
Polypropylene (PP), also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications. It is produced via chain-growth polymerization from the monomer propylene.
Polypropylene belongs to the group of polyolefins and is partially crystalline and non-polar. Its properties are similar to polyethylene, but it is slightly harder and more heat-resistant. It is a white, mechanically rugged material and has a high chemical resistance.[1]
Bio-PP is the bio-based counterpart of polypropylene (PP).[2][3]
Polypropylene is the second-most widely produced commodity plastic (after polyethylene). In 2019, the global market for polypropylene was worth $126.03 billion.[4] Revenues are expected to exceed US$145 billion by 2019. The sales of this material are forecast to grow at a rate of 5.8% per year until 2021.[5]
Contents 1 History 2 Chemical and physical properties 2.1 Mechanical properties 2.2 Thermal properties 2.3 Chemical properties 2.3.1 Molecular structure – tacticity 2.3.2 Crystal structure of polypropylene 2.3.2.1 Is polypropylene (PP) 2.3.2.2 Syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP) 2.3.2.3 Atactic polypropylene (aPP) 2.3.3 Copolymers 2.3.4 PP-RCT 2.3.5 Degradation 2.4 Optical properties 3 Production 3.1 Catalysts 4 Manufacturing from polypropylene 4.1 Biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) 5 Applications 5.1 Clothing 5.2 Medical 5.3 Niche 6 Recycling 7 Repairing 8 Health concerns 9 Combustibility 10 References 11 External links
Typical Properties |
Value |
Unit |
Method |
Physical |
|
|
|
Melt Flow Rate (230 °C, 2.16 kg) |
50 |
g/10min |
ASTM D1238 |
Density |
0.9 |
g/cm3 |
ASTM D1505 |
Mechanical |
|
|
|
Flexural Modulus |
1450 |
MPa |
ASTM D790 |
Tensile Strength at Yield |
26 |
MPa |
ASTM D638 |
Tensile Elongation at Yield |
5 |
% |
ASTM D638 |
Izod Impact Strength (notched) at 23 °C |
65 |
J/m |
ASTM D256 |
Izod Impact Strength (notched) at -20 °C |
45 |
J/m |
ASTM D256 |
Thermal |
|
|
|
Vicat softening point (10N) |
155 |
°C |
ASTM D1525 |
H.D.T. (0.45 MPa) |
105 |
°C |
ASTM D648 |
Accelerated oven ageing in air at 150 °C |
360 |
hours |
ASTM D3012 |
EP548T
Typical Properties |
Value |
Unit |
Method |
|
Physical |
|
|
|
|
Melt Flow Rate (230 °C, 2.16 kg) |
40 |
g/10min |
ASTM D1238 |
|
Density |
0.9 |
g/cm3 |
ASTM D1505 |
|
Mechanical |
|
|
|
|
Flexural Modulus |
1100 |
MPa |
ASTM D790 |
|
Tensile Strength at Yield |
28 |
MPa |
ASTM D638 |
|
Tensile Elongation at Yield |
9 |
% |
ASTM D638 |
|
Izod Impact Strength (notched) at 23 °C |
55 |
J/m |
ASTM D256 |
|
Thermal |
|
|
|
|
Vicat softening point (10N) |
128 |
°C |
ASTM D1525 |
|
H.D.T. (0.45 MPa) |
82 |
°C |
ASTM D648 |
|
Accelerated oven ageing in air at 150 °C |
360 |
hours |
ASTM D3012 |
|
Optical |
|
|
|
|
Haze (1 mm) |
11 |
% |
ASTM D1003 |
|
Gloss |
90 |
—- |
ASTM D2457 |
|
RP345S
Typical Properties |
Value |
Unit |
Method |
|
Physical |
|
|
|
|
Melt Flow Rate (230 °C, 2.16 kg) |
6.0 |
g/10min |
ASTM D1238 |
|
Density |
0.9 |
g/cm3 |
ASTM D1505 |
|
Mechanical |
|
|
|
|
Flexural Modulus |
650 |
MPa |
ASTM D790 |
|
Tensile Strength at Yield |
22 |
MPa |
ASTM D638 |
|
Tensile Elongation at Yield |
12 |
% |
ASTM D638 |
|
Izod Impact Strength (notched) at 23 °C |
80 |
J/m |
ASTM D256 |
|
Thermal |
|
|
|
|
Melting Temperature (DSC) |
136 |
°C |
ASTM D3417 |
|
Vicat softening point (10N) |
118 |
°C |
ASTM D1525 |
|
H.D.T. (0.45 MPa) |
65 |
°C |
ASTM D648 |
|
Accelerated oven ageing in air at 150 °C |
300 |
hours |
ASTM D3012 |
|
Optical |
|
|
|
|
Haze (1 mm) |
1.0 |
% |
ASTM D1003 |
|
Gloss |
85 |
—- |
ASTM D2543 |
|
RP120L
Typical Properties |
Value |
Unit |
Method |
|
|
Physical |
|
|
|
|
|
Melt Flow Rate (230 °C, 2.16 kg) |
6.0 |
g/10min |
ASTM D1238 |
|
|
Density |
0.9 |
g/cm3 |
ASTM D1505 |
||
Mechanical |
|
|
|
|
|
Flexural Modulus |
1300 |
MPa |
ASTM D790 |
|
|
Tensile Strength at Yield |
25 |
MPa |
ASTM D638 |
|
|
Tensile Elongation at Yield |
6 |
% |
ASTM D638 |
|
|
Izod Impact Strength(notched)at 23 °C |
200 |
J/m |
ASTM D256 |
|
|
Izod Impact Strength(notched)at -20 °C |
60 |
J/m |
ASTM D256 |
|
|
Thermal |
|
|
|
|
|
Vicat softening point (10N) |
150 |
°C |
ASTM D1525 |
|
|
H.D.T. (0.45 MPa) |
90 |
°C |
ASTM D648 |
|
|
Accelerated oven ageing in air at 150 °C |
360 |
hours |
ASTM D3012 |
|
|
EP440L
Typical Properties |
Value |
Unit |
Method |
Physical |
|
|
|
Melt Flow Rate (230 °C, 2.16 kg) |
10 |
g/10min |
ASTM D1238 |
Density |
0.9 |
g/cm3 |
ASTM D1505 |
Mechanical |
|
|
|
Flexural Modulus |
850 |
MPa |
ASTM D790 |
Tensile Strength at Yield |
18 |
MPa |
ASTM D638 |
Tensile Elongation at Yield |
6 |
% |
ASTM D638 |
Izod Impact Strength(notched)at 23 °C |
500 |
J/m |
ASTM D256 |
Izod Impact Strength(notched)at -20 °C |
100 |
J/m |
ASTM D256 |
Thermal |
|
|
|
Vicat softening point (10N) |
135 |
°C |
ASTM D1525 |
H.D.T. (0.45 MPa) |
75 |
°C |
ASTM D648 |
Accelerated oven ageing in air at 150 °C |
360 |
hours |
ASTM D3012 |
EP3130UV
Typical Properties |
Value |
Unit |
Method |
Physical |
|
|
|
Melt Flow Rate (230 °C, 2.16 kg) |
21 |
g/10min |
ASTM D1238 |
Density |
0.9 |
g/cm3 |
ASTM D1505 |
Mechanical |
|
|
|
Flexural Modulus |
1500 |
MPa |
ASTM D790 |
Tensile Strength at Yield |
26 |
MPa |
ASTM D638 |
Tensile Elongation at Yield |
6 |
% |
ASTM D638 |
Izod Impact Strength(notched)at 23 °C |
90 |
J/m |
ASTM D256 |
Izod Impact Strength(notched)at -20 °C |
40 |
J/m |
ASTM D256 |
Thermal |
|
|
|
Vicat softening point (10N) |
150 |
°C |
ASTM D1525 |
H.D.T. (0.45 MPa) |
110 |
°C |
ASTM D648 |
Accelerated oven ageing in air at 150 °C |
360 |
hours |
ASTM D3012 |
EP548R
Typical Properties |
Value |
Unit |
Method |
Physical |
|
|
|
Melt Flow Rate (230 °C, 2.16 kg) |
6.0 |
g/10min |
ASTM D1238 |
Density |
0.9 |
g/cm3 |
ASTM D1505 |
Mechanical |
|
|
|
Flexural Modulus |
1400 |
MPa |
ASTM D790 |
Tensile Strength at Yield |
32 |
MPa |
ASTM D638 |
Tensile Elongation at Yield |
8 |
% |
ASTM D638 |
Izod Impact Strength (notched) at 23 °C |
40 |
J/m |
ASTM D256 |
Thermal |
|
|
|
Vicat softening point (10N) |
152 |
°C |
ASTM D1525 |
H.D.T. (0.45 MPa) |
84 |
°C |
ASTM D648 |
Accelerated oven ageing in air at 150 °C |
360 |
hours |
ASTM D3012 |
HP552R
Typical Properties |
Value |
Unit |
Method |
Physical |
|
|
|
Melt Flow Rate (230 °C, 2.16 kg) |
42 |
g/10min |
ASTM D1238 |
Density |
0.9 |
g/cm3 |
ASTM D1505 |
Mechanical |
|
|
|
Flexural Modulus |
1400 |
MPa |
ASTM D790 |
Tensile Strength at Yield |
32 |
MPa |
ASTM D638 |
Tensile Elongation at Yield |
8 |
% |
ASTM D638 |
Izod Impact Strength (notched) at 23 °C |
30 |
J/m |
ASTM D256 |
Thermal |
|
|
|
Vicat softening point (10N) |
152 |
°C |
ASTM D1525 |
H.D.T. (0.45 MPa) |
84 |
°C |
ASTM D648 |
Accelerated oven ageing in air at 150 °C |
150 |
hours |
ASTM D3012 |
HP564S
Typical Properties |
Value |
Unit |
Method |
|
Physical |
|
|
|
|
Melt Flow Rate (230 °C, 2.16 kg) |
1.3 |
g/10min |
ASTM D1238 |
|
Density |
0.9 |
g/cm3 |
ASTM D1505 |
|
Mechanical |
|
|
|
|
Flexural Modulus |
1300 |
MPa |
ASTM D790 |
|
Tensile Strength at Yield |
25 |
MPa |
ASTM D638 |
|
Tensile Elongation at Yield |
6 |
% |
ASTM D638 |
|
Izod Impact Strength(notched) at 23 °C |
500 |
J/m |
ASTM D256 |
|
Izod Impact Strength(notched)at -20 °C |
70 |
J/m |
ASTM D256 |
|
Thermal |
|
|
|
|
Vicat softening point (10N) |
150 |
°C |
ASTM D1525 |
|
H.D.T. (0.45 MPa) |
92 |
°C |
ASTM D648 |
|
Accelerated oven ageing in air at 150 °C |
360 |
hours |
ASTM D3012 |
|
EP440G
Typical Properties |
Value |
Unit |
Method |
Physical |
|
|
|
Melt Flow Rate (230 °C, 2.16 kg) |
3.0 |
g/10min |
ASTM D1238 |
Density |
0.9 |
g/cm3 |
ASTM D1505 |
Mechanical |
|
|
|
Flexural Modulus |
1400 |
MPa |
ASTM D790 |
Tensile Strength at Yield |
32 |
MPa |
ASTM D638 |
Tensile Elongation at Yield |
9 |
% |
ASTM D638 |
Izod Impact Strength(notched)at 23 °C |
55 |
J/m |
ASTM D256 |
Thermal |
|
|
|
Vicat softening point (10N) |
152 |
°C |
ASTM D1525 |
H.D.T. (0.45 MPa) |
84 |
°C |
ASTM D648 |
Accelerated oven ageing in air at 150 °C |
500 |
hours |
ASTM D3012 |
Optical |
|
|
|
Haze (20μm) |
0.5 |
% |
ASTM D1003 |
HP525J
Typical Properties |
Value |
Unit |
Method |
Physical |
|
|
|
Melt Flow Rate (230 °C, 2.1 6kg) |
3.2 |
g/10min |
ASTM D1238 |
Density |
0.9 |
g/cm3 |
ASTM D1505 |
Mechanical |
|
|
|
Flexural Modulus |
1400 |
MPa |
ASTM D790 |
Tensile Strength at Yield |
32 |
MPa |
ASTM D638 |
Tensile Elongation at Yield |
9 |
% |
ASTM D638 |
Izod Impact Strength (notched) at 23 °C |
50 |
J/m |
ASTM D256 |
Thermal |
|
|
|
Vicat softening point (10N) |
152 |
°C |
ASTM D1525 |
H.D.T. (0.45 MPa) |
84 |
°C |
ASTM D648 |
Accelerated oven ageing in air at 150 °C |
360 |
hours |
ASTM D3012 |
HP550J
Typical Properties |
Value |
Unit |
Method |
|
Physical |
|
|
|
|
Melt Flow Rate (230 °C, 2.16 kg) |
6.0 |
g/10min |
ASTM D1238 |
|
Density |
0.9 |
g/cm3 |
ASTM D1505 |
|
Mechanical |
|
|
|
|
Flexural Modulus |
1400 |
MPa |
ASTM D790 |
|
Tensile Strength at Yield |
32 |
MPa |
ASTM D638 |
|
Tensile Elongation at Yield |
8 |
% |
ASTM D638 |
|
Izod Impact Strength (notched) at 23 °C |
40 |
J/m |
ASTM D256 |
|
Thermal |
|
|
|
|
Vicat softening point (10N) |
152 |
°C |
ASTM D1525 |
|
H.D.T. (0.45 MPa) |
84 |
°C |
ASTM D648 |
|
Accelerated oven ageing in air at 150 °C |
360 |
hours |
ASTM D3012 |
|
HP510L