1. Why does the color of Pigmented (Plus) Tiles fade?
Date Last Revised: Nov. 8/99

Description
Pigmented (plus) tiles appear to fade (generally across the face of the entire surface) and specifically in areas of greater use (like the bottom of swings and slides).

Summary Reasons for Occurrence
The tiles are made from a combination of black rubber granules or buffings that are each coated with a fine layer of pigmented aromatic polyurethane. This polyurethane can be abraded off the granules of buffings by pedestrian traffic and/or can experience fading and eventual degradation through direct UV exposure.

Detailed Reasons For Occurrence
Aromatic polyurethane binders have excellent adhesion, tensile and elongation characteristics. These are essential to manufacture a safety tile with the appropriate level of impact attenuation. However, like many products, frequently there is a "trade off" somewhere in the "picture". The trade off in the case of aromatic urethanes is that they are not very stable when exposed to UV. At first they will yellow (causing lighter color tiles to appear to change in color), then over time they will become brittle and eventually they disintegrate entirely. However, this disintegration only occurs at the very top level of the tile and only where the PU is directly exposed to the UV. This means that the balance of the tile remains structurally intact throughout the entire life cycle of the product despite this minor surface degradation.

Potential Options to Reduce Occurrence at Manufacture
SofSURFACES Inc., is reviewing the following options in order to reduce and/or eliminate this color fading...
a. Produce tiles, as an optional upgrade with Aliphatic urethane. (With substantial price increase.)
b. Ensure that only the best Aromatic urethanes are used to reduce color fading through abrasion.
c. Reduce the cost of Premium (EPDM) colored tiles, thus eliminating the need to provide pigmented tiles.
d. Introduce and optional upgrade with an aliphatic coating over the pigmented tiles.

Potential Options to Minimize Impact at Installations
SofSURFACES Inc., recommends the following steps in order to reduce and/or eliminate the impact and visibility of this color fading...
a. Complete installations in color patterns with either complimenting or contrasting colors to break up the solid appearance of one color.
b. Recommend only darker colors (Terra Cotta and Turf Green) which do not show the fading as much..
c. Educate clients that UV fading is natural in most products. (ie. Cedar wood etc)
d. Provide the clients with the option of installing a refurbishing coat of urethane if/when tile appearance becomes unacceptable.

Back to FAQs