What is TPO?

-
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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Color and Autism

-
Image
Throughout my career I ’ ve helped countless frustrated parents of autistic children to make empowering color choices for their kids ’ environments. My experiences of getting to know these families inspired me to research the effect of color on people with ASD and to offer solutions for creating colorfully harmonious environments. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 88 children has been identified with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As more and more children are diagnosed, it ’ s imperative that parents and design professionals be aware of the specific requirements for this growing population. Special consideration needs to be given when selecting colors, finishes, lighting and storage. Does your child avoid a certain room in the house or an area of his classroom? The culprit may simpler than you think. Your child may be avoiding these areas because they ’ re too colorfully decorated. ASD children and adults tend to have heightened sen
Read more

Get to Know Jeff Post, VP/General Manager of Enduratex (Part One)

-
Image
Our VP/General Manager, Jeff Post, sat down with us for an interview about his position at Enduratex and experience in the coated fabrics industry. The first part in this four-part series is dedicated to his industry knowledge and coated fabrics interest. Parts three through four, which will be published throughout the week, will touch on his impact at Enduratex, his leadership style and personal life. 1 .      How long have you been in the vinyl industry? Jeff : I’ve been in the vinyl industry for 30+ years. I started off selling resins, PVC resins and recycled resins of PVC. Then, in 1986, I moved into the coated fabrics life of the business.         What interested you about this category? Well, I was looking for a job number one and I wanted to branch out. I had been selling consumer products and I wanted to sell something different and more technical in its general aspects. A friend of mine knew of a company that was selling resins and regrind reprocess type products,
Read more

Get to Know Jeff Post, VP/General Manager of Enduratex (Part Three)

-
Image
1.    What was your initial vision for Enduratex? Has Enduratex become what you envisioned it would, or has the vision changed with time? Jeff: My original vision for Enduratex was to build it as a ‘household name’ in the markets we served. We were known as CGPC back then and I made it a point to make sure that we got the brand Enduratex out there and that over time, we became known as Enduratex. People began to call us Enduratex and I recognized the need to promote that name. I think we have accomplished a tremendous job in re-branding ourselves and making the brand name of ENDURATEX one that is known and respected. 2.    What qualities define a ‘dream team’? What constitutes a strong team and how have you tried to develop your team into a ‘dream team’? Jeff: The qualities of a dream team: persistence, tenacity, a winner takes all attitude and a servants heart- somebody who is willing to do all the work without taking any of the glory. I think I’ve tried
Read more