How Can It Be Recycled? Polypropylene

The first step in PP recycling is cleaning up the plastic trash that’s going to be reused. The plastic should be heated to 250 degrees Celsius, any remaining molecules extracted using a vacuum, and the substance solidified at 140 degrees Celsius.

The recycled PP will be blended in at a ratio of 50/50 with 100% new PP. Since it is ultimately up to consumer demand, the low percentage of recycled plastic utilized in manufacturing is a problem for Polypropylene recycling.

Since it does not cause significant harm to the environment, it has seen widespread application in industrial production. The substance has a negligible harmful effect.

Brooms, ice scrapers, signs, battery cables, and battery casings are where you’ll most often find recycled PP being put to use.

Problems with PP plastic 

• Easily ignited
• likely to oxidize
• Poor adherence qualities
• UV-degradation susceptibility
• Weak resistance to aromatic and chlorinated solvents

Uses for Polypropylene 

As we’ve established, Polypropylene is a popular thermoplastic that has several desirable qualities. It finds application in a wide range of fields.

• Mechanical Engineers 
• Therapeutic Uses 
• Applications in Industry: 
• Textiles and fibers 
• Retail Products 

Mechanical Engineers

Polypropylene is ideal for the production of automotive parts due to its high moldability, low ductility, and excellent mechanical qualities such as chemical resistance and reasonable wearability.

Instrument panels, door trims, fender lines, battery cases, boxes, trays, etc. are some of the most common uses.

Therapeutic Uses

Polypropylene’s many uses have given the material considerable clout in the healthcare sector. The high levels of chemical and bacterial resistance are the primary cause of that enormous impact.

Also, medical-grade PP has been successfully stream-sterilized.

Medical syringes are the most prevalent use (Polypropylene dominates the needle industry). Specimen containers, diagnostic tools, food preparation surfaces, Petri dishes, medication bottles, prosthetics, and other uses are also important.

Applications in Industry

The processing of polypropylene is mostly used for industrial purposes. To be widely used in industrial applications, PP must possess properties such as corrosion resistance and strong tensile strength.

Tanks, piping, packaging, and so on are only some of the many things made with polypropylene sheets.

Textiles and fibers

Tapes, strapping, bulk filament, staple fibers, spun-bond, etc. are only some of the many products that use PP fibers and textiles.

The high water resistance of PP goods makes them a good choice for use in maritime environments.

Retail Products

Luggage, toys, furniture, etc. are just a few of the many commonplace items made with PP material. Produce, meat, and seafood all benefit from its use in food packaging.

Polypropylene: A Brief Background 

The history of how polypropylene was first developed is fascinating. The polypropylene enzyme was initially discovered in 1954 by Italian scientist Guilio Natta and his assistant Paolo Chini.

They were connected to the Montecatini Company back then, which is now known as Montedison SpA. They used a variety of catalysts, including one that Karl Ziegler—another well-known German chemist—developed.

Natta and Zieglar’s idea, which they patented in 1963, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

In 1957, Hoechst AG in what was then West Germany (now Germany) began commercial manufacturing of polypropylene.

In the early 1980s, when a more stable form of the material hit the open market, commercial production began. The Japanese company Mitsui Petrochemical Industries, Ltd. created it.

Polypropylene’s Bright Future

By 2026, the global polypropylene market is expected to be worth USD 120.11 Billion, as reported by respected research firm Polaris Research.

This study, however, was conducted in 2018, before the COVD-19 epidemic took hold and drastically altered our lives. A drop in global economic activity could lead to a smaller market for plastics manufacturing in general, including PP.

PP plastic’s popularity is expected to rise because of its widespread use in fast-growing sectors like agriculture, packaging, and the car industry. The pharmaceutical business, which frequently uses PP for packaging purposes, can provide a further source of incremental revenue.

The Asia-Pacific area is currently the leader in PP processing, and it is expected to maintain this status for the foreseeable future.

Video 01: Plastic Recycling Machine (Polypropylene/PP)