olypropylene (PP) is a rigid and crystalline thermoplastic used widely in everyday objects like packaging trays, household products, battery cases, medical devices, etc. Explore this comprehensive guide and learn everything you need to know about this widely used thermoplastic.
Polypropylene is a tough, rigid and crystalline thermoplastic produced from propene (or propylene) monomer. It is a linear hydrocarbon resin. The chemical formula of polypropylene is (C3H6)n. PP is among the cheapest plastics available today.
Polypropylene homopolymers are thermoplastic resins produced through the polymerization of propylene with Ziegler-Natta catalysts. The homopolymers can be used in different processing technologies, such as injection molding, blow molding, film, fiber, sheet extrusion and thermoforming.
PP belongs to polyolefin family of polymers and is one of the top three widely used polymers today. Polypropylene has applications both as a plastic and a fiber in:
Automotive Industry
Industrial Applications
Consumer Goods, and
Furniture Market
It has the lowest density among commodity plastics.
Ziegler-Natta polymerization or
Metallocene catalysis polymerization
 Structure of PP Monomer C3H6 | Ziegler-Natta Polymerization Or Metallocene Catalysis |  Structure of Polypropylene (C3H6)n |
Atactic (aPP) - Irregular methyl group (CH3) arrangement
Isotactic (iPP) – Methyl groups (CH3) arranged on one side of the carbon chain
Syndiotactic (sPP) - Alternating methyl group (CH3) arrangement
Polypropylene Homopolymer is the most widely utilized general-purpose grade. It contains only propylene monomer in a semi-crystalline solid form. Main applications include packaging, textiles, healthcare, pipes, automotive and electrical applications.
Polypropylene Copolymer family is further divided into random copolymers and block copolymers produced by polymerizing of propene and ethane:
Polypropylene Random Copolymer is produced by polymerizing together ethene and propene. It features Ethene units, usually up to 6% by mass, incorporated randomly in the polypropylene chains. These polymers are flexible and optically clear making them suitable for applications requiring transparency and for products requiring an excellent appearance.
While in Polypropylene Block Copolymer, ethene content is larger (between 5 and 15%). It has co-monomer units arranged in regular pattern (or blocks). The regular pattern hence makes thermoplastic tougher and less brittle than the random co-polymer. These polymers are suitable for applications requiring high strength, such as industrial usages.
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