n1. 6 . K 1900i O00 \ a u SUIVIIVIARY This research shows results concerning the re- sistance of various wall-surfacing materials to scrub- bing with abrasive and nonabrasive cleansers. It does not include studies of other characteristics of these materials. The conclusions drawn are limited to the scrub-resistance characteristics discussed. A statistical analysis was made to evaluate the gloss differences which resulted from 30-minute scrubbing periods. The times at which the major gloss changes started, as well as the rate at which the changes occurred. were different for the various materials. Analyses for longer or shorter scrubbing operations would undoubtedly place the materials into different groups. Some of the conclusions from this research fol- row: The use of a nonabrasive cleanser produced no significant differences in gloss on any of the ma- terials. All of the materials showed good resistance to scrubbing with a nonabrasive cleanser. There was a real difference between the reac- tions produced on the materials by scrubbing with a nonabrasive cleanser and that produced by scrubbing with an abrasive cleanser. Both abrasive cleansers produced essentially the same results on the materials. There was no significant difference between them. Prefinished wallboard. enameled steel and plastic tiles experienced most of their gloss change within the first minute of scrubbing with an abrasive cleanser. Flexible rubber showed its major gloss change within the first 5 minutes of scrubbing with an abrasive clecmser. Enameled copper experienced over 8O percent of its total gloss change within the first 5 minutes of scrubbing with the same cleanser. Laminated thermosetting sheet materi denced approximately 6O percent of its total f change within the first 5"=rr"rinutes of scrubbin, an abrasive cleanser. Loss of gloss continu at a much slower rate as the scrubbing pr - f Ceramic tile. porcelain-on-steel. stainl and vinylized fabric showed little change during 30 minutes of scrubbing with any l. cleansers. l The surface coatings of enameled ste and scored prefinished wallboard are most to damage along the respective tile joints and lines which run perpendicularly across the , scrubbed with an abrasive cleanser. t Generally, the materials which started t high gloss showed large gloss changes. Po q on-steel and stainless steel were exceptions. l Materials which are very subject to a‘ should be installed in areas where there is f casion for the use of abrasive cleansers and v the abrasives carried into the home by ev living are not likely to contact these materi With the use of the moderately strong ~ i cleanser. vinylized wall fabric. porcelain-i ceramic tile and stainless steel showed th change in gloss. following 30 minutes of s These materials showed significantly less i than the other materials subjected to the? scrubbing operations. a Plastic tiles. flexible rubber and enamel (gray) showed more change in gloss than th . mentioned materials. but less than the pre wallboard. enameled steel (green). thenn laminated sheets and copper tiles. l E R R A T A Figure 11+, page ll, Bulletin 962 , rub-resistance Characteristics of Kitchen Bathroom Wall-surfacing Materials," is ride down. As the figure appears, dzimage the left is from l hour of scrubbing; ge on the right is from 3O minutes of ebbing. ALL-SURFACING MATERIALS for the kitchen and v p bathroom areas in a home are subjected to ‘re severe wear than are the wall surfaces in er areas. This is particularly true for the jshboard surfaces behind the sink and counter '1 in the kitchen and the wall surfaces behind f lavatory and bathtub or shower enclosure in bathroom. f Grady and Smithl conducted surveys in 1955 f» earlier on wall-surfacing materials used in ‘major areas of the home and found that paint, jmel, varnish and wallpaper were the most a only used. Their work shows that the materials were in use 3 years or less in ji-fifths of the kitchens which they surveyed. fourth of the families who reported cleaning _lems renewed rather than cleaned the sur- i“: materials. Of the homemakers who re- Washing the Wall finishes, almost three 10f five used washing powders and more than fourth used bar soaps. Frequent replace- i? and frequent cleaning seemed to go hand nd. During three periods of 1 month each, milies maintained records of the time spent jeaning different surfaces in the home. Al- ” three times as much time was spent clean- surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom as in iliving roo-m. Faults of materials commonly rted included spots, breaks and changes which 2t ded discoloration, wearing off and dulling of I surfaces. Their surveys also showed that, in f r of importance, the criteria for selecting sur- ‘ng materials are ease of cleaning, appearance, fbility and cost. Interior covering, surfacing and finishing erials normally account for 8 to 20 percent new home construction costs. The replace- of these finishing materials is an undesir- = added expense of home maintenance. Areas s. as splashboards behind counter tops and room Walls need materials which give longer factory service. T" 5,. iectively, associate professor, instructor and profes- , Department of Agricultural Engineering. y, Ethyl R. and Smith, Grace H. Interior Surfaces e Structure of Farmhouses, Bulletins 324, 325, 326 l 329, Agricultural Experiment Station, University of w Island, Kingston, Rhode Island. June 1954-May '1 Scrub-resistance Characteristics ct ttitchcn and Bathrccm lllall-surtacinq materials l]. R. Kunze, B. B. Stewart and Price Hohgnod* The building industry has recognized these areas of more severe Wear and has developed sur- facing materials for these particular purposes. Some of these materials are not new but have been too expensive for common use. Others have been in use for several years and still others have just recently entered the market. Research has been conducted by the Depart- ment of Agricultural Engineering in which ten different wall-surfacing materials were subjec- ted to scrubbing for 30 minutes With each of three different cleansers. Some wall-surfacing materials are produced by several manufacturers. CONTENTS Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3 Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4 Cleansers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5 Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5 Metal Tiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5 Enameled Steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5 Enameled Copper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5 Stainless Steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6 Porcelain-on-steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6 Plastic Tiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6 Ceramic Tiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6 Laminated Thermosetting Sheets . . . . . . . . . . .. 6 Pretinished Wallboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7 Vinylized Wall Fabric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7 Flexible Rubber, Fabric Backed . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7 Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8 Grit in the Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8 Material Finish Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8 Underlayments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8 Material Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 9 Other Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 9 Results and Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 9 Enameled Steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..10 Enameled Copper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..l0 Stainless Steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..10 Plastic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Porcelain-on-steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Ceramic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Rigid Sheet Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..12 Prefinished Wallboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Laminated Thermosetting Sheets . . . . . . . . .12 Flexible Sheet Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Vinylized Wall Fabric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..13 Flexible Rubber, Fabric Backed . . . . . . . ..13 Other Observations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Floor-covering Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Stain Resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..14 Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Figure l. The machine used to scrub the different sam- ples of wall-surfacing materials. As the drill turned, the horizontal arm moved the sponge over the surface.. The automatic timer was used to insure equal scrubbing periods. Consequently, differences may exist within ma- terials which are known by the same name. Other differences may exist in a given base material produced by a given manufacturer but finished in a different way. As a result three materials were duplicated. Two Were produced by differ- ent manufacturers and were different colors. The third was produced by a given manufacturer and was different in color only. With these duplica- tions, a total of thirteen samples were subjected to the scrubbing operations. The problems encountered in determining the scrubbing procedure were presented to the home economists of the Texas Agricultural Ex- periment Station and the Texas Agricultural Ex- tension Service. Their proposals and recommen- dations were considered in developing the meth- ods used. Figure 2. The photoelectric indicating meter which was used to determine the nature and degree of change in sur- face conditions. The unit on the left with its calibration standard is the gloss search attachment while the unit on the right with its calibration standard is the diffuse search attachment. 4 Materials selected were those which are able on the market and which are in commo L Three scrubbing agents consisting of two g sive cleansers and one nonabrasive cleanser l selected. Nonabrasive cleansers are very l mon cleaning agents, but abrasive cleanse often used where the cleansing action of the. abrasive agent is not adequate. The scru agents were selected by the home economi fit the description of atnfild nonabrasive, abrasive and a moderately strong abrasive. i EQUIPMENT The scrubbing machine, Figure 1, W, veloped by the Department of Agricultural ' neering. A slow speed electric hand drill connected by a V-belt and sheaves to a jac it Instead of using a second pulley on the jac an arm with a stubshaft was attached. < distance from the center of the jackshaft center of the stubshaft was 3 inches. Wh tating the jackshaft, the arm circumscrib inch circle. A linkage arrangement connect stubshaft to a horizontal rod mounted in a: inch sleeve bearing. A second sleeve bearin attached in a vertical position to the free l the horizontal rod. A vertical shaft with a. for attaching scouring pads was inserted thy this vertical bearing. This arrangement ga_ scrubbing unit a reciprocating motion wh p the machine was in operation. The drivin i was connected to an automatic timer which‘ be set for any particular length of operati sired. A photoelectric indicating meter, gj was used to determine the nature and def change in surface conditions which resulte the scrubbing action. Relative values of? and diffuse were taken on a particular sam; fore the scrubbing operation. Additional; ings were taken between 5-minute scrubbin iods, and final readings were taken af sample had been subjected to 3O minutes of g bing. The magnitude of the changes in -: taken on a specific scrubbed area indica relative changes which had occurred in tli’ terial surface. Y The gloss meter consisted of the inst proper and a search unit. The instrument A contained an indicating meter, power sup controls. The search unit with the light ; optical system and photocells was connect the instrument proper by a flexible cable; diffuse reflection meter is an alternate unit, can be used with the instrument proper. Both gloss and diffuse reflection my ments were made to determine the nature gree of change in surface conditions. Glj specular reflection results from a beam o‘ striking a surface and then reflecting in beam. The angle of reflection is the same , lgle of incidence. Generally, high gloss denotes ievery smooth surface Which, in turn, reflects a latively high percentage of the light falling on t surface. Diffuse reflection results when a 0f light strikes a rough or uneven surface ich causes a portion of the reflected light to f diffused in all directions. The differences in gloss and diffuse readings ' lowed approximately the same pattern but in osite directions for the respective materials. g Fnerally, when gloss value decreased, the dif- e reflection value increased. The gloss dif- ences were more pronounced and consequently used in making the data analysis. Much consideration was given to selecting a table and representative scouring pad. The mercial market carries scrubbing pads which _ge from a soft cloth to harsh metallic pads. he homemaker exercises her good judgment in if use of these and selects a pad suitable for the face to be cleaned. A= cellulose sponge 1 x 1 1A; x 3 1/2 inches was d in this research. The scrubbing surface of gh pad was 4.375 square inches and the ma- i'ne was operated to give approximately 220 kes of the sponge per minute or slightly less A four passes per second. it A commercial timing unit which could be set 1P1 minute intervals was used to assure equal T bbing periods on each of the samples. CLEANSERS The washing powders used were among those gmonly found on the market. Powders Were ‘1- ted instead of bar soaps since previous work others indicated that this type of cleanser was ' most popular for cleaning surfaces in the B. gThe nonabrasive cleanser used may be de- bed as an all-purpose cleanser generally rec- ended for cleaning walls, woodwork, linole- land modern tile floors. The manufacturer s that it is safe for all washable surfaces. cleanser is water-soluble and, consequently, “mixed in those proportions recommended by i manufacturer to give the desired cleaning so- n. [The manufacturer’s description of the iser selected as a mild abrasive states that it _ hes, foams and rinses quickly. The powder , ommended for kitchen, bathroom and other ‘ehold tasks such as cleaning sinks, pots, pans, 'gerators, ranges, basins, bathtubs, porcelain, linoleum, enamel and windows. The grit in cleanser could not be dissolved; consequently, qleanser could not be mixed with water to get j ogeneous solution. The third cleanser selected as a moderately g abrasive is recommended by the manu- facturer for cleaning porcelain-enamel bathtubs, sinks, all ceramic tile-surfaces, windows, pots, pans and many other uses which are not item- ized. It is described as a foaming cleanser which contains bleach. This powder could not be dis- solved to obtain a homogeneous solution because the abrasive was not water-soluble. The cleanser classifications used in this re- search were not determined from scientific analy- ses of the different cleansing agents. Rather the descriptions are the reflection of consumer eval- uations as observed by home economists of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. The manufacturers of the different cleansing agents list some definite cleaning functions for which specific cleansers are recommended. Other functions are listed in general terms which leave the final decisions to the homemaker. No man- ufacturer makes any statement indicating that his agent is not a suitable cleanser for a partic- ular purpose. Neither is any statement made to indicate if the cleanser is acid, alkaline or neu- tral. Containers of the abrasive cleansers have no instructions which state the exact procedure for using the cleanser. MATERIALS Metal Tiles Four different types of metal tiles were sub- jected to the scrubbing operations. The tiles con- sisted of different alloys of steel and copper. Coating materials ranged from clear or colored synthetic-resin enamels to porcelain enamels. These protective coatings produced glossy wear- ing areas which ranged from relatively soft and flexible to hard and inflexible surfaces. Enameled Steel These tiles consisted of 28-gage sheet steel treated on both sides with a corrosion inhibitor before the surface was coated with a synthetic- resin enamel and dried in an oven at approxi- mately 300° F. Tiles had a shallow bevel which permitted the use of a minimum of mastic for installation. The tile was flexible and could be bent without cracking the enamel coating. Tiles are available in a variety of colors and sizes. Two groups of tiles with different colors of enamel surface coat- ings were studied. Enameled Copper The copper tiles tested were 0f the same gage and configuration as those of enameled steel. In the production process, the metal surface is treat- ed to produce an attractive satin finish. A clear synthetic-resin enamel is used as a protective coating for the polished copper surface. Tiles are 5 Figure 3. Gray enameled steel as it appeared after the treatments. The letter “A" identifies areas on which the moderately strong abrasive cleanser was used, “B" the areas on which the mild abrasive was used and “C" the areas scrubbed with the nonabrasive cleanser. Preliminary work in developing the procedure caused duplication of the “A" spots. available in 41A; x IPA-inch size. bent and cut with ease. They can be Stainless Steel These tiles can be purchased in different sizes for specific applications. The tiles studied were of the same size, gage and configuration as those of enameled steel. Stainless steel tiles are produced from alloys containing nickel and chrome. They require no protective chemical treatment and do not have a protective enamel coating. The exposed surface is grained with a polisher. During shipment, this surface is pro- tected by an adhesive paper. '20 ENAMELED STEEL TILE (auouvuoum. READINGS) noo V I I l m. y. " i! v wv _ a g s a a e c 6-——- _ ao- 2 \ u: K , m r l" 6O (D o a - \-: I i {a-v-‘m _ 4o h I 1 z___i__|‘_g& .-»-¢"_5 \ gum‘; , \ "*2 }<2r\.,/ | —- ‘ill l-Lm} ii _"i'—__—_ll 1TH‘- 2° -|— —a— —-s- IfIAQRAsNE cuzmssa “A” Zfljxemsnve CLEANSER "9' ISZNON-ABRASIVE CLEANSER T?" -u- --|y- —vr- °<> 40o eoo |2oo usoo 2 o 24 0 zaoo szoo eoo REVOLUTIONS Figure 4. A plot of the individual gloss readings which resulted from the use of the different cleansers on the resp-ec- tive scrubbed areas. Initial gloss readings are plotted along the vertical axis. Readings taken aiter 5-minute scrubbing periods with the indicated cleansers are plotted consecutive- 1y to the right. 6 Porcelain-on-steel These tiles, also referred to as ceramic ti. steel tiles, are available in 41/2 x lll/z-inch r 81/4 X 81A-inch sizes. The larger size was fl in this research. The tiles were made of 26-g tempered steel with a conventional ground it and a single-cover coat of porcelain enamel ct sisting of molten glass and.__clay fused to the tef pered steel. The resultingésurface was hard Q smooth. A special cutting machine is requi to cut the tiles. A specially manufactured sco A foundation board may be applied to the Wall ‘ face as an aid for aligning the tile during ins» lation. A complete line of "trim, strip, mddi base and corner tiles are also available. Ti may be purchased in an assortment of colors. Plastic Tiles Plastic wall tiles of two different colors manufactured by two different organizati were studied. Size of the tiles was 41/1, x inches. Some 81/2 x 81/g-inch field tile are > produced. Both tiles were manufactured f; polystyrene. One group used was identified; being manufactured from Virgin Styron l? is simply a trade name for polystyrene. O trade names for polystyrene include Loalin 4i Lustron. Both manufacturers state that tiles have features which will prevent dishin; the center. The maximum thickness of eit tile ranges between .065 and .075 inches. tile had a slightly oval surface. Both groups ; produced in an assortment of colors. Speci shaped accessory tiles also are available. Ceramic Tiles The ceramic tiles used were fired at app imately 2,000° F. All field tile were cus A edged and were 41A; x 41/4 inches in size. thickness was approximately three-eighths ofi inch. Field tiles of different sizes are avail and accessory tiles are also made for specific i plications. ‘ Laminated Thermosetting Sheets These sheets consisted of several layer fibrous sheet material which was impres 5 with thermosetting resins before being tr under intense heat and pressure. A dense li weight sheet with a smooth glossy surface, sulted. Laminated thermosetting sheets are duced in standard and cigarette-proof grades are available in various colors and designs. é material is produced in thicknesses ranging one-twentieth to one-fourth of an inch. For A study, a one-sixteenth inch thickness, lami to different base materials, was used. Shee v; produced in various sizes. A Prefinished Wallboard .1 his surfacing material consisted of a hard- ~ panel with a synthetic baked finish which hard but still flexible. Material is available jveral forms such as sheets, planks and _ Scored sheets yielding a 4 x 4-inch tile l were used. The wallboard was approxi- y five thirty-seconds of an inch thick. Sim- Vallboard in different colors and produced different manufacturers was used. Vinylized Wall Fabric f; his is sheet material, available in roll form, i, consists of textured or textured and print- ' yl plastic covered with clear vinyl that is ‘onded under pressure to a cotton fabric. f. aterial is lightweight and very flexible. It ailable in rolls having a standard width of hes and a length of 24 yards. The vinylized gj is produced in many colors and patterns. aterial is applied by the use of an adhesive suitable underlayment. Somewhat similar p; 'als are made with paper backing. Flexible Rubber, Fabric Backed . his nonporous rubber sheet material is factured with a fabric backing. The pattern ds through the rubber which is approxi- one-twentieth of an inch thick. The v "rial is smooth and flexible. It is available in _'ety of colors and patterns, and can be pur- I» in rolls 36 inches wide and 3O yards long. me type of material in a somewhat heavier used for flooring. PROCEDURE he Wall-surfacing material was purchased form of tiles, rigid sheets and flexible I Six different types of tiles were studied. all-surfacing specimens were mounted on s types of materials which simulated un- ' ents on a wall. The panels were con- in sizes which could conveniently ac- iodate the Wall-surfacing materials. At a two samples were constructed with each 'al. The spots for treatment on the samples f so arranged that two areas could be jed with each cleanser. With three cleansers spots per cleanser, each sample received imum of six scrubbed areas. This arrange- ‘produced four replications on a particular 'al with a given cleanser. Samples used in ping the procedure may have received as ’_ as eight scrubbed spots or areas. Figure 3 a sample of enameled steel as it ap- p after the scrubbing treatments. Four ‘on this sample were subjected to treatments ’ e moderately strong abrasive cleanser. efore scrubbing, each sample was cleaned . damp sponge and dried with paper towels. ENAMELED STEEL TILE AV, GLOSS READINGS I Q Q O j j m‘ 4 iaxjjmlzii. —fl¢ CLIINSCR 'l o s a z ‘w w —e— ctnnsua ‘r non-namsw: —c-— ccunsza ‘c’ ‘DO BOO I200 2 400 I500 3200 $00 |eoo zooo REVOLUTIONS Figure 5. The average gloss values at 5-minute inter- vals which resulted from four scrubbed areas on the given material with the indicated cleanser. Gloss and diffuse readings were taken on a smooth and continuous section of the area to be scrubbed. In the case of tiles or scored sheet ma- terial, the readings were taken approximately 1 inch from the joint across which the scrubbing occurred. After the readings were taken, the sample was placed into the machine for a 5-min- ute scrubbing treatment. The sponge was prepared by soaking it in the cleaning solution whenever the soluble non- abrasive cleanser was used. It was then attached to the machine. The weight on the sponge was only 2 pounds or slightly less than one-half pound per square inch. During the test, only enough additional solution was added to main- tain an efficient scrubbing action. Whenever abrasive cleansers were used, the sponge was soaked in water and squeezed damp- dry before it was attached to the machine. While on the machine, the sponge was momentarily set into a pan with the abrasive cleaning powder. The cleanser which adhered to the damp-dry sponge was used for a 5-minute treatment of the sample. A syringe was used to add only enough '2° ENAMELED STEEL TILE (INDIVIDUAL READINGS) _|oo m - 9 z so Q < Ill n: so m v 0 . .. \ .\ J 0 ‘o i mag “m. 1%.}! }‘€. it Ill Ill |v__._.__ w ___w____._jw__j——_ _.3_. 1° Igjmusnve CLEANSER ‘a’ _|y__ ° oo zoo 40o soo 300 REVOLUTI ONS Figure 6. The changes in gloss which resulted from five scrubbing periods of 1 minute each on iour spots oi the indi- cated material with the given cleanser. 7 6s STAINLESS STEEL TILE m ~ at Z‘ ?*l:/\¢-{Z§ m u z o < u l: Ai/ } w v- m i c a . 5 (a ID O _| /i5i o / a a >' . . 1 / —s— CLEANSER A ABRASIVE ———B— CLElNSER '5' 5° rm-Asvusw: —c— ctzmssrc‘ 3 400 800 I200 lsoo 2000 2400 zaoo 3V0 R E V O L U T I O N S Figure 7. The gloss readings of stainless steel increased slightly as the material was scrubbed parallel with the grain. There was no apparent difference in effect between abrasive and nonabrasive cleansers. water to give the sponge an effective scrubbing action. After this treatment period, the sample was removed, rinsed with water and dried. Final gloss and diffuse readings were taken after the 5-minute test period and the differences in initial and final readings were recorded. The next sample was then prepared and scrubbed for 5 minutes. This procedure was continued until each spot on each sample had been scrubbed for six periods of 5 minutes each with a particular cleanser. The analysis reported in this publication re- sults from the data collected by the above pro- cedure. Since this work revealed that some ma- terials had little resistance t0 abrasive cleansers, a similar procedure consisting of five scrubbing periods of 1 minute each was used with only the mild abrasive cleanser to determine gloss and diffuse changes for shorter treatment periods. The 30-minute treatments also revealed that some materials had considerable resistance to abrasive action. Other materials lost much of 8° PLASTIC TILE _w---c—-—' i.____c-—--—-c-—.—-——‘-° 1° %.}c 0| I9 Z i’ eo- h) n: A: m so. X , \,,_.._n-"' m ‘__--$ >4 _, ___ .__ ° i '><- A—-. , ~‘ O ‘g/B Ad“ 4° -A— CLEANSER ‘A’ >' ‘BMSNE -a- CLEANSER ‘a’ < NON-ABRASlVE-C- CLEANSER ‘c’ a0 9O o 400 s00 nzoo I600 zooo 2400 zaoo 5200 ssoo REVOLUTIONS Figure 8. The inconsistent results from the use of abra- sive cleansers were caused by additional rubbing and wip- ing of the tile surfaces. 8 their gloss but seemed to have considerable = ice life remaining. Additional panels were . to further investigate certain of these mater On these additional panels, two areas weret A ed with each cleanser and a sponge. Two a tional areas were scrubbed with an abr cleanser and a small nylon-bristled fingerna handbrush. Each sample received eight scrum. areas. For comparison purposes, one spot ' each cleanser was scrubbed “for 30 minutes " the other was scrubbed for 1 hour. A - application of cleanser was used after eve minute period of operation. DISCUSSION Grit in the Home Grit is a common household nuisance in l‘ urban and rural dwellings since it is carried- the home by pedestrian traffic on both shoes clothing. Aside from the use of abrasive 4 ers, small amounts of grit are deposited by _ ious means on surfaces in the home. This eventually will cause the same results as an p, sive cleanser on materials affected by abr action. A The manufacturer’s literature conce L several of the wall-surfacing materials does. recommend abrasive cleansers for cleaning. ~_ same literature also states that the surfac some of these materials is hard enough to r. considerable abrasive action. This may bet terpreted to imply that the consumer may abrasive cleansers at his own risk. Material Finish Characteristics Some wall-surfacing materials are prod with a high glossy finish while others have original gloss. Some materials can lose mu their gloss and retain considerable service"; while others have little service life remaining ter they lose their original glossy finish. I consumer buys the material in its original i. with the hope that it will continue to mai this appearance throughout its service life. 1 assumption was made in this research that consumer would object to any type of su, change in a wall-surfacing material. i Underlayments Certain wall-surfacing materials may the ability to give many years of service life they do not give this length of service becau " adhesive used in their application or the i’ ials on which they are applied fail wit A shorter period of time. Failures of und ments may be caused by moisture leaking th the wall-surfacing materials. This leakage can be attributed to improper surface pref tion before installation, poor workmanship,‘ er or mastic failures or any combination of t Numerous underlayments ranging from one- g half of an inch plasterboard to three-fourths of ; an inch plywood were used in these tests. In each ~. case the materials presented a smooth continuous -? surface on which the surfacing materials could be applied. The edges of the panels were sealed with a § rubber sealing compound. During the scrubbing periods, the wall-surfacing materials protected the top of the panel. Only a limited amount of moisture came into contact with the bottom of the panel during the relatively short test period. As a result, no underlayment failures or difficul- ties occurred. Loose tiles, both metal and plastic, developed ‘during the tests on several of the panels. In early every case, this failure was traceable to ‘poor workmanship or to the use of insufficient mastic during installation. General recommen- ations are that 65 percent of the tile-back should fe in contact with mastic. This is a percentage Ywhich should be maintained. Material Function Wall-surfacing materials should protect from i. oisture and Wear the underlayments to which ‘It are applied. To serve these purposes effec- 'vely, the coverings as well as the materials used ~1 their installation must combine to present rfaces which are moisture proof and wear re- 'tant. The materials also should enhance and iutify the areas on which they are installed. ailure to meet any of these requirements is suf- " f ient and often mandatory reason for replace- ent of the wall-surfacing material. Other Considerations _ The ability of a wall-surfacing material to thstand repeated cleaning operations is most portant to the homemaker. Many surfacing terials in the home may not be cleaned because ir appearance after cleaning is as objection- ’ e as before. Because of the scope of the work olved, this research was necessarily limited to '7 scrub-resistance studies reported. if Scrub-resistance is, however, not the only ‘sideration in the purchase of wall coverings. ‘terial characteristics which need further con- qation are resistance to stains, acids, alkalies, t, impact, color change, moisture absorption ‘ others. RESULTS ANfIj ‘CONCLUSIONS L’ Graphs were plotted with the data collected , the 30-minute scrubbing treatments with _various cleansers and materials. Individual ings collected on enameled steel tile are n in Figure 4. The gloss values were plot- c-on the vertical axis while the cumulative rev- I20- PLASTIC TILE (INDIVIDUAL READINGS) 5 o Q O GLOSS READINGS m o b O Y -—| s—- . \"-“i§.\= ._ m/N” . .___ 4 m ___; __W ‘>-é; Ns,,;|y ;fg4 . -i3-— _.4_. _"| ABRASIVE CLEANSER '8' 20" 300 REVOLUTIONS Figure 9. Most oi the gloss changes which occurred were produced within the first minute of scrubbing with the mild abrasive cleanser. This indicates that the gloss change actually could have occurred within a shorter time. olutions of the scrubbing machine were plotted at 5-minute intervals on the horizontal axis. Each revolution of the machine represents two strokes of the sponge. The moderately strong abrasive cleanser is identified by the letter “A”; the mild abrasive cleanser by the letter “B”; and the non- abrasive cleanser by the letter “C.” Arabic num- erals “1” and “2” were used to identify the plot- ted data which were collected from the use of cleanser “A” on one of the samples. Roman num- erals “I” and “II” were used to identify the plot- ted data collected on the same material with the same cleanser, but on the two spots of the second sample. The same procedure was used with dif- ferent Arabic and Roman numerals for plotting data collected with the mild abrasive and the non- abrasive cleansers. This total information was then condensed by taking the average of the four readings at a given time with a particular cleans- er and plotting this value as a single point. Re- sults of this procedure are shown in Figure 5. To further determine the characteristics of certain materials, a graph similar to Figure 4 was plotted with the data from five treatments I20 PORCELAIN-ON-STEEL TILE 5 o ___n___.__-—lf ma‘. ID (Q z ‘iii, a g4 - < E /," eo/ U, l” o . c,’ J c_-@i'i l, . so —A-—CLEANSER 1' z “Ms”: —a—c|.:.\ns:n ‘a’ NON-ABRASIVE -c—ctznuszn '0' 1o H“ o 40o aoo I200 usoo zooo 2400 2800 5200 5600 REVOLUTIONS Figure 10. The spread in initial points of gloss indicates inconsistent gloss values oi the original tiles. The abrasive cleansers caused a slight increase in gloss value within the first 5-minute scrubbing period. 9 H0 CERAMIC TILE 5 o U O _i_.___5_____i _/——-—a , mlcmcggc____c c<. it {.1 i——-A___.____4 _ AV. GLOSS READINGS ~a a - o o ~A— CLEANSER 'A" ABRWVE -a— CLEANSER "a“ NON-ABRASIVE —C- CLEANSER '0' O O 5v 400 800 I200 I600 2000 2400 2800 3200 3600 R E V 0 LU Tl ON S Figure ll. No important change in gloss values occurred when these tiles were scrubbed 30 minutes with either the abrasive or the nonabrasive cleansers. of 1 minute each in which only the mild abrasive cleanser was used. This information for enam- eled steel tile is shown in Figure 6. Considerable differences existed in the ini- tial gloss values among the different materials. In addition, there was a considerable difference in the gloss changes which occurred among the materials during the scrubbing operations. Be- cause of these wide variations, the same scale could not be used on the vertical axes of all the graphical presentations. Care should be exer- cised to evaluate the numerical differences in the gloss values while comparing material perform- ances. Enameled Steel These tiles are recommended for use in kitch- ens, dinettes, utility rooms, solariums, powder rooms, bathrooms and other tiled areas. Generally, the tiles showed excellent resist- ance to scrubbing with the nonabrasive cleanser, but were very subject to abrasion by the abrasive cleansers. These results are illustrated in Fig- m’ PREFINISHED WALLBOARD KD c _.__. $110 3 C $0 a \ 2 g, w m i“ miiigi. >Iw émié aim‘ G 2° “m” IIZIZiZZZZ-‘Q: lON-ABRASIVE —-c— CLEANSER ‘c’ 40o aoo E60 2400 zaoo szoo seoo I600 Z000 REVOLUTIONS Figure 12. The abrasive cleansers produced consider- able gloss change within the first 5-minute scrubbing period. The nonabrasive cleanser produced no important gloss change throughout the 30-minute treatment. 10 ure 4. Almost all the gloss changes recorded the scrubbing periods of 30 minutes occur within the first 5 minutes of scrubbing. Fi 6 shows that a large part of the total gloss ch actually occurred within the first minut scrubbing. The tiles showed some variatio original gloss as shown in the initial gloss . ings. 1 The steel backing was‘ first exposed _, ridges of the tile joint perpendicular to the being scrubbed, Figure 3. Visual inspection, showed a change in depth of color as the v‘ bing progressed. Degree of color change ; with different colors. The effective servic of the material was exceeded before the end 0 30-minute abrasive cleanser tests since the» terial no longer enhanced the area covered,’ enamel surfacing was easily scratched and v when handled. . Enameled Copper This material was designed for special orative effects. It is recommended for kite snack bars or over sinks and stoves. It a used for decorative panels in living or d room areas. These tiles did not react as rapidly as eled steel when subjected to the use of an f sive cleanser. The gloss readings were influ by the finish on the copper itself as Well i the clear enamel protective coating. Api mately 80 percent of the total gloss chan curred within the first 5 minutes of scrui with an abrasive cleanser. A gradual but tinuous decrease in gloss was evident unt' material had been scrubbed for approxi r; 20 minutes. The copper tiles showed good ance to scrubbing with the nonabrasive w‘ The clear enamel surface coating can be scra easily. When copper is exposed under =4 atmospheric conditions, it may start oxidizii Stainless Steel Stainless steel tiles are recommended f stallation behind the stove, the kitchen 5 on the backboard of the kitchen counter. I also may be used around the washstand, lav bathtub or shower stall enclosure. Y These tiles had a highly finished grain L face. Scrubbing with the grain or acro grain produced different gloss readings. ; manufacturer recommended that the t' j cleaned by scrubbing parallel with the grain; procedure was followed in gathering the d this analysis. Figure 7 shows that a very increase in gloss was produced as the scr ' progressed. There was essentially no diff in effect between abrasive and nonab__ cleansers. Neither was there any visual L ence between the scrubbed and unscrubbe The service life of the material was not af When the tiles were scrubbed across the i‘ ain, the glossy surface became slightly cloudy lid dull. Scrubbing across the grain is likely to ur when tiles are installed with grains that n at right angles to produce a checkerboard fect. Plastic These tiles are recommended for bath, util- and playrooms. They also may be used be- "'nd snack bars and kitchen counters. _. These tiles showed high resistance to scrub- Iing with the nonabrasive cleanser, but were very bject to abrasion with abrasive cleansers, Fig- ére 8. The abrasive cleansers seemingly did not fve consistent results. Further investigation owed, however, that the results were consist- TB the apparent inconsistency was caused by drying and cleaning of the samples. Even yough the gloss value of the material was rela- vely low when a certain scrubbing period end- Y the brisk rubbing of the tile with a cloth or f per towel gradually renewed it. The abrasion ‘irks could not be completely removed, but they " iuld be rubbed to produce a highly polished sur- e. g Plastic tiles are relatively soft and, can be Severely scratched by placing a fingernail per- dicular to the tile surface and then rapidly oking the finger back and forth in motions jrallel with the nail. th the mild abrasive cleanser show that the ' undergo most of their gloss change within ' i first minute of scrubbing, Figure 9. The ss change may actually occur within less than minute. With exception of the loss of gloss i» abrasion marks, the material did not change idepth of color and otherwise remained service- e. A nylon-bristled handbrush attached to the bbing machine was used as the scrubbing it for further investigation of this material. weight applied was the same as that applied he sponge. Noticeable grooves were cut into f plastic tiles with the brush and an abrasive lf-znser during six test periods of 5 minutes each. d e grooves became more apparent when the J equipment was used in the same manner 1__hour. Scrubbing with the brush without abrasive cleanser would produce no grooving ect on the plastic tile. Porcelain-on-steel Advertisements show this tile on walls and 'ngs of bathrooms and kitchens. The tiles g are used in commercial buildings such as ls, schools and hospitals. The manufactur- literature states that the tile can cover any is The porcelain protective coating is fused to j steel and is very hard. Test results in Fig- One-minute scrub treatments of plastic tile n m- PREFINISHED WALLBOSARD . (INDIVIDUAL READINes) . loo- (0 O E80- D < h! a: eo- U) U) 3 J I=='"'=u"_--_ 0 4Q. ---—-—-43——-_I_"-._J_T-=___: u_: ._3-.... ImIABRASIVE CLEANSER "a" 2W _q_. =0“ ' we‘ ' wsQfQ saw - was f '56s‘ REVOLUTIONS Figure l3. Nearly all of the major gloss changes oc- curred within the first minute of scrubbing. Treatments for shorter time were not run. ure 10 show that some differences in gloss values existed in the original tiles. There was a slight increase in gloss when the abrasive cleansers were used, but virtually no change with the non- abrasive cleanser. No visible effects were notice- able between scrubbed and unscrubbed tiles. The service life of the tiles was apparently not im- paired and the tiles probably could have with- stood additional scrubbing with the cleansers without any harmful effects. Tiles cannot be bent without causing porcelain to crack and chip. Similar chipping occurs when the surface is struck a severe blow with a hard object. Ceramic Ceramic tiles have a wide range of applica- tion. They are recommended by their producers Figure 14. Typical mode of failure which occurred on scored prefinished wallboard. The simulated tiles on the left were scrubbed 30 minutes with a sponge and an abra- sive cleanser. Those on the right were scrubbed 1 hour. There is no change in color depth between scrubbed and unscrubbed areas. ‘Also shown are the failures of the pro- tective coating along the score lines which run horizontally across the scrubbed areas. ll '20P LAMINATED THERMOSETTING SHEETS 5 O c AV cross READINGS U’ Q Y ' I q Y q I /‘ i 7 4o \\'\,* -§. —.§ \-—->~=—