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Plasticisers (Jargon Busters) G#1218 N#1219

By 8 January 2015November 5th, 2018Code, Encyclopaedia, Entries, Jargon Buster

GBE > EncyclopaediaCode > Jargon Buster > Entries > P > G#1218 N#1219

Plasticisers Jargon Buster

Plasticisers Jargon Buster
About:


Definition:

PLASTICISERS

  • You may assume that PVC is pretty constant, you may even realise that there are two types, plasticised or unplasticised.
  • In reality PVC recipies are made up to suit the particular application or method of manufacture.
  • Unplasticised PVC (PVC-U) is rigid and is used to make windows and doors, the best of which include a steel core to stiffen the fames and allow robust fixing of ironmongery.
  • PVC is also used in a flexible or resilient format, in order to achieve this the PVC compound has plasticisers added during the manufacturing process.
  • Plasticisers can be up to 40-50% of the recipe by weight.
  • Plasticisers are often made of phthalates esters or phthalates, they have been shown to be very unhealthy materials and manufacturers are being encouraged to change the recipe of PVC to reduce the % or replace the phthalates esters in response to REACH Regulations, these changes need to deliver similar performances to the original recipes.
  • PVC is used in resilient flooring as sheet delivered as a roll or as tiles, and also used in cove formers, capping, nosing and other extrusions.

(NGS BRM ’13)


Relevance to Sustainable Construction:


Potential defects:

  • Seamlessly joined/bonded coved skirtings are added to resilient floor coverings like PVC/Vinyl, rubber to make watertight floors to showers and wet rooms and easy-clean hygienic floors in hospitals.
  • The use of high phthalate content as plasticising polymers in PVC coved skirtings, formers and cappings and now incompatible adhesives has lead to polymer migration, shrinkage and adhesive failures resulting in gaps that are no longer bridgeable by the shrunk cove former and no longer repairable with the surfaces coated in plasticised adhesive.
  • In Europe the use of coved skirtings in hospitals was abandoned some time ago.

(NGS BRM ’11-’13)


Opinion:


Examples: 


Notes: 


© GBE NGS ASWS BrianMurphy aka BrianSpecMan
30th October 2013 – 5th November 2018

Plasticisers Jargon Buster
Images:



© GBE NGS ASWS BrianMurphy aka BrianSpecMan
30th October 2013 – 5th November 2018

Plasticisers Jargon Buster
See also:


NGS JARGON BUSTER


NGS MATERIALS

  • PVC
  • Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

NGS DEFECTS


NGS SOLUTIONS


NGS CPD


NGS CHECKLIST


NGS LINKS

  • FSP Flooring Sustainability Partnership
  • CFA Contract Flooring Association
  • CFJ Contract Flooring Journal

NGS PROJECTS


NGS CALCULATOR


NGS GREEN BUILDING SPECIFICATION


© GBE NGS ASWS BrianMurphy aka BrianSpecMan
30th October 2013 – 5th November 2018

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