What is antioxidant staining in vinyl floors?
Armstrong’s vinyl floors have been formulated to be very stain resistant to most reagents and traffic. Certain compounds added to rubber can discolor a vinyl floor when in contact with it. These chemical compounds, referred to as antioxidants, are formulated into rubber materials to extend the life of the rubber and prevent brittleness. Some antioxidants react chemically with ingredients (plasticizers) in flexible vinyl to produce a yellowish stain. This is referred to in the vinyl industry as “antioxidant staining.” Any source of rubber containing these antioxidants in contact with the floor could produce this staining. Certain types of rubber mats, rubber-backed rugs, and rubber wheels on carts, can cause this discoloration. To avoid this problem, insure that the mats and wheels which will be in contact with the vinyl floor are of the “non-staining” type of rubber.
