E. Pesonen-Leinonen

Soiling Tendency of Worn, Plastic Flooring Materials Related to their Surface Topography

Abstract The soiling and cleanability of eleven worn commercial plastic floor coverings were examined. The new and worn floor coverings appeared very similar in both visual and stereo microscopic inspection. However, wear had caused changes to both topography and cleanability parameters. Profilometer measurements provided information on the topography of new and worn floor coverings. According to the results new surfaces did not always clean better or become soiled more easily than worn coverings. Therefore, we cannot derive a general rule of relationship between wear, soiling and cleanability. The general premise that a rough surface will yield poor cleanability was not confirmed here for all materials.

Cleanability of Plastic Flooring Materials Related to their Surface Properties

Abstract The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of contact angle measurement in evaluating soilability and cleanability of 11 different surfaces of flooring materials. The surface properties were examined using an expanding contact angle technique and the cleanability was evaluated colorimetrically. The values of advancing contact angles θA were related to the soil residues on particle-soiled surfaces and oil-soiled surfaces. The results indicate the potential of contact angle measurements to evaluate cleanability of flooring materials.