Flexible PVC compounds for indoor construction cut VOC emissions, provide regulatory solutions

06-Jun-14

A diversified portfolio of new flexible PVC compounds for indoor construction products exhibits up to 90% lower emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than a comparable standard PVC while also enabling manufacturers to address other pressing regulatory issues, it was announced by Teknor Apex Company. The new compounds are based on three innovations by Teknor Apex: 1) additive formulations designed for low VOC emissions; 2) non-phthalate plasticizers, including types that generate lower VOC emissions than conventional plasticizers; and 3) “bio-based” plasticizers derived from renewable plant byproducts, also including versions with low VOC emissions. Depending on how these innovations are combined, compounds are available with reductions in VOC emissions ranging from 37-90%. Those that contain alternative plasticizers enable manufacturers to address market requirements for elimination of phthalates, and those with bio-based plasticizers also provide a substantial reduction in the overall carbon footprint of PVC. Teknor Apex suggests these products for extruded, calendered, coated, and molded applications for institutional and residential indoor building and furnishing products. Some examples are office partitions, furniture trim, window treatments, baseboards, and flooring. Custom formulations of the low-VOC compounds are available. “Teknor Apex has developed this suite of low-VOC compounds to help manufacturers meet building codes with increasingly stringent standards for indoor air quality and to comply with FloorScore® and UL Greenguard certification requirements,” said John Macaluso, industry manager for consumer and industrial products for the Vinyl Division. “We’ve made use of a number of innovative chemistries to provide our customers with a wide selection of options for meeting a diversity of marketplace needs.” Because half of the PVC polymer is derived from seawater and typical plasticizer loadings are 30%, the substitution of bio-based plasticizers for conventional phthalates makes possible a significant reduction in cumulative energy demand (feedstock and production) with BioVinyl compounds in comparison with many non-PVC plastics.