FLAGON TPO the ultimate synthetic waterproofing membrane

Flagon TPO is a range of products introduced in Flag’s products’ range in the 90ies when it started the production tests for this new plastic material, at first creating waterproofing membranes for agriculture(basins for irrigation water) and, later on, for roofing (1996).
The acronym TPO (Thermoplastic PolyOlefins) or FPO (Flexible PolyOlefins) defines polyolefins that have been modified to alter the typical stiffness.
The modification is done introducing during the polymerisation phase, elastomeric molecules (EPR Ethylene Propylene Rubber), or introducing mix of polyethylene polymers with a low melting point.

 

Two types of products are available:
– Polypropylene-based modified polyolefines – Polyethylene-based modified polyolefines

A) Polypropylene-based modified polyolefines
These products are rather stiff (when compared to PVC-P) but they have a good resistance to temperature variations, have a good resistance to traction, high flexibility and a life expectation longer than 25 years.

B) Polyethylene based modified polyolefines
In this case the product is modified with low melting point polymers that are more flexible in comparison to those which use polyethylene only, but are more sensible to high temperatures. The mechanical characteristics are very good as concerns elongation to rupture, but less satisfying as concerns resistance to traction.

Waterproof synthetic membranes of the FLAGON TPO range are successfully employed in all sectors of roofing and civil engineering. The roofing business area uses membranes with inner reinforcement made of polyester mesh for mechanically fastened visible coverings and membranes with glass veil reinforcement for roofing with fixed or movable ballasting. The latter is also used for Flagon TPO waterproof membranes directly glued on the support, but in this case during the production a geotextile felt is coupled to the lower side of the product to improve its adherence.

 

Homogeneous membranes, i.e. without reinforcement, are preferred for waterproofing interventions in the sector of hydraulic and underground works. This allows to exploit the characteristic of high elongation to rupture typical of the synthetic membrane, so to adequate with any unevenness of the surface of basins without ruptures that could inhibit the waterproofing and the capacity to contain water. The same feature is relevant also in case of out-of-shape structures in natural tunnels particularly when there’s water under pressure that would solicit the back of the waterproofing system causing rupture that could compromise the waterproofing.