Distinguishing Between Commercial Elastic PVC Plastic Flooring and Floor Leather

Many people often confuse commercial elastic PVC plastic flooring with floor leather, believing they are similar. However, significant differences exist between the two in terms of raw materials, thickness, structure, wear resistance, and suitable applications. Here’s a detailed breakdown of these differences.

1. Raw Materials

Commercial Elastic PVC Plastic Flooring

The primary raw material for commercial elastic PVC plastic flooring is polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which can be categorized into two types:

• Recycled Materials: These are reprocessed plastic products that are used in production after recycling.

• New Materials: These are newly synthesized PVC materials used for the first time in manufacturing.

Floor Leather

Floor leather typically consists mainly of recycled materials. This distinction in raw materials impacts the overall quality and performance of the flooring.

2. Thickness

Floor Leather

Floor leather generally has a thickness of less than 2 mm. This thinner profile may limit its durability and suitability for high-traffic areas.

Commercial Elastic PVC Plastic Flooring

In contrast, commercial elastic PVC plastic flooring usually has a thickness of over 2 mm. This increased thickness contributes to its sturdiness and ability to withstand wear.

3. Structure

Floor Leather

The structure of floor leather is relatively simple, typically consisting of two layers:

• Surface Layer: This is the printed film layer that presents the color and design of the floor leather.

• Bottom Layer: Serves as the base for the surface layer.

Commercial Elastic PVC Plastic Flooring

Commercial elastic PVC plastic flooring features a more complex structure, which can include:

• Multi-layer Composite Structure: This includes a combination of various layers such as a UV layer, wear-resistant layer, printed film layer, glass fiber layer, and base material layer (which can be foam-based or dense).

• Same Transparent Structure: In this case, the pattern material extends from the bottom to the surface, creating a uniform appearance without distinct layers.

4. Wear Resistance Level and Application Areas

Wear Resistance

The wear resistance of flooring materials is crucial, especially in high-traffic areas. This is primarily determined by the thickness of the wear-resistant layer.

• Floor Leather: Lacks a dedicated wear-resistant layer, resulting in a shorter lifespan that typically ranges from a few months to two or three years. It is often used in temporary settings such as factories, warehouses, offices, residences, and decoration site protection.

• Commercial Elastic PVC Plastic Flooring: Offers better wear resistance due to its wear-resistant layer. Its service life can vary between 5 to 15 years, depending on the thickness of the wear-resistant layer. This makes it suitable for a variety of applications, including:

• Educational Settings: Schools, training centers, and kindergartens.

• Medical Facilities: Hospitals, laboratories, pharmaceutical factories, and sanatoriums.

• Commercial Spaces: Shopping malls, supermarkets, hotels, entertainment centers, catering establishments, and specialty stores.

• Sports Venues: Sports stadiums and activity centers.

• Office Environments: Office buildings, conference rooms, and collaborative spaces.

• Industrial Areas: Factory buildings and warehouses.

• Transportation Hubs: Airports, railway stations, bus stations, and docks.

• Residential Spaces: Indoor living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, balconies, and studies.

Conclusion

Understanding the differences between commercial elastic PVC plastic flooring and floor leather is crucial for selecting the right flooring option for your needs. While both may serve similar purposes in certain contexts, their differences in raw materials, thickness, structure, wear resistance, and application areas make them suited for different environments. Commercial elastic PVC plastic flooring is generally the better choice for high-traffic areas due to its durability and longer lifespan, while floor leather may be suitable for temporary or low-traffic applications.