By Brett Hart
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Are you confused by all of the acronyms used to identify different plastics used in flooring? PE, PP, PVC, LDPE, MDPE, HDPE, PEX. What does it mean, and why should you care? Here's the lowdown.
Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are three most commonly-used thermoplastics in the flooring industry. (Thermoplastics become soft and moldable upon heating and solidify again when cooled.) Each have different features that affect how well they work for certain applications. Here's how it works.
PVC can be rigid (RPVC) or flexible. RPVC is usually used for piping, doors, windows, bank cards and non-food packaging, but it can be brittle. With the addition of phthalates (chemicals used to soften plastics), RPVC becomes softer and more flexible and can replace rubber in many instances which is where it becomes useful in flooring.PVC flooring is inexpensive and versatile. Chlorinated PVC is resistant to fire, oils and many chemicals. It can also withstand extreme environmental conditions.In the flooring industry, PVC is popular due to its ability to prevent dirt buildup and fend off breeding of microbes in areas that need to be kept sterile. Its waterproof properties make it a popular material for outdoor patio tiles and sports courts.Note: There is some concern over phthalates' health effects on humans as some studies have shown certain phthalate exposures to coincide with changes in hormone levels and increased birth defects in rodents. Phthalates typically do not persist in outdoor environments due to biodegradation, photodegradation and anaerobic degradation.PP is free of bisphenol A (BPA), a common chemical in use for making plastics since the 1960s that has been found to seep into food or beverages, causing concern over possible health effects on the brain and prostate glands.It is a lightweight, strong and flexible plastic that is resistant to high heat - up to 200 degrees Celsius. PP is also resistant to corrosion, chemicals and moisture.Polypropylene has a wide variety of uses, including packaging, thermal underwear, carpeting, laboratory equipment and automotive components. In the flooring industry, PP is often used for garage floor tiles, due to durability and load rating properties as well as chemical resistance.PE is the most common plastic and comes in several different densities. Medium and high density polyethylene (MDPE and HDPE) have a melting point range of between 120 and 180 degrees Celsius. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) melts between 105 and 115 degrees Celsius. LDPE, MDPE and HDPE are all resistant to strong acids and bases as well as gentle oxidants and reducing agents.One third of all toys are manufactured from HDPE which has high tensile strength. Cross-linked Polyethylene (PEX) foam used in gymnastics mats generally uses HDPE and provides a firm and strong closed-cell material. This material does well rebounding to its original shape, providing bounce, cushion and/or shock absorption.MDPE has good shock absorption and is more resistant to notching and stress cracking than HDPE. MDPE is often used for gas pipes, bags and packaging film.LDPE is more likely to deform under tensile stress. It is commonly used for both rigid containers and plastic films.With all the pros and cons to each kind of plastic, it is important to think carefully about how and where these materials should and will be used.
PVC, vinyl, polypropylene, who is supposed to know? All are plastics and all are used for the production of floor coverings, but what differs is their price. They also have different properties and again the well-known rule applies that the cheapest solution is not necessarily the smartest.
We will not concern ourselves with the difference between PVC and vinyl, because it is essentially the same. PVC is the abbreviation for the word polyvinyl chloride, so vinyl is the middle part. The name of PVC is usually used for flooring in rolls, under vinyl you should then imagine the same flooring sold in tiles of different sizes. It must be stressed, however, that this is only a habit that does not always have to be followed.
Polypropylene is a completely different material, but so that it is not so simple, floor tiles are also made from it (as from vinyl). Those made of polypropylene use a different click system, but far more important are the different properties of both materials. They are both thermoplastics, but they have different durability and other attributes. So how do polypropylene tiles differ from those made of vinyl?
Polypropylene has a more complicated click system
If we start from the habit that PVC are rolls and vinyl tiles, we can say that vinyl tiles are simply laid like a puzzle, the tiles fit exactly into each other by their click system. Plastic tiles made of polypropylene have two different click systems. On two sides are so-called male locks on the other two female, which fit into each other. After laying the difference is no longer visible, but when laying it must be taken into account. It does not matter how the tile is turned.
Want more information on polypropylene garage floor tiles? Feel free to contact us.
Vinyl tiles withstand a higher load
If we take a closer look at PVC and PP tiles, we probably notice that vinyl tiles are usually smooth, and polypropylene tiles usually have a grid structure. This is due to the character of both materials, which determines how they can be shaped. Vinyl tiles therefore withstand higher loads and also have better impact resistance. Polypropylene is more brittle, for example, can damage it even a dropped hammer.
Many people think that the grooves on the bottom of polypropylene tiles are intended for moisture drainage, but this is not the case. They have no other meaning than that this material can be shaped so better, and also used less - the result will be cheaper.Many people think that the grooves on the bottom of polypropylene tiles are intended for moisture drainage, but this is not the case. They have no other meaning than that this material can be shaped so better, and also used less - the result will be cheaper.
Polypropylene is suitable for sports fields
PVC tiles can be bent, they have more of a rubber structure, polypropylene tiles are harder. This is due to the aforementioned brittleness and strength, but a big difference is the feeling when standing on such a floor. PVC tiles are used in shops, gyms, doctors' surgeries and canteens because they are softer. Polypropylene is also used a lot as flooring in sports fields, stadiums, gyms, etc., but unlike PVC, it is not suitable for children's playrooms because of its hardness.
PVC and PP are excellent at resisting chemicals, oils, salts in winter and also water. That is why both materials are often used in garages and workshops.PVC and PP are excellent at resisting chemicals, oils, salts in winter and also water. That is why both materials are often used in garages and workshops.
Vinyl is quieter
Vinyl flooring is known by the fact that it perfectly absorbs sound. This results from the properties we have already talked about - the flexibility and the softness. The tiles are soft, adapt to the floor and dampen the sounds when driving or walking. Polypropylene does not dampen, on the contrary it makes noise itself when you walk on it. If the subfloor is not level, the tiles move and rattle. Of course, this can be prevented by levelling the subfloor well, for example with self-levelling compound.
So which is better for your needs?
It depends on where the floor is laid. The differences between these two materials can be summarised quite simply. For an average garage, where low price is the main consideration, polypropylene tiles can be used. But if you need durability for heavier use or a floor in a room where you frequently walk, PVC (or vinyl, it depends on what you call it) is more suitable.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of interlocking polypropylene floor tiles. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.