Abstract

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) flooring products in the form of flexible sheets and tiles dominate the resilient flooring market. These flooring products are produced by calendering compounds based on vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer filled with calcium carbonate, essentially with plasticizers and other additives. Plasticizers have become matter of concern from indoor air quality (IAQ) point of view as they are suspected to be the one of the sources of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, considered harmful to human health. In the research work reported here, polyolefin elastomers (POE) filled with calcium carbonate filler are prepared and their mechanical properties are evaluated as an alternative to poly(vinyl chloride), PVC matrix for flooring products. POEs are olefin copolymers synthesized using metallocene technology and does not require plasticizers for processing, yet can provide similar flexibility to the finished product as that of plasticized PVC. Also, POE can incorporate relatively higher amounts of post consumer polyethylene (PC-PE) while maintaining adequate properties. The POE used in this study is Engage-8440, which is an ethylene-octene copolymer. Two types of PC-PE are studied in this research: the first one is a 50-50 mixture of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) and the second is a high density polyethylene (HDPE). The mechanical and thermal properties, as well as the technique is used to study the difference in thermal properties of the two recycled resins. Further, heat and UV stabilizers are added and the tensile properties of POE/PC-PE blend composites are tested for accelerated weathering effects. 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 yield point, elongation at break, impact, hardness and static load limit values.