Roofing Material Evaluation

SGH conducted a study to asses the physical, chemical, and thermal properties of the TPO membranes. Highlights of our work include:

• Conducting physical testing in our laboratory to compare the peel strength of welds prepared in a laboratory setting to establish whether poor weld performance is due to welding technique or membrane weldability
• Taking microscopic measurements of the TPO membranes to establish whether membrane thickness falls within accepted standards, as this property is known to affect membrane performance
• Performing chemical analyses and thermal tests to evaluate differences in polymer and additive composition between the different manufacturing lots

We determined the samples from the newer lots contained more antioxidant protection, which affects membrane stability at the high temperatures required for thermal welding and underscores the importance of protecting TPO membranes from the elements prior to installation.