Abstract

The present research, studies the feasibility of replacing part of the PVC in the formulation of flooring materials by lignin, an abundant and renewable natural polymer. The utilization of lignin, is aimed to develop more cost-effective flooring materials with appreciable mechanical properties, to decrease their susceptibility to microbial attack, to decrease the amount of VOC's release, and to explore a market for lignin. To evaluate the role of lignin, a series of flooring materials with different proportions of lignin, are obtained, based on the investigation into the use of plasticizers for reducing the degree of association existing within lignin, macromolecules, The mechanical and thermal properties, as well as the processibility of the obtained materials are tested. As a result of the present study, an alternative flooring material is attempted with appreciable properties, such as Young's modulus, tensile strength at break and at yield, elongation at break, as well as impact and hardness tests. In the meantime, the most suitable plasticizer for the specific formulation is determined. The economic advantage is also evaluated.