spraying step in which step the polymer resin is partly
dried.
Item 5. A method of producing a laminate board or panel (1) by arranging a sheet produced
according any one of the preceding items, on a core, preferably an HDF panel and applying
heat and pressure.
Item 6. The method as in item 5, wherein the board is a floorboard.
Item 7. Method of producing a WFF panel comprising photocatalytic nanoparticles, the
method comprises the step of:
- 1) scattering of a dry mix comprising wood fibres, a thermosetting resin, such as
a polymer resin preferably a melamine formaldehyde resin, and wear resistant particles
on a core;
- 2) applying an organic solvent on the mix on the core;
- 3) spraying an impregnation fluid composition comprising dispersed photocatalytic
nanoparticles, preferably dispersed in water; and
- 4) applying heat and pressure.
Item 8. The method as in item 7, wherein the organic solvent comprising ketone, such
as aceton and methyl ethyl ketone, and/or alcohol, such as ethanol, propanol and methanol,
and/or acetate, such as butyl acetate, ethyl acetate.
Item 9. The method as in item 7, wherein organic solvent is ethanol.
Item 10. The method as in any one of the items 7 - 9, wherein the method comprising
the step of applying, preferably before step 2, a fluid with a wetting agent on the
mix, preferably in the form of water containing 1% weight content of BYK-348 from
BYK Chemie.
Item 11. The method as in item 10, wherein the method comprising the step of applying
the fluid with the wetting agent and the organic solvent together.
Item 12. The method as in any one of the items 7 - 11, wherein the method comprising
the step of applying the impregnation fluid and the organic solvent together.
Item 13. The method as in any one of the preceding items, wherein said photocatalytic
nanoparticles have a crystallinity of at least 50 %.
Item 14. The method as in any one of the preceding items, wherein said nanoparticles
have a primary particle size of < 50 nm, such as < 30 nm preferably a primary particle
size of < 20 nm such as < 10 nm.
Item 15. The method as in any one of the preceding items, wherein the concentration
of said photocatalytic nanoparticle impregnation fluid is > 1 wt%, such as > 5 wt%
preferably a concentration of said nanoparticles > 10 wt% such as > 15 wt% and even
more preferably a concentration of said nanoparticles > 20 wt% such as > 25 wt%.
Item 16. The method as in any one of the preceding items, wherein the amount of impregnation
fluid composition per square meter of the applied surface is in the range 1-200 ml/m2 such as in the range 5-100 ml/m2 and preferably in the range 10-50 ml/m2 such as 20-40 ml/m2
Item 17. Panel produced with the method as in any one of the preceding items, wherein
said photocatalytic nanoparticles are homogenously embedded in the uppermost layer
of the panel.
Item 18. The panel produced as in item 17, wherein said photocatalytic nanoparticles
are homogenously embedded in the final panel at a thickness of > 0.1 µm; > 1 µm; >
10 µm; > 50 µm; > 100 µm; > 500 µm; > 1000 µm.
1. Method of manufacturing a sheet comprising photocatalytic nanoparticles, the method
comprising the steps of:
• impregnating (41, 42) a paper sheet (10) with a polymer resin, preferably comprising
wear resistant particles;
• drying the polymer resin;
• spraying (43, 40) the paper sheet (10) with the dry polymer resin with an impregnation
fluid composition comprising dispersed photocatalytic nanoparticles;
• drying and/or at least partly curing (44, 45) said impregnated paper sheet comprising
the polymer resin and the impregnation fluid.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the impregnation fluid composition comprises
a solvent comprising water.
3. The method as claimed in claim in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said photocatalytic
nanoparticles have a crystallinity of at least 50 %.
4. The method as claimed in claim in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said nanoparticles
have a primary particle size of < 50 nm, such as < 30 nm preferably a primary particle
size of < 20 nm such as < 10 nm.
5. The method as claimed in claim in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the concentration
of said photocatalytic nanoparticle impregnation fluid is > 1 wt%, such as > 5 wt%
preferably a concentration of said nanoparticles > 10 wt% such as > 15 wt% and even
more preferably a concentration of said nanoparticles > 20 wt% such as > 25 wt%.
6. The method as claimed in claim in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the amount
of impregnation fluid composition per square meter of the applied surface is in the
range 1-200 ml/m2 such as in the range 5-100 ml/m2 and preferably in the range 10-50 ml/m2 such as 20-40 ml/m2.
7. The method as claimed in claim in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the photocatalytic
nanoparticles have a cluster or aggregate size of < 100 nm.
8. A method of producing a laminate board or panel (1) by arranging a sheet produced
according any one of the preceding claims, on a core, preferably an HDF panel and
applying heat and pressure.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the board is a floorboard.
10. The method as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the paper sheet is an overlay sheet.
11. Laminate board or panel produced according to any one of claims 8-10, wherein said
photocatalytic nanoparticles are homogenously embedded in the uppermost layer of the
panel.
12. The laminate board or panel produced as claimed in claim 11, wherein said photocatalytic
nanoparticles are homogenously embedded in the final panel at a thickness of > 0.1
µm; > 1 µm; > 10 µm; > 50 µm; > 100 µm; > 500 µm; > 1000 µm.