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Valorization of Hemp Oil Based Sustainable Floor Covering
No full textHemp seed oil has also been a topic of interest more recently as a potential material to be used in the construction industry. With growing concerns regarding carbon footprints, demands for environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional building materials are on the rise. This research discusses the application of hemp seed oil as an alternative to linseed oil in floor coatings, with the aim of establishing whether hemp oil can provide the same degree of sustainability and durability as conventional linoleum. Linoleum, as produced by companies such as Forbo, is made up of up to 98% natural raw materials—including linseed oil—and is carbon negative from cradle to gate without offsetting (Forbo Flooring Systems, n.d.). This study investigates whether hemp seed oil—derived from seeds of the hemp plant—can be used as a binder due to its ability to undergo oxidative polymerization, as observed in drying oils such as linseed oil (Soucek, Khattab, & Wu, 2012).
Hemp, as a crop, is nontoxic, renewable, and ubiquitous. It is of two major environmental benefits: first, hemp crops absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide (van der Werf, 2004); second, they have a high growth rate while maintaining the soil\u27s fertility even under successive cropping (Karus & Vogt, 2004). If found viable, hemp oil in flooring could reduce demand for hardwood timber and other commercial products, thereby adding to circular economy initiatives already adopted in the flooring sector, e.g., Forbo\u27s Back to the Floor recycling program (Forbo Flooring Systems, n.d.).
Hemp oil–based floor coatings are hypothesized to be environmentally friendly and perhaps durable, which renders them suitable for application in high-traffic spaces. When polymerized, hemp oil would be expected to form a stable, cross-linked network that would be resistant to surface degradation and enhance material durability, although further testing is required for this (Müssig, 2020). Its use would also work towards reduced reliance on toxic chemicals or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), for cleaner and healthier indoor air, consistent with linoleum\u27s established low-VOC performance (Uhacz, 2023)
In conclusion, this thesis discusses whether hemp oil is applicable in floor coatings as an environmental alternative to linseed oil, which has the potential to support circular economy goals, strengthen local economies, and favor ecological agriculture
