POLYPROPYLENE (PP)

CAS Number: 9003-07-0
EC Number (EINECS): 618-352-9
Molecular Formula: (C₃H₆)ₙ
Molecular Weight: Variable (typically 100,000–600,000 g/mol)
Chemical Class: Thermoplastic (semi-crystalline)

SECTION 1: CHEMICAL IDENTITY AND MATERIAL CLASSIFICATION

Parameter	Description
Chemical Name (IUPAC)	Poly(propylene)
Other Names	PP, Propylene Polymer, Polypropene
CAS Number	9003-07-0
EC Number (EINECS)	618-352-9
Molecular Formula	(C₃H₆)ₙ
Molecular Weight	Variable (typically 100,000–600,000 g/mol)
Chemical Class	Thermoplastic (semi-crystalline)
Structure	–[CH₂–CH(CH₃)]ₙ–
Appearance	White to translucent pellets, granules, or powder
Odor	Odorless
Recycling Code	#5 (PP)

SECTION 2: TYPES OF POLYPROPYLENE

Property	PP Homopolymer	PP Copolymer (Random)	PP Copolymer (Block)
Density (g/cm³)	0.900–0.910	0.895–0.905	0.895–0.905
Melting Point (°C)	160–171	140–155	160–170
Crystallinity	High (50–60%)	Medium (40–50%)	High (50–60%)
Tensile Strength (MPa)	30–40	25–35	20–30
Elongation at Break (%)	100–500	200–600	300–800
Impact Resistance	Moderate	Good	Excellent
Hardness (Shore D)	70–75	65–70	60–70
Vicat Softening (°C)	150–160	130–150	140–155
Transparency	Translucent	High transparency	Opaque
Flexibility	Moderate	Moderate	High
Main Applications	Appliances, consumer	Medical, packaging	Automotive, pipes

SECTION 3: POLYPROPYLENE COMPARISON TABLE

Property	PP Homopolymer	PP Copolymer (Random)	PP Copolymer (Block)
Density (g/cm³)	0.900–0.910	0.895–0.905	0.895–0.905
Melting Point (°C)	160–171	140–155	160–170
Crystallinity (%)	50–60	40–50	50–60
Tensile Strength (MPa)	30–40	25–35	20–30
Elongation at Break (%)	100–500	200–600	300–800
Impact Resistance (kJ/m²)	2–5	5–10	10–30
Hardness (Shore D)	70–75	65–70	60–70
Vicat Softening (°C)	150–160	130–150	140–155
Transparency	Translucent	High	Opaque
Flexibility	Moderate	Moderate	High
Cost	Low	Medium	Medium
Main Application	Appliances, consumer	Medical, packaging	Automotive, pipes

SECTION 4: PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Property	Value / Range
Density	0.895–0.920 g/cm³
Melting Point	130–171°C (depending on type)
Glass Transition Temp (Tg)	-10°C to 0°C
Vicat Softening Point	130–160°C
Heat Deflection Temp (HDT)	90–110°C (at 1.82 MPa)
Max. Continuous Service Temp	90–120°C
Min. Service Temp	-20°C to -10°C
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion	100–150 × 10⁻⁶ /K
Thermal Conductivity	0.17–0.22 W/(m·K)
Specific Heat	1.9–2.1 kJ/(kg·K)
Water Absorption (24h)	<0.01%
Solubility in Water	Insoluble
Solubility in Organic Solvents	Soluble in aromatic and chlorinated solvents at 80°C
Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)	2.2–2.3
Dielectric Strength	18–20 kV/mm
Volume Resistivity	>10¹⁵ Ω·cm
Surface Resistivity	10¹³–10¹⁵ Ω

SECTION 5: MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

Property	Homopolymer	Copolymer
Tensile Strength (MPa)	30–40	20–35
Tensile Modulus (GPa)	1.2–1.8	0.8–1.5
Elongation at Break (%)	100–500	200–800
Flexural Strength (MPa)	40–55	25–45
Flexural Modulus (GPa)	1.2–1.8	0.8–1.5
Izod Impact Strength (Notched) (kJ/m²)	2–5	5–30
Charpy Impact Strength (Notched) (kJ/m²)	2–5	5–25
Hardness (Shore D)	70–75	60–70
Hardness (Rockwell R)	90–110	70–90

SECTION 6: CHEMICAL RESISTANCE

Chemical	Resistance at Room Temp	Resistance at High Temp
Acids (Dilute)	Excellent	Good
Acids (Concentrated)	Good	Moderate
Alkalies	Excellent	Good
Alcohols	Excellent	Good
Oils and Greases	Good	Moderate
Aliphatic Hydrocarbons	Good	Moderate
Aromatic Hydrocarbons	Poor	Poor
Chlorinated Solvents	Poor	Poor
Oxidizing Agents	Moderate	Poor
Water	Excellent	Excellent
Gasoline	Good	Moderate

SECTION 7: MAJOR APPLICATIONS AND END-USES

7.1. Automotive (15–20%)

Application	PP Type	Advantages
Bumpers	Block Copolymer	Impact resistance, flexibility
Dashboard	Homopolymer/Copolymer	Heat resistance, dimensional stability
Door Panels	Copolymer	Impact resistance, aesthetics
Battery Cases	Homopolymer	Chemical resistance, durability
Engine Compartment	Homopolymer	Heat resistance, strength
Cable Ducts	Homopolymer	Insulation, durability

7.2. Packaging (~30%) - Largest Application

Application	PP Type	Advantages
Food Containers	Homopolymer/Copolymer	Food contact, clarity
Packaging Films	Homopolymer/Copolymer	Transparency, barrier
Bottles	Homopolymer	Clarity, barrier
Caps and Closures	Homopolymer	Sealing, stiffness
Stretch Film	Copolymer	Flexibility, clarity
Industrial Packaging	Homopolymer	Durability, chemical resistance

7.3. Textiles (10–15%)

Application	PP Type	Advantages
Carpet Fibers	Homopolymer	Durability, stain resistance
Bags and Sacks	Homopolymer	Strength, lightweight
Nonwoven Fabrics	Homopolymer	Softness, durability
Sportswear	Homopolymer	Moisture management, lightweight
Medical Textiles	Homopolymer	Biocompatibility, sterilization

7.4. Household and Consumer Goods (10–15%)

Application	PP Type	Advantages
Kitchenware	Homopolymer	Heat resistance, non-toxic
Bathroom Products	Homopolymer	Water resistance, cleanability
Garden Furniture	Homopolymer	Weather resistance
Toys	Homopolymer	Non-toxic, impact resistance
Appliances	Homopolymer/Copolymer	Heat resistance, durability
Buckets and Containers	Homopolymer	Chemical resistance, durability

7.5. Pipes and Profiles (8–10%)

Application	PP Type	Advantages
Pressure Pipes	Homopolymer	Chemical resistance, durability
Sewage Pipes	Homopolymer	Chemical resistance, long life
Industrial Pipes	Homopolymer	Chemical resistance, durability
Profiles	Homopolymer/Copolymer	Dimensional stability, aesthetics

7.6. Medical (3–5%)

Application	PP Type	Advantages
Syringes	Homopolymer	Sterilization, non-toxic
Medical Containers	Homopolymer	Sterilization, biocompatibility
Catheters	Copolymer	Flexibility, biocompatibility
Lab Equipment	Homopolymer	Chemical resistance, durability

7.7. Electrical and Electronics (3–5%)

Application	PP Type	Advantages
Cable Insulation	Homopolymer	Electrical insulation, durability
Connectors	Homopolymer	Insulation, dimensional stability
Appliance Housings	Homopolymer	Heat resistance, impact resistance

SECTION 8: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

8.1. Advantages

Advantage	Description
Low Cost	One of the cheapest engineering thermoplastics
Lightweight	Low density (0.895–0.920 g/cm³)
Chemical Resistance	Excellent resistance to acids, alkalis, alcohols, and solvents
Heat Resistance	Service temperature up to 90–120°C
High Strength	Good tensile and flexural strength
Flexibility	Copolymer grades offer high flexibility
Food Contact	FDA approved (food contact)
Recyclability	Fully recyclable (#5)
Processability	Processable by all thermoplastic methods
Moisture Resistance	Very low water absorption (<0.01%)

8.2. Disadvantages

Disadvantage	Description
Low Impact Resistance	Homopolymer is brittle at low temperatures
UV Resistance	Degrades outdoors without UV stabilization
Oxidation	Susceptible to oxidative degradation at high temperatures
Poor Paintability	Low surface energy; requires pretreatment for painting
Flammability	Flammable, not flame retardant
Low Temperature Resistance	Becomes brittle below -10°C

SECTION 9: PROCESSING METHODS

Method	Temperature Range	Applications
Injection Molding	200–260°C	Automotive parts, appliances, caps
Extrusion	180–250°C	Pipes, profiles, films
Blow Molding	190–240°C	Bottles, containers
Film Blowing	180–220°C	Packaging films
Rotational Molding	230–330°C	Large parts, tanks
Thermoforming	140–200°C	Packaging, trays
Injection-Blow Molding	200–240°C	Medical bottles, containers

SECTION 10: TOXICOLOGY AND SAFETY

Parameter	Value / Description
GHS Classification	Not classified
Oral LD₅₀ (Rat)	>5,000 mg/kg (very low toxicity)
Dermal LD₅₀ (Rabbit)	>5,000 mg/kg
Skin Irritation	Not irritating
Eye Irritation	Mild irritant (dust)
Inhalation (Dust)	May cause mechanical irritation
Thermal Decomposition	>300°C releases hydrocarbon vapors
Combustion Products	CO₂, CO, water vapor
Biodegradability	Not biodegradable
Recycling Code	#5 (PP)

SECTION 11: ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS

Parameter	Value
Biodegradability	Not biodegradable
Recyclability	Yes (mechanical recycling)
Combustion Products	CO₂, CO, water vapor
Recycling Code	#5 (PP)
Marine Environment	Contributes to microplastic pollution
Carbon Footprint	Lower than polyethylene and PVC

SECTION 12: STORAGE AND SHELF LIFE

Storage Conditions:

Cool, dry, well-ventilated area
Protect from direct sunlight (UV degradation)
Keep away from heat sources and flames
Protect from moisture (not hygroscopic)

Shelf Life:

Product Type	Shelf Life
PP Pellets	12–24 months (in cool, dry storage)
Stabilized PP	24–36 months (with antioxidant)
PP Film	12–18 months (depends on UV stabilization)

Degradation Indicators:

Color change (yellowing)
Brittleness
Surface cracks
Oxidation odor

SECTION 13: TRANSPORT INFORMATION

Parameter	Information
UN Number	Not regulated
Hazard Class	Not classified as dangerous goods
Proper Shipping Name	Polypropylene (non-hazardous)
ADR/RID	Not regulated
IMDG	Not regulated
IATA	Not regulated
Dust Explosion Hazard	Fine dust suspended in air can be explosive

SECTION 14: SYNONYMS AND COMMON NAMES

Type	Names
Turkish	Polipropilen, PP, Propilen Polimeri
English	Polypropylene, PP, Propylene Polymer, Polypropene
Trade Names	Profax, Pro-fax, Hostalen, Moplen, Novolen, Valtec, Adstif, Propylex
Recycling Code	#5 (PP)

SECTION 15: REGULATORY STATUS

Regulation	Status
REACH (EU)	Registered
TSCA (USA)	Listed
FDA (USA)	Food contact approved (21 CFR 177.1520)
EU Food Contact (10/2011)	Permitted
RoHS	Compliant
California Prop 65	Not listed
Conflict Minerals	Not applicable

SECTION 16: SUMMARY AND CRITICAL WARNINGS

Product Summary

Parameter	Value
Product	Polypropylene (PP)
CAS	9003-07-0
Appearance	White to translucent pellets
Density	0.895–0.920 g/cm³
Key Properties	Low cost, chemical resistance, heat resistance
Key Industry	Packaging (~30%)

CRITICAL WARNINGS

Second Most Widely Used Plastic: Polypropylene is the second most widely used plastic raw material in the world. Its low cost and versatility make it a leading material in many industries.
Type Selection: Choose the appropriate PP type for your application: homopolymer for general purpose, block copolymer for high impact, random copolymer for clarity.
Food Contact: Approved for food contact under FDA 21 CFR 177.1520. Safe for use in food packaging.
Temperature Resistance: Continuous service temperature up to 90–120°C. Homopolymer offers the highest heat resistance.
Chemical Resistance: Excellent resistance to acids, alkalis, alcohols, and salts. Avoid aromatic and chlorinated solvents.
Impact Resistance: Homopolymer is brittle at low temperatures. Use block copolymer for low-temperature applications.
UV Resistance: Degrades outdoors without UV stabilization. UV stabilizers required for outdoor applications.
Recyclable: Fully recyclable. Recycling code: #5 (PP).
Storage: Store in cool, dry, UV-protected areas. Antioxidant-stabilized PP has longer shelf life.
Regulatory Status: REACH, TSCA, and FDA compliant.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This Technical Data Sheet (TDS) is for informational purposes only and is based on available technical data. The user is solely responsible for determining the product's suitability for their specific application and for complying with all applicable local, national, and international regulations. For complete safety, storage, handling, transportation, disposal, and regulatory compliance information, always refer to the official Safety Data Sheet (SDS/MSDS) provided by the manufacturer/supplier. Users are responsible for testing the product in their own processes and applications. All local, national, and international regulations must be followed when working with Polypropylene.

Polypropylene, Propylene Polymer, PP, 9003-07-0