Resilient flooring includes polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rubber flooring and natural linoleum. When choosing coatings from these extremely heterogeneous groups, it is necessary to take into account the properties of the materials from which they are made. Depending on their nature, materials can behave very differently.
PVC coatings, for example, are thermoplastic materials, while rubber coatings are elastic. The term "thermoplastic" consists of two parts: "ductile" means that the material easily changes its shape when a load is applied, after which the internal structure gradually changes so that after the load is removed it retains its new shape; “thermo” means that the property of plasticity is better manifested when the material is heated. Therefore, when laying PVC coatings, they use construction hair dryers, since heating the material allows you to relieve internal stress and easily give it a new shape.
Unlike PVC, rubber coatings are composed of elastomers and are capable of elastic deformation. This means that they deform relatively easily when a load is applied (for example, when stretched), but if the load is removed, they return to their original shape. This property creates certain difficulties when laying rubber coatings, since they hardly take the required shape, and the presence of internal stresses can lead to the fact that the coating will not fit tightly to the base.
The abbreviation “PVC” is used to denote a widely used thermoplastic material - polyvinyl chloride. This polymer, which is rigid under normal conditions, is easily modified by adding plasticizers and stabilizers, giving it plasticity and durability. In addition, it is perfectly colored with pigments, is resistant to many acids, alkalis, alcohols and oils, and also practically does not absorb moisture at all. Due to its properties, polyvinyl chloride is an excellent material for the manufacture of flooring.
Household PVC coatings are a multilayer material consisting of a thin working PVC layer with a pattern applied to the surface and a thick base layer, and are used in rooms with low pedestrian loads (mainly residential). The base performs sound and heat insulating functions and is made of foamed PVC or textile materials - fabric or non-woven (polyester and the like).
Semi-commercial PVC coatings are made, basically, in the same way as household coatings, but have a more durable working layer and base, and are used in premises with average pedestrian loads: residential, administrative and public. Most often they have a base made of foamed PVC.
Commercial PVC coatings are available in two types - homogeneous (single-layer, having a uniform structure and color throughout the entire thickness) and heterogeneous (multilayer without a base, having a wear-resistant top layer of pure PVC, often with a protective polyurethane coating, and a bottom layer of calendered PVC with filler) . They are used in commercial premises with high pedestrian loads: shopping and entertainment centers, supermarkets, train stations, hotels, exhibition halls and so on.
Quartz vinyl tiles are a homogeneous PVC coating with a high (50 to 80%) quartz content. This tile has high strength and wear resistance, can withstand high loads and is used in offices, cafes, clubs, industrial premises, parking lots and so on.
Rubber coatings can withstand high mechanical loads, have sound-absorbing properties, and are resistant to short-term exposure to oils, diluted alkalis and acids. One of the most valuable properties of rubber flooring is its non-slip surface, which is why it is often used in wet areas, such as pool walkways and ice rinks, and where safety is especially important, such as stair treads.
Natural linoleum is made from a composition based on linseed oil, containing components only of natural origin: wood and cork flour, ground limestone, mineral pigments, and so on. Coarse-mesh fabric made of natural jute is used as the base. Unlike other types of elastic coatings, natural linoleum has a unique set of properties: antistatic, bactericidal, heat resistance, durability, environmental friendliness, due to which it is used mainly in hospitals, schools, children's institutions, etc., as well as in residential premises. Available in rolls and tiles.
Characteristic features of natural linoleum are the fragility of the coating when bent and the ability to change geometric dimensions depending on climatic conditions. Moreover, while decreasing in the longitudinal direction, in the transverse direction the dimensions of the coating, on the contrary, increase. These material features must be taken into account when laying. In practice, natural linoleum in rolls is laid so that between the panels there is a gap of approximately the thickness of a postcard (0.3-0.5 mm).
Natural linoleum is unstable (flows) before installation, so its rolls are stored only in a vertical position.