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. It offers comparisons with other common plastics; describes the basic chemistry and types of polypropylene, including additives and filler grades; lists and explains properties, including electrical properties such as dielectric strength and dissipation factors; and more. The design of polypropylene parts, processing issues and conditions, and the suitability of polypropylene for different post processing and assembly operations, such as bonding and decorating, is discussed.

From the Introduction: “...Only isotactic PP has the requisite properties required for a useful plastic material. Stereospecific or Ziegler-Natta catalysts are used to polymerise PP in this form. All the applications of PP described in this book are for isotactic PP, although brief mention is made of the main applications and properties of syndiotactic and atactic PP...Recently, metallocenes have attracted widespread attention as the new generation of olefin polymerisation catalysts. Metallocene catalysts provide enhanced control over the molecular make up of PP, and grades with extremely high isotacticity and narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD) are possible...”

Target Audience: Any reader who needs to build a basic fundamental understanding of polypropylene, its properties, processing, and applications.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Basic Types of PP

Structure

Properties

Design

Processing of PP

Post Processing and Assembly

Causes of Failure

Product Development Issues

References

Abbreviations and Acronyms