Flexible PVC Compounds Cut VOC Emissions

Teknor Apex says its flexible PVC compounds for indoor construction products exhibit up to 90 percent lower emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than a comparable standard PVC while also enabling manufacturers to address other regulatory issues.

The new compounds are based on:

• additive formulations designed for low VOC emissions;
• non-phthalate plasticizers, including types that generate lower VOC emissions than conventional plasticizers; and
• 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 percent to 90 percent, the company says. Those that contain alternative plasticizers enable manufacturers to address market requirements for elimination of phthalates, and those with bio-based plasticizers also reduce the overall carbon footprint of PVC.

The compounds are additions to Teknor Apex’s Apex product range, with the exception of those with bio-based plasticizers, which fall under the BioVinyl brand. 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.

Because half of the PVC polymer is derived from seawater and typical plasticizer loadings are 30 percent, 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, the company says.

VOC emission standards for vehicle interiors are also driving automakers to use low VOC resins, according to a report last month in Plastics Today.