Plasticizer Migration: What Is It? - Flooristics
Plasticizer is a chemical combination that is added to vinyl, rubber and plastic material during the manufacturing phase that makes it more flexible. If the piece is quite soft, there is a lot of plasticizer in it. Over time, the plasticizer breaks down and migrates out of the rubber.
What is Plasticizer Migration? - Flooristics
Plasticizer migration can happen over time, but pressure and heat can speed up the migration. The best way to avoid this chemical reaction in sheet vinyl is to thoroughly prime and seal the sub flooring. It’s also a good idea to use a non-reactive floor sealant that will neutralize any kind of plasticizer migration.
Plasticizer Migration - Floor Detective
Plasticizer migration is a phenomenon caused by the slow release of “Free” plasticizers from PVC-backed modular carpet or vinyl products. Plasticizers are additives used to make plastics softer and more workable so they can be used in a variety of commercial applications.
Plasticizer Migration in Floor Maintenance
Plasticizer Migration The advent of vinyl tile floors created a new problem in floor maintenance. All resilient floors containing Polyvinyl Chloride contain a flexing agent known as a plasticizer. Without this plasticizer, resilient tile would be as brittle and unflexible as a potato chip.
Phthalates and alternative plasticizers and potential
These chemicals are widely used in PVC-based consumer products, such as children’s toys and child-care articles, 1 medical devices, 2, 3 flooring, 4 water piping 5 and food packages. 6 As
- Can plasticizer migration cause flooring failures?
- Photo: Gary Sheidker. Plasticizer migration is a common cause of flooring failures. Plasticizers can come from the flooring, sound control underlayment, maintenance products and even some concrete substrates. These plasticizers can attack the polymers in some adhesives, causing them to degrade over time.
- What causes plasticizer migration?
- Plasticizer migration is a common cause of flooring failures. Plasticizers can come from the flooring, sound control underlayment, maintenance products and even some concrete substrates. These plasticizers can attack the polymers in some adhesives, causing them to degrade over time. Most resilient flooring products contain plasticizers.
- How do you prevent plasticizer migration in sheet vinyl flooring?
- To prevent plasticizer migration in sheet vinyl flooring, it's recommended to thoroughly prime and seal the sub flooring. Using a non-reactive floor sealant is also a good idea, as it will neutralize any kind of plasticizer migration. Plasticizer migration can occur over time, but pressure and heat can speed up the process.
- What happens if a plasticizer migrates down?
- Plasticizer migration occurs when the plasticizer migrates down into the adhesive, breaking it down and leaving it ineffective. This chemical reaction can happen over time, but pressure and heat can speed up the process. To avoid this reaction in sheet vinyl, it is best to thoroughly prime and seal the sub flooring.
- What is the best floor sealant for plasticizer migration?
- To prevent plasticizer migration, it's recommended to use a non-reactive floor sealant that neutralizes the chemical reaction causing the migration. Alternatively, you can choose products with non-reactive backing materials.
- Does plasticizer migration affect adhesive performance?
- Plasticizer migration can cause other additives to migrate too. Typical examples of these additives are UV stabilisers or Anti-Oxidants. If plasticizer migration causes these additives to migrate, the overall performance of the adhesive will deteriorate. There are several occasions where plasticizer migration can have aesthetic effects.
