Polypropylene Plastic Material & Machining
Tough, low-cost, & lightweight material option
Polypropylene is a tough and lightweight thermoplastic that proves its versatility with a wide range of applications. As a member of the polyolefin family, its molecular construction exists as a linear hydrocarbon polymer, consisting repeated propylene monomer units that create this material.
It also features itself as low-density and chemical-resistant material This low-cost plastic is FDA-approved and USDA-certified, making it the perfect solution for a wide range of applications.
Watch the video below, and get to know polypropylene in under 1.5 minutes. Still have questions? Reach out to our team of experts!
Plastic Machining with Polypropylene Plastic transcript
More about Polypropylene Plastic Material & Machining
Key Facts About Polypropylene
- Excellent chemical resistance
- Superior dimensional stability
- UV resistant/stabilized grades available
- Flexible
- Fatigue resistant
- Low density and lightweight
- Good mechanical strength and toughness
- Good thermal stability
- Low water absorption rate
- Widely recyclable
- Transparent and translucent available
- Easily machined and molded
- Cost effective
- FDA approved and USDA certified
| Grade | Product Characteristics | Common Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Polypropylene | Lightweight, extreme toughnesses, abrasion-resistant | Medical vials, research components, petri dishes, food processing components |
Properties & Characteristics
Polypropylene is a low cost plastic that makes an excellent choice for plastic machining. Polypropylene is mechanically tough, chemically resistant, abrasion resistant, and lightweight. Difficult to machine properly, it is recommended to use an all plastic machine shop for polypropylene parts. Semi-translucent off white and black are standard colors for Polypropylene. Polypropylene can embrittle at low temperatures and has poor weatherability. At Controlled Fluidics we use 40% glass fiber reinforced Polypropylene plate up to 1” thick.
Common Polypropylene Applications
- Medical components
- Research devices
- Food processing components