Polymeric materials and products, including sheet flooring materials
prepared from the polymeric materials, and processes for preparing the
polymeric materials, are disclosed. The polymeric materials include a
polylactic acid-based polymer in combination with plasticizer and a
compatibilizer, and optionally include a filler. The polymeric material
can include between about 30 to about 50 percent by weight polyvinyl
chloride, polyethylene glycol, polyglycolide, ethylene vinyl acetate,
polycarbonate, polycaprolactone, polyhydroxyalkanoates, or polyolefins
modified with polar groups, for example, ionomers. The plasticizer is
typically an epoxidized vegetable oil or esterified and epoxidized
vegetable oil and is typically present in an amount of between about 10
and about 50% by weight. In some embodiments, the compatibilizer is a
polyolefin modified with one or more polar functional groups, and is
typically present in an amount of between about 5 and about 10% by
weight. The material can be used in decorative surface coverings, such as
a floor coverings, particularly when it is in the form of a polymeric
sheet. The polymeric material can be present in at least one layer of a
floor covering, which floor covering can also include one or more
additional layers such as wear layers, foamed or foamable layers, top
coat layers and design layers. The additional layers can also include the
polymeric material.