One of the major benefits of Polypropylene (PP) is that it can be manufactured (either through CNC or injection molding, thermoforming, or crimping) into a living hinge. Living hinges are extremely thin pieces of plastic that bend without breaking (even over extreme ranges of motion nearing 360 degrees).
They are not particularly useful for structural applications like holding up a heavy door but are exceptionally useful for non load-bearing applications such as the lid on a bottle of ketchup or shampoo. Polypropylene (PP) is uniquely adept for living hinges because it does not break when repeatedly bent. The characteristics mentioned above and below mean that polypropylene is used in a variety of applications: dishwasher safe plates, trays, cups, etc, opaque to-go containers, and many toys.
What are the Characteristics of Polypropylene (PP) ?
Some of the most significant properties of Polypropylene (PP) are:
- Chemical Resistance: Diluted bases and acids don’t react readily with polypropylene, which makes it a good choice for containers of such liquids, such as cleaning agents, first-aid products, and more.
- Elasticity and Toughness: Polypropylene will act with elasticity over a certain range of deflection (like all materials), but it will also experience plastic deformation early on in the deformation process, so it is generally considered a “tough” material. Toughness is an engineering term which is defined as a material’s ability to deform (plastically, not elastically) without breaking.
- Fatigue Resistance: Polypropylene retains its shape after a lot of torsion, bending, and/or flexing. This property is especially valuable for making living hinges.
- Insulation: polypropylene has a very high resistance to electricity and is very useful for electronic components.
- Transmissivity: Although Polypropylene can be made transparent, it is normally produced to be naturally opaque in color. Polypropylene can be used for applications where some transfer of light is important or where it is of aesthetic value. If high transmissivity is desired then plastics like Acrylic or Polycarbonate are better choices.
Polypropylene (PP) is classified as a “thermoplastic” material which has to do with the way the plastic responds to heat. Thermoplastic materials become liquid at their melting point (roughly 130 degrees Celsius in the case of polypropylene). A major useful attribute about thermoplastics is that : It can be heated to their melting point, cooled, and reheated again without significant degradation. Instead of burning, thermoplastics like polypropylene liquefy, which allows them to be easily injection molded and then subsequently recycled.
Why is Polypropylene used so often?
Polypropylene (PP) is used in both household and industrial applications. Its unique properties and ability to adapt to various fabrication techniques make it stand out as an invaluable material for a wide range of uses. Another invaluable characteristic is polypropylene’s ability to function as both a plastic material and as a fiber (like those promotional tote bags that are given away at events, races, etc).
Recycled Polypropylene (PP) unique ability to be manufactured through different methods and into different applications meant it soon started to challenge many of the old alternative materials, notably in the packaging, fiber, and injection molding industries. Its growth has been sustained over the years and it remains a major player in the plastic industry worldwide.
Polypropylene is a very flexible, soft material with a relatively low melting point. These factors have prevented most people from being able to properly machine the material. It gums up, doesn’t cut clean, starts to melt from the heat of the CNC cutter. It typically needs to be scraped smooth to get anything close to a finished surface.
Our recycled Polypropylene (PP) granules are made from post consumer & industrial waste material. It’s packed in a 25kg durable brown paper sack with monthly capacity: 30mt. Kindly contact us to find out more about our recycled Polypropylene granules.
Polypeth Ekspor Indonesia is a supplier and export recycled plastic pellets (HIPS & PP) from Indonesia. We work with plastic recycling manufacturers with years of experience to provide and ensure high quality & the safety of our recycled plastic pellets. Together we reduce the use of virgin plastic resin and reduce the waste of virgin plastic pollution.
To find out more about Polypeth Ekspor Indonesia’s products and services, speak to the team by clicking here.