Polypropylene

Polypropylene (PP), also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications. It is produced via chain-growth polymerization from the monomer propylene.

History

Polypropylene was first polymerized by German chemist Karl Ziegler and Italian chemist Giulio Natta at the company Montecatini in 1954. It was first commercialized by the Italian company Montecatini in 1957.

Properties

Polypropylene is in the polymer class of polyolefins and is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic. It has high resistance to many chemical solvents, bases and acids. It also has a high melting point, making it ideal for hot-fill liquids.

Applications

Polypropylene is used in many different industries, including packaging, textiles, automotive parts, reusable containers, laboratory equipment, and more.

Environmental Impact

Polypropylene is one of the most commonly produced plastics worldwide, with over 70 million tonnes produced in 2013. It is also one of the most commonly discarded, contributing significantly to global plastic waste.

See Also

• Polymer
• Plastic
• Thermoplastic
• Polymerization
• Karl Ziegler
• Giulio Natta
• Montecatini

References

Polypropylene Resources
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