In our most recent post in the “Learn More About your Plastic Sheet” blog series we featured our extruded HIPS material and highlighted some of the characteristics and attributes of the material. Today, we will switch gears to a polymer that services a more industrial market where material durability for long-term use is paramount - TPO, or Thermoplastic Olefin. TPO is a combination of polymer and filler blends usually consisting of some fraction of a thermoplastic (generally block copolymer polypropylene), an elastomer or rubber, and filler such as calcium carbonate or talc.
To learn more about TPO’s characteristics and typical uses continue reading!
- TPO is widely used in the automotive market:
As the capabilities of TPO grow, the applications it is used in have followed suit. TPO has been widely adapted for use in both exterior and interior automotive applications, replacing more traditional materials such as metal and other engineering thermoplastics. The driving force behind this material switch is to reduce the weight of the automobile.
However, aesthetics continue to remain a high priority for automotive applications, which has in turn led to polymer enhancements in order satisfy the requirement for a Class A surface. To satisfy this requirement resin companies have created polymer grades with an enhanced aesthetic appeal:
“Exxon Chemical, Co., Houston, reported that modifying TPOs with metallocene-based plastomers instead of conventional rubbers does more than improve low-temperature impact and flowability: Plastomers may also improve paint adhesion. Exxon offers a new commercial grade of plastomer-modified TPO aimed at fascias.” (Source: Plastics Technology)
Now with new polymer innovations, consumers in the automotive industry can take advantage of the properties of this polymer without sacrificing aesthetic appeal. - TPO is UV stabilized:
TPO needs to endure anything Mother Nature throws at it - and at the top of this list is exposure to UV light. Today there are many grades of TPO available that provide this UV protection. Grades such as MetaForm 7200 by Mytex Polymers have special additive packages that prevent custom colors from fading due to sun exposure over an extended period of time. These advancements in polymer technology make TPO the unrivaled solution for outdoor parts. In addition to the UV Stabilized grades, additive packages that can be added during extrusion are also available to further enhance the longevity the material. - TPO has great impact strength and temperature resistance:
Enough about the aesthetics of TPO - now lets get down to the nitty-gritty and the sole reason why TPO is the best material for markets that require durability. TPO is designed to provide the optimum balance of stiffness, cold temperature impact, and low thermal expansion. It is ideal for applications where weatherability and durability to all conditions is crucial. These qualities are perhaps the leading reason why this polymer has found a home in Automotive and Industrial markets.
In both of these markets, the finished part will have exposure to heat and cold, and will need to keep its shape while allowing for limited thermal expansion or contraction. Imagine if on a hot summer day the bumper on car started to expand and cracked! That would be completely unacceptable! So as automotive companies began to shift from traditional metal materials to materials like TPO, avoiding problems like this was at the top of their list of requirements when qualifying replacement materials.
To give you an idea if TPO can actually compete with metals in terms of durability this test by Ford should give you confidence:
“Ford's stringent low-temperature impact specification requires that the pillar will not crack when a 10-lb ball is dropped on it from 6 ft at -30 C.” (Source: Plastics Technology)
- TPO can be colored during extrusion:
As mentioned, TPO is designed to withstand harsh conditions while maintaining performance. While these conditions may expose the material to wear and tear, aesthetics, such as custom colors are still a priority. During the extrusion process TPO can be colored to any custom color of your choosing. Whether you have a color target you’d like matched, or a PMS color, one of our partnered color suppliers will exceed expectations for any market. - TPO is flame retardant:
Because of the two largest applications TPO services (automotive and roofing), it is essential for this material to be flame retardant. Although this polymer is not as inherently fire-resistant as competing materials, this can be modified by adding fire retardant chemicals and additives during the compounding process. - Is TPO an amorphous or a crystalline polymer?
You would think this would be a simple answer but it isn’t. Because TPO is an olefin compounded with rubber this question becomes difficult and the answer depend on a variety of factors, like the content of rubber for example:
“If PP and PE are the dominant component of a TPO blend then the rubber fraction will be dispersed into a continuous matrix of "crystalline" polypropylene. However, if the fraction of rubber is greater than 40% phase inversion may be possible when the blend cools, resulting in an amorphous continuous phase, and a crystalline dispersed phase.” (Source: Thermoplastic Olefin, Wikipedia)
- TPO is recyclable:
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. However, certain markets seem to be discovering a way to recycle and repurpose this material while saving money along the way.
In the last few years, many TPO manufacturers have started programs to educate both roofing contractors and building owners about the benefits and the process of TPO recycling. Recycling TPO not only benefits the environment by reducing our carbon footprint, it also offers financial incentives
We hope this insight has taught you something new about what TPO is capable of and why it offers a great solution for the markets it services. For more information on our TPO products, download our TPO material solutions today!
