“The chemicals used in the manufacturing of carpet, interior furnishings and building materials may release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through a process known as off-gassing. Carpet can release volatile organic compounds into the air, especially when first installed. Emissions from new carpet are among the lowest of any household’s indoor furnishings and the most important potential source of VOCs is a component (styrene) of the latex used for the carpet’s backing. Other, less significant sources are dyestuffs and textile auxiliaries, if these have not been completely rinsed out during the process.”
RUBBER UNDERLAY
Rubber underlays
“between three main types, namely waffle rubber, sponge rubber and dense rubber.
The waffle and sponge rubber underlays are often graded by their roll weight per 15 square metres, typically as 60lb, 80lb, 100lb and so on, up to around 130lb,
the greater the weight, the more durable and hardwearing the product is, giving longer life to your carpet. Duralay and Tredaire both offer a number of products of this type ranging from 60lb upwards. AirLuxe offer their comprehensive Colourways range covering weights of 100lb up to 150lb for heavier wear areas, or their Footsteps range for the more price conscious.
Dense Rubber underlays are usually graded by their thickness rather than weight, these underlays being a little firmer underfoot than the waffle and sponge rubber varieties, but giving excellent carpet support, especially in heavy foot traffic areas. Duralay Treadmore and Endurance are excellent value products.”
The manufacturing process – from Interflor
“The styro butadiene synthetic rubber (SBR) is blended with oils, blowing agents and fillers to create the desired performance characteristics. This is followed by a process called calendarising, where the mix is converted to a smooth and consistent paste.
Once the paste is ready it is rolled into a wide thin sheet, and this in turn is rolled onto a chain to produce the desired profile of either a ‘flat’ or ‘waffle’ underlay. The sheet is then heated at temperatures up to 250˚c and blown, cured and allowed to cool. Finally it is trimmed, cut, rolled and wrapped into branded polythene packaging.”
The rubber comes from used car tyres, so the basic raw material comes from 100% recycled sources. Every square metre of crumb rubber underlay contains the rubber of at least one car tyre!
The used car tyres are ground and processed to produce tiny crumbs. These are mixed with latex foam, and the mixture is then poured on to various types of backing material
Vocs from rubber & plastic http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1400852/1/2047058413Y.0000000125.pdf
To briefly address some of your questions:
Recycled rubber flooring is very green as it diverts used products from the landfill, and isa durable, renewable material.
There can be off-gassing of VOCs which could be harmful if one has sensitivities.These odors will dissipate over time into the atmosphere.
Manufacturers’ products vary in their environmental and health impacts.
FloorScore is a certification program that tests resilient flooring products, like rubber flooring, for Indoor AirQuality.FloorScore certified products work well for a basement with the proper installation
read more here
Duralay, Tredair and Interflor
Interfloor, part of the Victoria plc group of companies, was created by the merger of Tredaire and Duralay in 2002 but our heritage dates back to the 1940s when Duralay began manufacturing the first carpet underlays in the UK.
We are Europe’s largest manufacturer of carpet underlay and flooring accessories and we supply our products to flooring retailers, distributors and flooring contractors in the UK and around the world.
Duralay quality carpet underlay made in UK. Underlay for durability low-tog high dB rating hard wearing contract flooring specified international certificated.
Crumb Rubber is environmentally friendly as it is made made from recycled rubber.
Wilsons Underlays Ltd
Address: Ravenswharf Rd, Dewsbury WF13 3RD
Recycling synthetic carpets is not only possible but cost effective too!
Each year 400,000 tonnes of carpet waste is buried in UK landfill
Increasingly, businesses, householders and local authorities are looking for better alternatives for the recycling of unwanted carpet materials. We help ensure that the growing demand for carpet recycling services is met.
Carpets are made from natural and synthetic fibres, which still have a value once the carpet is no longer wanted; they can be used in a wide range of applications from sports surfaces to insulation.
Carpet Recycling UK is a not for profit membership association working to increase the recycling of carpet waste across the UK