Practical Guide to Polypropylene

Over the last four decades, polypropylene has established itself as one of the major commodity plastics. Polypropylene is now the third largest consumed plastic material after polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride. Choice of a particular material for a given application will require a careful study of the product requirements, material properties and other commercial, environmental and legislative issues. This book discusses the advantages and disadvantages of working with polypropylene, offering practical comment on the available types of polypropylene, its mechanical properties and in-service performance, and processing. Polypropylene is used in many applications including household goods, the automotive industry, fibres, packaging, pipes and fittings, and furniture. This book is packed with useful information about polypropylene. Comparisons with other common plastics are also provided, which highlight the advantages of this polyolefin. The basic chemistry and types of polypropylene are listed, including additives and filled grades. Properties are described and illustrated with comparative tables and graphs where appropriate. Difficult concepts are explained such as dielectric strength and dissipation factors in the section on electrical properties. The design of polypropylene parts is discussed. There are tips on how to improve the desired properties. One common problem is mould shrinkage, which is relatively high for polypropylene, ranging from 0.8% to 2.5%. Mould design is another factor which is discussed in detail. Processing issues and conditions are discussed in comparison to other common plastic materials. Techniques in use range from injection moulding and extrusion to calendering and rotational moulding. The suitability of polypropylene for different post processing and assembly methods, such as bonding and decorating, is discussed. Failure is touched on in a short section, and issues relating to the use of polypropylene are summarised in the final chapter. Key Features

• Useful information
• Difficult concepts defined
• Well illustrated
• Tables of material comparisons

Contents

About the author Dr Tripathi obtained a doctorate in polymer science from Sheffield University, and has worked for several years as a consultant at Rapra Technology Limited.

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