Composite wear layers that include a polyethylene terephthalate wear layer
adhered to an organic/inorganic (O/I) top coat layer, and surface coverings and
surface covering components including the composite wear layers, are disclosed.
The organic/inorganic top coat layer is formed from a top coat formulation that
comprises a coupling agent that includes an organic polymerizable moiety such as
epoxy, acrylate and the like, as well as an inorganic polymerizable moiety such
as a silanol. The wear layer is typically in the range of about 1-20 mils thickness,
and the top coat layer is typically in the range of 2 microns to 0.5 mils thickness.
The composite wear layers can be included in surface coverings or surface covering
components, such as floor and wall coverings. An adhesion promoter/binder can be
used to better adhere the polyethylene terephthalate wear layer to the organic/inorganic
top coat layer.
