Polypropylene plastic is used in automotive construction, packaging, and various other consumer products. The majority of the plastic is used in packaging, with Asian nations being the largest consumers. Polypropylene is versatile and can be manufactured in different specifications for different uses. The packaging industry dominates in the consumption of flexible polypropylene, with over 70% used for packaging food products.
Polypropylene plastic is usually divided into three broad categories of use. These include the automotive plastics industry, plastic packaging and all other uses combined. Global demand for polypropylene-based products is second only to that of polyethylene, and as of 2009, 36,500,000 tons of plastic were produced annually. The majority of this figure, 54%, was used in the packaging industry and the next demand for world supplies of polypropylene was in automotive assembly, accounting for 15.6% of the total amount produced. Asian nations lead the way in consuming 51.9% of the polypropylene plastic produced as of 2009, and China and India in particular are seen as the main drivers of global growth.
The low weight and good mechanical properties of polypropylene plastic have made it an ideal material in automotive construction. It reduces the total weight of cars where it is replaced by other interior materials in dashboards, door panels and upholstery. Because polypropylene has good resistance to corrosion and weathering, it is also used for exterior moldings and bumpers and can be pre-colored to eliminate some of the paint job on automobiles.
Plastics are widely adopted when they have versatile uses and polypropylene plastic expands on this by being manufactured in three different specification ranges. Homopolymers are generic grades of the plastic used in fishing nets, polypropylene carpets, furniture and more. Block copolymers are versions of plastics with improved impact and temperature resistance and are used for polypropylene ropes, artificial grass, and medical devices. Random copolymers have higher flexibility and lower melting point and are used in polypropylene fabrics, upholstery and bedding.
The use of polypropylene plastic by the packaging industry is divided into flexible and rigid packaging. Polypropylene bags and films use flexible designs of the plastic used in three major packaging industries: food and confections, tobacco and textiles. The food packaging industry dominates in the consumption of flexible polypropylene. Rigid polypropylene is used to make food crates and pallets, as well as bottles for a wide range of uses and food containers for yoghurt.
Among thousands of other uses of polypropylene in the consumer market, the plastic is incorporated into houseware, appliance and toy products. It’s made into everything from diapers to lawn and garden equipment and luggage. Despite its versatile uses, however, over 70% of the polypropylene plastic produced for packaging needs goes into packaging food products.
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