The present study evaluates the impact of blending organosolv and kraft lignins, which are natural polymer by-products in the pulp and paper industry, with plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in flooring formulations. Also examined is the impact of replacing dioctyl phthalate, a PVC industry general-purpose plasticizer, with diethylene glycol dibenzoate (Benzoflex 2-45), tricresyl phosphate (Lindol), or alkyl sulfonic phenyl ester (Mesamoll) in these formulations. The influence of the different types of lignins and plasticizers on the processibility, thermal, and mechanical properties of the blends is discussed. These properties demonstrate that partial replacement of PVC (20 parts) with different lignins is feasible for some formulations that can be successfully used as matrices for a high level of calcium carbonate filler in flooring products. In addition, the data demonstrate that the presence of certain plasticizers, which interfere with the intramolecular interactions existing in lignins, may allow the lignin molecules to have more molecular mobility. The morphology and the properties of PVC plasticized lignin blends are strongly influenced by the degree and mode of the lignin plasticization and its dispersion within the PVC matrix.

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The present study evaluates the impact of partially replacing (vinyl chloride)‐(vinyl acetate) (VC‐VAc) copolymer with lignin (L) in a vinyl flooring formulation. Lignin is a natural polymer resulting in huge quantities from wood delignification in the pulp and paper industry. An organsolv lignin, Alcell lignin (AL), was utilized. Also examined is the impact of replacing the common diethylhexyl phthalate (DOP) with plasticizers having chemical compositions different from those of DOP, i.e., diethylene glycol dibenzoate (2–45), tricresyl phosphate (Lindol®), and phenol alkylsulphonic ester (Mesamoll®). The reason for using other plasticizers is the suspicion that during the service life of vinyl flooring, the attack of fungi and microorganisms leads to the degradation of DOP and to the release of some volatile organic compounds (VOC). For the same reason, in the new flooring formulations, the VC‐VAc copolymer was partially replaced with L. Besides its other functions in wood, L imparts resistance to the attack of most microorganisms. The efficiency in plasticizing AL was also taken into consideration in choosing the above‐mentioned plasticizers. The influence of the new plasticizers, their concentration, and the influence of the partial replacement of VC‐VAc copolymer with AL on the mechanical and thermal properties of the new formulations are discussed. Laboratory data indicated that at a level of 20 parts VC‐VAc copolymer reduction and 5 parts plasticizer reduction, some of the obtained VC‐VAc‐AL blends compare very favorably with VC‐VAc copolymer control plasticized with 35 phr of DOP, the formulation of choice in vinyl flooring materials. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 13:14–21, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers.