What is TPO?

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Overshadow is Enduratex's first combination TPO fabric with a PU topskin.

Thermoplastic Olefins, commonly known as TPO, have been used for years. Due to its high abrasion resistance, cold control, durability, and flexibility TPO products have previously been mostly common used in roofing material. Now as trends change, certain upholstery markets have requested the use of TPO type products.

Moving from a predominantly roofing material to a textile doesn't happen overnight.  As TPO has experienced a slower start into the upholstery industry than Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), the long standing leader of the upholstery business, and Polyurethane (PU) which have been part of the vinyl conversation for many years, it is important to get acquainted with TPO and its qualities. To get started, here are some brief overview of PVC, PU, and TPO:

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): a commodity resin with unsurpassed physical characteristics used for many purposes such as pipe, blood bags, wire cables and upholstery.

Polyurethane (PU): an elastomeric resin which may be converted into foam, films, gaskets, and upholstery products.

Thermoplastic Olefin (TPO): a combination of Polyethylene and polypropylene, a rubber and reinforcing filler. Known for its excellent resistance to chemicals and cold and contains no phthalates. 
TPO is a relatively soft resin with good physical properties especially when it comes to chemical resistance and weathering. It is popularly known for its lack of plasticizers, a low cold crack resistance, chemical resistance and formability. TPO is inherently anti-bacterial which means it does not require any chemical additives. TPO also has an outstanding UV resistance. Take a look at the different benefits TPO, PVC, and PU provide:

 
Abocado is one of Enduratex's PU products.
Conclusion
TPO is a unique product which has become a trending textile in specific market segments.  Many users are drawn to it for its non-plasticizer make-up and its UV, weather, and chemical resistances.  When comparing the qualities of each product, it is critical to consider how your fabric will be used when deciding what kind of product to use.

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