In many ways, process oils are one of the unsung heroes of commercial construction, as they improve efficiency in the production of a wide variety of important building materials.
The process oils used in the production of synthetic rubber products like TPEs (thermoplastic elastomers) and EPDM products play a crucial role in everything from the parking lot to the roofing system.
Quality process oils are important in ensuring that rubber products:
- Maintain their shape and surface quality
- Resist discoloration
- Remain flexible
- Withstand weather and UV exposure
Here are some of the ways that process oils and their derivatives are crucial for the construction industry.
1. Parking Lots
Most commercial builders elect to pave their parking lots with asphalt because of its cost-effective longevity. But after a few years of heavy use and exposure to the elements, even asphalt will crack, and eventually, businesses will be responsible for expensive and disruptive repairs.
One solution for this problem is the addition of rubber polymers to the asphalt. This further increases its flexibility and resistance to cracking, extending its useful life. Polymer-modified asphalts are especially useful for applications like parking lots with heavy traffic.
However, even these polymers can stiffen due to evaporation of the process oil after extended periods of time in the hot sun, making the asphalt lose its additional flexibility. To address this, builders must choose a process oil with exceptionally low volatility.
How Process Oils Play a Role
For example, Chevron’s ParaLux Process Oils are created through modern hydroprocessing with very low volatility, which prevents evaporation and makes them extremely stable, even during extended periods of sun exposure.
2. Carpet Underlayment
Carpet underlayment is an important part of any office building, as it provides cushioning and noise dampening.
Carpet underlayment also helps protect the carpet and the floor beneath it and provides insulation, leading to energy savings.
How Process Oils Play a Role
Many different types of carpet padding exist, but foam rubber padding is often considered the best. Natural and synthetic rubber polymers provide flexibility and insulation.
Process oils used in the production of these products soften and extend the product volume, leading to increased cost savings, superior quality, and more efficient operations.
3. Restrooms
From flexible couplings for drainage systems to gaskets and O-rings, rubberized products are used throughout a building’s plumbing drainage and supply systems.
It’s important that these are long-lasting and reliable, to prevent leaks and drips that can cause serious damage to buildings. A key indicator of whether a part will work reliably is its abrasion resistance. If they can’t withstand the strong flow of hard water, these parts will need to be constantly replaced.
How Process Oils Play a Role
TPEs are known for their strong abrasion resistance, making them a great fit for these kinds of plumbing products. By using the right process oil, you can design these products to the specific specs and elasticities you need. One major benefit of TPEs is their recyclability which significantly reduces waste. The stable quality of ParaLux process oils allows them to be reprocessed within TPE scrap and molding trim.
4. Roofing
Commercial buildings have roofing needs that are distinct from home construction. While most houses have sloped roofs, flat roofs pose unique challenges, such as creating a water runoff system and preventing buildup and leakage.
EPDM rubbers, commonly used in construction, are often developed into waterproofing membranes to protect the building from the elements. EPDM is often ideal for applications like these as it is durable and long-lasting.
The best waterproofing covers offer other benefits too. For example, businesses can buy white-colored waterproofing covers that absorb less solar heat than their black counterparts, and thereby lower air conditioning costs.
How Process Oils Play a Role
But to make EPDM rubbers that can withstand the sun, you need to use a process oil that can hold up against its UV rays. Chevron’s ParaLux Process Oils are stable enough that even after extended UV exposure they will not oxidize or deteriorate.
The colorless ParaLux process oils also simplify the production of white EPDM roofing.
Chevron ParaLux Process Oils From Signal Fluid Solutions
As you can see, synthetic rubbers have many uses that you may not think about. In fact, the process oils that make the production of these rubbers possible have an even larger variety of applications including applications like:
- Adhesives, sealants and coatings
- Agricultural spray
- Automobile interior moldings
- Dielectric fluids
- Drilling fluids
- Footwear
- Furniture polish
- Gels
- Heat transfer fluids
- Household products
- Insulation
- Rubber membranes
- Textiles
Signal Fluid Solutions is proud to supply these versatile oils and help you apply them to solve your product challenges.
How We Do It
- Accessibility. Our extensive rail, truck, and barge networks efficiently connect our customers across the U.S. and Europe to our products.
- Convenience. Our strategically located storage and packaging facilities allow us to respond quickly to our customers’ needs and maintain supply security.
- Redundancy. Redundant supply locations help protect our customers from various events, such as natural disasters, that interrupt supply chains.
- Inventory. Our deep inventories enable us to respond quickly to fluctuations in supply and demand that can be disruptive to the many industries we serve.
To learn more about how Signal Fluid Solutions protects our customers’ supply security, or about our full selection of process oils, white oils, and other specialty oils, reach out today.
