Polypropylene

Polypropylene is produced by the polymerization of propylene, a relatively inexpensive olefin derived from petroleum. The use of polypropylene has expanded through the years due to its high strength to weight ratio, excellent resistance to corrosion, ease of fabrication, and low cost.

Although polypropylene belongs to the olefin family, it is quite different in properties to other polyolefins. It has a low density, is fairly rigid, has a heat distortion temperature of 150 degrees F to 200 degrees F, and has excellent chemical resistance. Additionally, polypropylene has negligible water absorption, excellent electrical properties, and is easy to process.

Polypropylene's outstanding characteristics are its' resistance to strong acids, even at elevated temperatures. A limitation of homopolymer polypropylene is brittleness when exposed to freezing temperatures. Should the features of polypropylene still be desirable, a copolymer polypropylene should be used. As with all polyolefins, polypropylene will burn readily. If fire resistance is required, a special flame retardant polypropylene is available.