What is TPO plastic used for?
Thermoplastic Polyolefins (TPO or TPE-O)
They are characterised by high impact resistance, low density and good chemical resistance. They are used in applications where there is a requirement for increased toughness and durability over the conventional PP copolymers, such as automotive bumpers and dashboards.
Thermoplastic olefin, thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), or olefinic thermoplastic elastomers refer to polymer/filler blends usually consisting of some fraction of a thermoplastic, an elastomer or rubber, and usually a filler.
Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) refers to a blend material composed of polyolefin (PP or PE), rubber and some filler (talc, glass, carbon fiber, etc.). These are members of the TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) family. They generally possess good hardness, flex fatigue and impact resistance.
Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) is an interior skin material that maintains a conventional appearance with also translucent properties allowing light to be projected through the skin. This technology can create a day and night unique interior atmosphere allowing new locations and sizes of electronic indicators.
Thermoplastic Polyolefins (TPOs) are polypropylene based materials that have been modified to provide better ductility and impact resistance compared to standard off-the-shelf Polypropylene (PP) grades. TPOs retain the ease of processing, lightweight nature, and chemical resistance of PP.
Each thermoplastic polyolefin layer is made of ethylene-propylene rubber and manufactured with fillers such as talc, fiberglass, and carbon fiber. These fillers add to the TPO's strength and flexibility.
TPO is ENERGY STAR rated and meets the higher standard for California's Title 24. TPO membranes are mold resistant, impact resistant, wind resistant, fire and traffic resistant.
TPO roofing is a relatively inexpensive rubber roofing material that's most often used on commercial buildings. TPO stands for Thermoplastic Polyolefin; it's made primarily from recycled rubber, and sold in rolls that are held together by seams that are “glued” together using heat.
TPO is made from ethylene propylene rubber and a number of filler materials, such as talc, carbon filler, or fiberglass. Using special technology ethylene ( an organic gaseous substance), rubber, and propylene (a byproduct of petroleum refining) are all polymerized.
TPO is a 100% recyclable material, but due to the nature of the material, and the long life cycle applications that it typically is used in, the recycling stream is not as strong as it should be.
What does TPO mean in medical terms?
Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) is an enzyme normally found in the thyroid gland. TPO plays an important role in the production of thyroid hormones. A TPO test detects antibodies against TPO in the blood.
ABS is an acronym for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. This is a strong thermoplastic polymer commonly used on the exterior of vehicles in the form of mud flaps, fender flares, trim, and so on. For reference, “thermoplastic” implies that the material gets soft when heated and hard when cooled.

TPO is an excellent environmentally-friendly choice to make for a roofing membrane. It does not emit toxic fumes in the case of fire, which also makes a fire situation safer to deal with on your property.
What is the life expectancy of a TPO roof? A thermoplastic Olefin (TPO) roof typically lasts as little as 22 years and up to a maximum of about 30 years. The two thermoplastic layers are adhered to a polyester scrim for reinforcement, becoming a single ply to protect your roof.
The TPO was produced by Montell specifically for the roofing market. Montell merged with two other companies in 2000 to become Basell.
TPO is typically sold in thicknesses of 45 mil, 60 mil and 90 mil. In Indiana, we typically see 45 mil and 60 mil specified. The thicker the membrane, the better the long term durability.
TPO roofs usually come in white, grey, and tan. They do have other colors. However, white, grey, and tan are the most used colors.
How to Install Low-Slope Roofing and TPO Best Practices - YouTube
TPO is produced primarily in liver parenchymal cells with much smaller amounts being made in the kidney and bone marrow [9,10]. It is synthesized as a 353 amino acid precursor protein with a molecular weight of 36 kDa [2,4,11].
TPO presents superior results for tear and break strengths, while PVC outperforms in chemical resistance, fire resistance, and overall cost. Restaurants or buildings with grease traps on the roof would be better served by a PVC roofing system.
What is the difference between PVC and TPO?
While TPO and PVC are both in the thermoplastic, single-ply family, they are very different in their base chemical composition. TPO is made of ethylene propylene rubber and polypropylene, while PVC, also commonly known as vinyl, is composed of ethylene and chlorine.
TPO is very good at resisting dirt build-up, punctures, and tears as well. This means a strong roofing product that can save you money in the long run as the roof will need to be cleaned less often.
Is TPO Roofing Flammable. Single-ply roofing materials such as TPO are a sub-specialty category of roofing. This means that single-ply roofing is made using highly flammable and toxic materials. Solvents and adhesives are used to compose and install TPO roofing, which does make it flammable.
If you're curious about TPO waterproofing membrane specification. Here's where the magic happens: a TPO's hot air-welded seams make it 100% resistant to water penetration. Unlike PVC, property owners enjoy a leak-proof roof for a long period of time.
A TPO roof can be installed fully-adhered (glued down), mechanically-attached or ballasted. When a TPO system is fully-adhered, it means that the membrane was glued to the substrate using a special adhesive that chemically bonds with the membrane.
How to Install TPO/PVC Coatings | GAF Roof Mate - YouTube
A mild household detergent and water should be used in cleaning the membrane's surface. This should be followed by completely rinsing the roof using a low-pressure power washer. After cleaning, the roof should be inspected for damage and any incidental damage should be repaired according to GAF's guidelines.
TPE has better elasticity due to the compounding, therefore TPE feels a bit more comfortable then TPO, but this also makes the material more expensive in production than TPO (see video below).
TPV compounds are the next step up in performance from TPO. These too are compounds of PP and EPDM rubber, however they have been dynamically vulcanised during the compounding step. They were originally conceived to bridge the gap between thermoplastic materials and vulcanised EPDM.
Polyolefins, also called polyalkenes, are the largest class of commodity thermoplastics. They are polymers of simple alkenes such as ethylene, propylene, butenes, and pentenes, and copolymers thereof. The two most important polyolefins are polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).
Is TPO waterproof?
Here's where the magic happens: a TPO's hot air-welded seams make it 100% resistant to water penetration. Unlike PVC, property owners enjoy a leak-proof roof for a long period of time.
TPO is a 100% recyclable material, but due to the nature of the material, and the long life cycle applications that it typically is used in, the recycling stream is not as strong as it should be.
TPE has better elasticity due to the compounding, therefore TPE feels a bit more comfortable then TPO, but this also makes the material more expensive in production than TPO (see video below).
TPO roofing reflects sunlight, allowing commercial air conditioners to work more efficiently; whereas EPDM has a dark surface, which in summer conditions will absorb heat, forcing cooling systems to work overtime. TPO offers reduced cooling costs and energy savings for facilities located in warmer climates.
What is TPO Roofing? Thermoplastic Polyolefin is a single-ply roofing membrane that is one of the fastest-growing commercial roofing systems on the market. TPO roofing systems are a single layer of synthetics and reinforcing scrim used to cover flat roofs.
TPV compounds are the next step up in performance from TPO. These too are compounds of PP and EPDM rubber, however they have been dynamically vulcanised during the compounding step. They were originally conceived to bridge the gap between thermoplastic materials and vulcanised EPDM.
Are TPEs waterproof? Yes, TPEs can be blended in a way that makes the material absolutely waterproof. In fact, TPEs are often used for the gasket that keeps portable speakers and other electronics safe from water damage.
On the other hand, however, TPU is more expensive than comparable plastics and some grades of TPU have a relatively short shelf life. Like other TPEs, TPUs must be dried prior to processing.
TPO is typically sold in thicknesses of 45 mil, 60 mil and 90 mil. In Indiana, we typically see 45 mil and 60 mil specified. The thicker the membrane, the better the long term durability.
Heat welding of PVC and TPO works perfectly around these roof units. The technicians will seal the membrane seams, stopping moisture from dripping through around the base.
How long does TPO roof last?
What is the life expectancy of a TPO roof? A thermoplastic Olefin (TPO) roof typically lasts as little as 22 years and up to a maximum of about 30 years. The two thermoplastic layers are adhered to a polyester scrim for reinforcement, becoming a single ply to protect your roof.