Plastic-containing carrier for a decorated wall or floor panel and method for producing the same

A method for producing a carrier for a decorated wall or floor panel, comprising the method steps:

• a) providing a granular carrier material, wherein the carrier material comprises a thermoplastic matrix material and a solid material having a particle size of less than or equal to 800 μm;
• and
• b) forming a carrier with a length, a width and a thickness under treatment of the carrier material with temperature and pressure;
• wherein
• the carrier material is selected such or treated in step b) such that the carrier has a density gradient along its thickness from a bottom surface to a top surface, which is disposed opposite to the bottom surface, such that the density of the carrier material averaged over a defined width or a defined length of at least 5 mm, preferably at least 20 mm, initially decreases from the bottom surface to the top surface and then increases again.