PolyPropylene or PolyPro is extremely chemical resistant and light weight
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.
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
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
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 and Sheets come in Natural and White
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.
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.
Gehr Plastics has been a major global manufacturer in the plastic sheet and rod industry since 1932. During this period, Gehr has become a leader in a variety of product lines, and also become known for very large sizes in both sheet and rod. Currently Gehr can produce Acetal rod up to 20″ in diameter and sheets up to 8″ thick. Some of the many plastic materials the Gehr produces:
Radel Rod is produced in many medical grade colors
Being innovative also means looking forward. Gehr was selected as the Bioplastics manufacturer of the year in 2008, partly for the new line of plastic materials which have a bio base. These materials have a variety of bio based forms, including: a PLA base, Cellulose based, Polyamide and Wood – Plastic Composite (WPC). One such material is ECOGEHR PLA-L which is a blend of polylactic (polylactic acid), some lignine, fatty acid and wax. This biopolymer is new to our industry and can be used in temperatures ranging from -22 °F to +140 °F.This complete line of materials is one of the only available in the plastic industry to be comprised of many renewable raw materials. Gehr leads the way in this exceptional and innovative product line.
ClearGehr Polyamide Rod
This brand new product is a Clear Polyamide rod. The outside surface is as extruded, and can be polished. This enables the production of a relatively clear sight glass quality material with most of the high end properties of Polyamide – Nylon material. We have supplied this material for small machined parts where neither Polycarbonate nor Acrylic would work well. Because of the natural inherit chemical resistance of Polyamide, this high end ClearGehr rod can out perform all normal transparent plastics. Give us a call to see if this new innovative product will work in your difficult application.
FDA Approved Wear Grade Acetal
Have you been looking for an extended wear Acetal material (like the PTFE filled Acetals – Delrin AF), but need it to be FDA approved? Then perhaps you should consider WearGehr. This proprietary filled Acetal material has excellent wear resistance, and retains the FDA approval of the base Acetal, unlike the PTFE filled Acetal materials which are not FDA approved. It is made in a blue color for easy identification, also it remains very machinable. Contact us for more information on this excellent high tech material.Call us at 866-832-9315 or send us a note here.
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