Stain resistant flooring

Mono- and diesters of 2,2,4-trimethyl-l,3-pentanediol and benzoic acid are obtained with a high yield by a process of transesterification in the presence of catalytic amount of base. These plasticizers are usefiil in stain resistant flooring. 

Wall-to-wall carpets may feel clean, but in reality they re anything but. Usually made of synthetic materials that off-gas, a lot of time they re covered in chemical stain-resistants and backed with chemical adhesives to help bind them together. Most also require glue to adhere them to the floor, which contains VOCs. Whenever possible, we recommend a natural wood floor with a natural fiber throw carpet or rug that can be either tossed in the washing machine or cleaned with a nontoxic carpet shampoo. 

Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) is by far the largest volume outlet for n-butanol in the plasticizer market. Monsanto is the world s principal supplier of this fast fusing plasticizer for PVC resin. BBP has become a key plasticizer in vinyl flooring compositions as a result of its stain resistance and processability. 

Stain resistance of resilient sheet flooring has been related to the plasticiser, wear layer toughness and thermoplastic nature. The plasticiser structure, level, extraction resistance, volatility and solubility all have an influence (389). 

Atlanta, Ga., 26th-30th April 1998, p.3272-7. 012 STAIN RESISTANCE IN RESILIENT SHEET FLOORING APPLICATIONS ROLE OF THE PLASTICISER... 

Stain resistance, or more accurately appearance retention, is a complex phenomenon in resilient sheet flooring applications. The process can be complex involving the plasticiser, the overall toughness (or abrasion resistance) of the wear layer and the thermoplastic nature of plasticised PVC. The plasticiser-related portions of the stain resistance phenomenon are explored. Data are presented to illustrate relationships between stain resistance and plasticiser structure, concentration, extraction resistance, volatility and solubility parameter. 9 refs. 

The dislodgeability of a pesticide residue may depend on the condition of the surface. For example, new carpets are typically more stain-resistant and have more uniform piles, and thus they may behave differently than soiled and worn carpets. The presence of excessive moisture levels in carpeting, as may be the case shortly after a wet cleaning operation, may also affect the dislodgeability of residues, possibly yielding higher than normal results. Wax on vinyl and hardwood floors may affect dislodgeability, as may pits, cracks and crevices in the surface. 

Floor selection criteria should include chemical resistance, stain resistance, scuff and marring resistance, ability to radius cove, durability, esthetics, and ease of maintenance and repair. Table 3 lists several floor compositions and selection criteria. Special areas may require static dissipative or conductive flooring in order to minimize explosion potential with flammable material. 

Gas chromatogram of vapour above plasticized PVC flooring collected by headspace analysis after warming to 70°C. The chromatogram shows the presence of two plasticizers DEHP and TXIB (2,2,4-trimethyl-l,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate). TXIB imparts lower tack and increased stain resistance to PVC products compared with those containing DEHP alone. 

Chem. Descrip. Acrylic colloidal disp. in ammonia water Uses Acrylic, film-former in protective metal coatings, paints, printing inks, ceramics, adhesives, textile print pastes, paper, leather, cosmetics, floor polishes, chemicsal spedalties exc. dispersant, leveling, and binding chars. binder for nonwoven fabrics rec. for bake finishes Features Thermosetling produces extremely hard, tough, stain resist. 

Uses Urethane for factory coating PVC flooring, PVC roll or sheet goods Features Lightfast high gloss exc. mar/wear/stain resist. 

Benzoates such as dipropylene glycol dibenzoate have been promoted for use in PVC soft toys and flooring. They are recommended for their stain resistance and used in vinyl copolymers. 

Fiber end-use applications include (2) ready-to-wear, active-wear, intimate apparels, inner linings where stretch-recovery, softness, hand, and drape are the key attributes (2) carpets where resiliency, newness retention, stain resistance, and low static generation provide values over currently used materials in some market segments (3) automotive and home upholstery utilizing the easy dyeing, stain resistance, stretch-recovery properties. Within a short period of time since the polymer s commercialization, PTT ready-to-wear stretch apparels (52) and resilient floor coverings had already appeared in the market (since 1999). 

Spread flooring Plastisol 40-50 DOP/DIDP Phosphates Adipates Speciality phthalates BBP use for foam layers. Low stain resistance needed... 

With the availability of a bioprocess to produce succinic acid, interest is developing in succinate esters, as plasticizers having a biocomponent studies on a series of succinates have shown that the performance of di-2-ethylhexyl succinate (DEHS) in PVC is very close to that of DEHA except in permanence, where the volatility losses are greater than those of DEHA [29]. If DEHS becomes available at lower prices and if volatile losses are not important, this material may have some utility as a secondary plasticizer. Another type of succinate ester, butyl benzyl succinate, was also evaluated in flexible PVC flooring and shown to perform as both a fast-fusing plasticizer and a stain-resistant plasticizer [30]. 

Trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol Dllsobutyrate (TXIB) This volatile plasticizer is highly effective in the viscosity reduction of in plastisols and finds utility in a number of different applications. It also imparts improved stain resistance to vinyl flooring, in part due to its high volatility and compatibility. 

Trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol Isobutyrate Benzoate The outstanding characteristic of this plasticizer is the stain resistance that it imparts in vinyl flooring applications. However, it is also quite volatile and imparts poor low-temperature properties. 

The more sophisticated products, based on plastisol technology, are quite complex in construction. The requirements for each layer differ significantly, as do their formulations. Thus, clarity and stain resistance are of key importance in the wear layer, whereas foam quality is another major concern in the foam layer. In some sheet flooring products, the backing material is bottom-coated with a PVC layer. 

Benzoflex 284 propylene glycol dibenzoate. This ester is a very good solvator. When compounded in vinyl, it has excellent stain resistance for resilient flooring applications. It also is useful in automotive sealant plastisols. 

Benzoflex 1046 a blend of 2,2,4-trimethyl-l,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate, benzoate/isobutyrate, and dibenzoate. This blend is used in vinyl apphcations for superior stain resistance in resihent flooring and also in automotive plastisol sealants requiring excellent paintabUity and resistance to migration for wet-on-wet automotive coating apphcations. 

Benzoflex 284 propylene glycol dibenzoate Plastisol, resilient flooring Stain resistance... 

Stain-resist finishes must be tested for their resistance to nonionic stains as well, including natural-colored substances found in food (Fig. 14.1). However, the resistance to traffic soiling is the most important factor governing the appearance of the stain-resistant carpet, with the added requirement that the stain-resist finish must withstand foot traffic. Soil-resistance tests are described in Chapter 13 and, in addition, stain resistance is tested before and after subjecting the carpet to floor traffic. The durability of the stain-resist finish to shampooing is another important requirement. 

Other uses of iron oxide pigments are in porcelaine, rubber, paper, in floor and furniture stains, plastics, fabrics and in leather finishes. Iron oxides are especially suitable colourants for floor coverings as their resistance to alkali enables them to... 

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