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Polyproplylene  (Polypro)

Polyproplylene (Polypro)

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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

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

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.

Polypropylene Sheet, Sheets and Plate for Industrial Applications

Polypropylene Sheet, Sheets and Plate for Industrial Applications

Polypropylene Sheet in Industrial Applications

Known by a few different industry trade names including: Densitec®, Hostalen®, Marlex®, Protec®. Polypropylene is a very versatile and tough material that has many applications in both industrial and in manufacturing applications. Some of the major factories that produce Polypropylene sheet are: Vycom Plastics, Simona America and Polymer Industries. If you need the FM-4910 grade, Laminations and Vycom are the main suppliers. We represent all of these companies.

Some examples of Polypropylene usage are: containers to store food products, industrial chemical tanks, medical trays, and fibers that are used to

Large 14" diameter Natural Polypropylene Rod

14 inch Natural Polypropylene Rod produced by Gehr Plastics, the largest domestic plastic rod currently in production. 12″ diameter UHMW rod from Rochling Plastics, Industrial Plastic Supply is master distributor for both of these manufacturers.

make indoor and outdoor carpeting. A material that has the attributes of tensile strength, a resistance to high temperatures and is highly resistant to corrosion, Polypropylene is a unique material that can be used in the manufacture of chemical tanks that are used for the mixing of liquid materials that may have slight corrosive properties as part of their compounds. Polypropylene is available in a wide range of sizes and shapes. We supply it in sheets that can be cut to size for whatever your application needs happen to be, and it is also available in white and black, which are also available in several different thicknesses. Polypropylene is also available as a rod, which is available in a large range of diameters from .250″ and up. For a company that manufactures caustic compounds for resale to other B2B businesses, Polypropylene is the product that will meet your requirements as one of the most chemical resistant materials. It is a material that is resistant to temperatures of up to 180°F, and it is able to handle acids and caustic material as well as alkaline based materials.

Fabrication of Polypropylene Sheet – Welding

Polypropylene sheet is often fabricated, often through welding, to produce chemical resistant tanks. The material is ‘welded’ through the use of very hot air, in a pin point application and the use of welding rod of the same material. This process produces a water tight seam, and is excellent for producing tanks. Polypropylene’s chemical resistance also means it can not be bonded or glued – thus the need for welding. If you are looking for a material that has this type of tensile strength, it may be surprising to know that the garbage bags that we often use to dispose of our uneaten meals are made of Polypropylene (or HDPE). Another thing about this material is that it actually floats in water. The incredible toughness of Polypropylene material makes it a great choice in the manufacture of items like rope. Other plastics to consider for high chemical resistance are: PTFE, HDPE, UHMW and PVC; the choice of material depends on application and chemicals involved. Another use of Polypropylene is in the medical field. This material has been used for orthotics, prosthetic limbs, and other medical devices. One use is during hernia procedures, where a simple patch of the material is placed over the actual area of the hernia. The material is rarely rejected by the body’s immune system. Polypropylene is also very recyclable. It is number 5 on the list of common plastics.

Polypropylene is a common material for use in many household products, and is a popular material for injection molded parts because of its strength and stiffness. If your next job requires a rigid material that is FDA approved for certain applications, exhibits superior strength against corrosive materials, then Polypropylene Sheet and Rod may be an excellent choice. It is versatile enough to be used in the medical field and even has been used in the radio control airplane field, where it’s gaining popularity as a material to form the bodies of these aircraft. When used in this application, a model airplane can absorb more of the kinetic energy that is caused by a crash, and the plane survives the impact much better than when traditional polystyrene foam has been used. Polypropylene is a material that is versatile enough to meet just about any requirement that your particular project has to meet, and is available in sheets that are natural (translucent straw), white or black in color. It can be easily cut to meet your particular specifications, and is available in a wide range of thicknesses. Let us help you with your Polypropylene needs to complete on time and on spec. Call us today at 866-832-9315 or click here to send us your request or questions. Google+

Natural and White Polypropylene Sheet and Sheets

Natural and White Polypropylene Sheet and Sheets

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