Are rubber tiles chlorine-resistant for a pool surround?
Whether rubber tiles made from PU-bound rubber granules are chlorine-resistant over the long term at a pool surround depends on several factors, including their construction, rubber type, chlorine concentration and duration of exposure. Rubber tiles made exclusively with EPDM Rubber granules are permanently resistant to chlorine and are also suitable for public pools and heavily used indoor and outdoor pools.
For rubber tiles with an EPDM Wearing layer over a base layer of recycled tyre rubber granules (ELT), the whole construction must be considered. The EPDM Wearing layer tolerates brief contact with chlorinated water at low concentrations, such as splashes. Whether these rubber tiles can also be used in public or heavily used pools depends on the chlorine concentration and exposure time. Coloured ELT tiles should not be installed directly at the pool edge, where intense sunlight and chlorinated water can alter the colour.
The difference in rubber type explains this behaviour: the main molecular chain of EPDM Rubber granules consists largely of saturated bonds, leaving oxidising chlorine compounds with few points at which to react. The rubbers in recycled tyre rubber granules (ELT) carry double bonds in their main chain and are therefore more sensitive. With prolonged exposure, the surface of the ELT rubber granules may harden, develop fine cracks or change colour. Chlorinated household cleaners are suitable for cleaning all products, provided they are rinsed afterwards with clean water so that residues do not remain in the pores.