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Polyproplylene (Polypro)

Polyproplylene (Polypro)

by | Apr 5, 2022 | Educational Post, FDA and NSF Approved Materials, High Performance Plastics, Made In The USA, Material Comparison

thick-white-plastic-sheet

Polypro – Polypropylene

PolyPropylene or “PolyPro” is an extremely chemical resistant and light weight Performance Plastic material

Polypropylene combines high corrosion resistance, high-temperature resistance (Melting point is 320°F), and great tensile strength.

It maintains its stiffness at elevated temperatures and displays incredible resistance to organic solvents, degreasing agents, and electrolytic attack. In addition, the material is lightweight, and stain and moisture resistant.

Because of the incredible chemical resistance, Polypropylene can not be bonded or glued together. Polypropylene must be hot welded or the use of sonic welding to attach pieces together. This process, while outside of the norm, is quite common for the polyolefin family of plastics. Polypropylene is a durable industrial building material, and is made by some of the biggest names in Plastics, including Simona America, Rochling Plastics, Vycom Plastics, and Polymer Industries. These large manufacturers all run materials here in the USA and have some of the highest standards for production.

The other polyolefin material with the same welding requirements is Polyethylene.

Polypropylene is a High Tech Performance Plastic.

FRP-3 is a specialty type of fire resistant polypropylene.

White polypropylene sheet welded wet bench

Other Plastic Materials

Why you should use Polypropylene:

  • Self lubricating and low co-efficient of friction
  • High chemical resistance
  • Abrasion, Moisture, and Electrical Resistance
  • Stiffness, Rigidity, or cut resistance
  • Low specific gravity (floats in water)
  • Resistance to 180 degrees F and handles acids, alkalines and solvents extremely well
  • USDA and FDA approved for use in food processing applications
  • Excellent stiffness and rigidity
  • Very good dielectric properties
  • Impact and stress crack resistant
  • FDA and NSF compliant
  • Polypro is ITAR compliant, and Polypro is RoHS compliant
Applications:

Polypropylene sheet is used in a broad variety of applications, but is particularly suited to the manufacture of chemical tanks for the following reasons:
  • Can be formed into almost any shape
  • Unsurpassed chemical resistance
  • Reliably handles all acids, alkalines and solver up to 180 degrees F
  • Resistant to abrasion, cuts and moisture
  • High tensile and compressive strength
  • Dependably maintains rigidity in all weather conditions
  • Superb dielectric properties
  • Wide variety of formulations including conductive, glass filled and static dissipative
  • approved by the USDA and FDA for use of food processing applications

Polypropylene Applications include:

Tanks, Scrubbers, Irrigation, Acid Waste Piping Systems, Battery Cases, Machine Cases, Etching equipment, Semi-conductor trays, Insulation components, Plating tanks, Living hinges, etc…

Materials Available As:

Extruded Sheet:
.030″ – 3″ in 48″ x 96″ Smooth surfaces natural sheet
Black available in many thicknesses

Film:
022″ – .060″ in 48″ wide Natural only as standard
Rod:
.250 – 10″ diameter in Natural- 96″ lengths
Special Formulations:
Conductive, Glass Filled Static dissipation, custom sizes, formulations, profiles or colors

Typical Resin Properties for Polypropylene sheet and rod

Large Diameter Polypropylene rods

Polypropylene Data Sheet

Polypropylene SDS

These properties are for evaluation purposes only. This information is not to be construed as a warranty, guarantee or assurance that you may achieve the same results. Materials made from different resin types, manufacturing techniques and manufacturers will react differently. The information should be used to compare against other materials only, and each user should make his own tests to determine suitability. No warranty as to this materials suitability are either expressed nor implied.

Other Plastic Materials

Natural and White Polypropylene Sheet and Sheets

Natural and White Polypropylene Sheet and Sheets

by | May 21, 2013 | Educational Post, Made In The USA, Mentor Nuggets

Polypropylene Sheet and Sheets come in Natural and WhiteWhite Polypropylene for welded wet bench in Semiconductor chip manufacturing

Let’s start by clarifying what Natural and White means. The natural color of Polypropylene is a translucent straw color, not yellow – not white, more of a very lite translucent – almost transparent beige. The white color is a bright white with a slight blue tint, or blue white. This white color is opaque, and is a white color that blends well with other materials. Polypropylene sheet is also available in the color Black.

Polypropylene sheet materials are available in an opaque black color as well. There is also a grade of Polypropylene sheets that carries a FR – UL 94 V-0 rating. When fabricating a ‘wet bench’ for the electronic industry, the new requirement is FM4910. This new specification is from Factory Mutual Insurance, and the requirements are very stringent. The purpose of this specification is that the FM4910 means it won’t burn, and will put off no toxic fumes or excessive smoke.

This rigid plastic sheet can be cut with standard cutting tools, drilled, routed, machined and processed easily. Clean and sharp tools will provide a clean cut, and occasionally will produce stringy burrs that are easy to remove with standard deburring tools. It fabricates very much like HDPE (High Density Polyethylene Sheet), and has many similar properties. The chemical resistance of Polypropylene approaches the excellent resistance of Dupont PTFE Sheet.

Polypropylene sheet materials have excellent chemical resistance

The main claim to fame for polypropylene in sheet is the excellent chemical resistance. This material is used extensively in the manufacture of chemical tanks. This chemical resistance means also that it can not be bonded together (glues and cements peel right off!), and thus it must be ‘welded’ together for fabrication. The preferred method of welding is a hot air welder – which supplies a fine stream of very hot air on the exact area that you may wish to weld together. This weld, when done properly will yield a very strong bond, and will enable a water tight tank or box to be fabricated.

Large 14" diameter Natural Polypropylene rods

14 inch Natural Polypropylene Rod produced by Gehr Plastics, the largest domestic plastic rod currently in production.

This great building block material can be used in numerous industrial and chemical type applications. The list of great properties is extensive, here are a few of the highlights:

  • Self Lubricating and Low Co-Efficient of Friction
  • High Chemical Resistance
  • Abrasion, Moisture and Electrical Resistance
  • Stiffness, Rigidity, or Cut Resistance
  • Low Specific Gravity (Floats in Water)

Polypropylene sheet and sheeting provide years of use, and can be cleaned with most chemical cleaners. Sheets are available in thicknesses ranging from .032″ – 2.0+ thick, and standard sheet sizes are 48″ X 96″ and 48″ X 120″, plus other sizes can be special run.

Contact us for availability of your Polypropylene sheets, rod and yes, even tubes. We are waiting your e-mail inquiry or call us at: 866-832-9315.
Topic: Polypropylene Sheet Fabrication