Can rubber tiles tolerate oil, grease, petrol and diesel?
Brief contact over a small area with oil, grease, petrol or diesel will not normally cause visible damage to rubber tiles made from PU-bound rubber granules, provided the liquid is removed promptly. However, this rubber flooring is not permanently resistant to oil. SBR and natural rubber recovered through tyre recycling, as well as EPDM, swell when exposed to mineral oils and fuels. Prolonged exposure can also attack the polyurethane binder.
Mineral oils and lubricating greases attack the tiles more strongly than cooking fats. Petrol evaporates quickly, while diesel evaporates much more slowly. The extent of any effect depends on the exposure time and temperature. If a substance penetrates the pores, the tile increases in volume, its surface loses strength and elasticity, and individual rubber granules may eventually come loose from the bonded structure. A dark stain may remain even if no such damage occurs.
Spills should be removed promptly, while larger quantities should be absorbed with suitable oil absorbent granules. Water and a mild cleaner are sufficient afterwards, followed by rinsing with clean water. Solvent-based cleaners such as paint thinner, acetone and white spirit attack both the rubber granules and the binder. Occasional contact remains manageable on terraces, balconies, barbecue areas and in stables. Where oil or fuel leaks regularly, such as in a motor vehicle workshop, chemical-resistant industrial flooring should be used instead.