Polypropylene is a synthetic resin that is made through the polymerization of propylene. It is a very used plastic because it has interesting characteristics. They include hardness, flexibility, lightness and heat resistance.

Being part of the lower olefin family, polypropylene is in the class of hydrocarbons, whose molecules contain only one pair of carbon atoms.

The Advantages of Polypropylene

For starters, this thermoplastic is also resistant to chemicals. Because polypropylene is a chemically inert compound, it can be used for chemical storage. It is also food safe. In addition to being safe, it does not absorb moisture.

With an approximate density of 900 kg/m3, it is relatively light. In addition, its strength, flexibility and torsion resistance make it an ideal choice for industrial applications. It should be noted that, like metals, polypropylene is a weldable material. This gives it an important advantage during various manufacturing processes.

The Disadvantages of Polypropylene

Unfortunately, even though it is very versatile, this material also has its drawbacks. One can think of its low resistance to cold. Indeed, at cold temperatures, the impact resistance of polypropylene decreases drastically. This increases the chances of it shattering.

In addition to the cold, when polypropylene is exposed to UV rays for a prolonged period of time, its characteristics change and this can affect its integrity.