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POLYPROPYLENE GUIDE - Part I - Prepared by S.

Rajendran
Typical Applications

Structural tanks and covers Ducts and hoods Tank linings Vacuum formed trays Plating barrels and tanks Orthopedic devices dishwasher-safe food containers

Molecular formula

Resin identification code

SUMMARY OF PROPERTIES

Chemical name Chemical formula Monomer Density

Poly(1-methylethylene) (C3H6)x Propylene (Propane)

(Atactic) Amorphous: 0.85 g/cm3 (Isotactic) Crystalline: 0.95 g/cm3 Melting point 173 C (Isotactic) Degradation point 286 C Glass transition temperature -17 C

Introduction:

Polypropylene or polypropene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer, used in a wide variety of applications, including food packaging, textiles, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and etc. Polypropylene is one of those rather versatile polymers, popularly known by the abbreviation PP. It is a member of the Polyolefin family of pure hydrocarbon plastics. This is an addition polymer made from the monomer propylene

Fig.1. Molecular formula of PP

This highly crystalline thermoplastic resin is built up by the chain-growth polymerization of propylene (CH2=CHCH3) monomer.Only the isotactic form of polypropylene is marketed in significant quantities. (In isotactic polypropylene, all the methyl [CH3] groups are arranged along the same side of the polymer chain.) It is produced at low temperatures and pressures using Ziegler-Natta catalysts. It serves both as a plastic and as a fiber. As a plastic, polypropylene is blow-molded into bottles for foods, shampoos, and other household liquids. It is also injection-molded into many products, such as appliance housings, dishwasher-proof food containers, toys, automobile battery casings, and outdoor furniture. When a thin section of molded polypropylene is flexed repeatedly, a molecular structure is formed that is capable of withstanding much additional flexing without failing. This fatigue resistance has led to the design of polypropylene boxes and other containers with self-hinged covers. Polypropylene is often used for food containers, particularly in dishwasher safe containers. The melting point of polypropylene is high compared to many other plastics, at 320F (160C), which means that the hot water used when washing dishes will not cause polypropylene dishware to warp.. Polypropylene is also very easy to add dyes to, and is often used as a fiber in carpeting, which needs to be rugged and durable, like the carpet one finds around swimming pools. Unlike nylon, which is also often used as a fiber for rugged carpeting, polypropylene doesn't soak up water, making it ideal for uses where it will be constantly subject to moisture.

Where do we use PP?

Although PP has almost half the strength of PVC (with a design stress of 70Kg/cm2 or 1000 psi at 22 deg C / 73 deg F), it has a good chemical resistance and used in industrial piping. We need to consider the fact that there are no known solvents for PP. As a result, it is a material of choice for industrial chemicals like concentrated acetic acid, alkalis, salts, solvents, hydroxides etc. However with strong oxidizers like hypochlorites, sulphuric, nitric and hydrofluoric acids environmental stress cracking is likely to result over a period of time depending on the concentration of oxidizers involved. It doesn't melt below 160oC (320oF). In fiber form, polypropylene is used to make indoor-outdoor carpeting, used around swimming pools and mini golf courses. For outdoor carpet, it is easy to make colored polypropylene, and doesn't absorb water. Polypropylene shares some of the properties of polyethylene, but it is stiffer, has a higher melting temperature, and is slightly more oxidation-sensitive
What a designer should know about PP ?

1) Polypropylene is a translucent material. 2) PP is semi-crystalline and if properly molded will be 50-60% crystalline. 3) PP is inert and porous.

4) PP is an ideal material for integral injection molded hinges. Theoretically the hinges can be as low as 0.1mm thick but preferable to have a product thickness of more than 0.38 mm. The length of hinge can be at least 1.5 mm for better flex life. 5) Average density of PP is 0.903 g /cu.cm. 6) The melt flow index range of PP is approx 1 to 35 g/10 min. 7) Below a certain thickness, PP molecules orients in the direction of flow. But, Perpendicular direction to flow will be stronger in flexing. 8) Molding tolerances achievable using PP are between 0.07 mm and 0.18 mm 9) Production of fibres and film are the two largest markets for PP. 10) There are no known solvents for PP 11) With strong oxidizers like hypochlorites, sulphuric, nitric and hydrofluoric acids Environmental stress cracking is likely to result 12) Water absorption is negligible. 13) Stiffer, has a higher melting temperature, and is slightly more oxidationsensitive than HDPE. 14) Has enough chemical resistance to be used in industrial piping. Although largely unreactive chemically, the presence of the methyl groups makes PP slightly more susceptible to attack by strong oxidizing agents. 15) A major advantage is Polypropylene's higher temperature resistance makes it particularly suitable for items such as trays, funnels, pails, bottles and instrument jars that have to be sterilized frequently for use in clinical environments. 16) Clamping forces between 1 and 5 Tons/square inch can be used as a guideline. Low viscosity (high melt flow rate) resins generally require lower tonnages than high viscosity resins.

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