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What Type of Filler is Used in Carpet Latex?

January 19, 2018 by Flooristics staff 2 Comments

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carpet backed with laytexCarpet latex is an important component in a piece of carpeting. In the field, carpeting inspectors often run into different problems with carpet latex. One problem is that the primary and secondary backing are separate from each other. This may have to do with the filling in the carpet latex. A combination of substances blends into the latex to hold the primary backing and secondary backing together.

Known as carpet delamination, this separation can lead to lots of problems with the carpeting, such as buckling and rippling. It can also lead to fraying, visible seams, or a chalky white powder appearing. The filler ingredient—calcium carbonate or marble dust—causes this chalky powder. The latex adhesive is made of the same ingredient as plaster and is used in swimming pools and construction. Carpet latex includes calcium carbonate to increase viscosity. Over time, the calcium carbonate migrates out of the latex and separates from the carpet, forming the chalky powder.

Sometimes the inspector will see the chalky powder on or under the carpet, but that doesn’t necessarily lead to delamination. When the latex has a lot of powder as a filler, it is almost surely going to come out and be visible.

Filed Under: Carpet and Rugs Tagged With: backing separation, carpet delamination, carpet latex, carpet separation, carpet white powder, causes of carpet delamination, primary backing, secondary backing, white powder from carpet

Comments

  1. zane says

    October 18, 2019 at 5:38 pm

    Is it possible to have to much filler “latex and what notL” between the carpet and the backing? Did a job this week and the backing was crazy thick and impossible to work with. I compared it to the stores sample. The backing was 100-200% thicker than the sample piece, \

    Reply
    • admin says

      October 26, 2019 at 1:17 pm

      The best time to raise such a concern is before the product is put down. It sounds like you had the wrong pad.

      Reply

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