Polypropylene agricultural applications

Polypropylene accounted for about half of the nonwoven products in industrial uses in 2001. Its share in ropes and nets was 55-60%, and 70-80% in civil construction, where polyester claimed 20-24%. In automotive applications, polypropylene shared 26-30%, nylon almost 50%, and polyester about 20%. Polypropylene contributed to over 86% of agricultural nonwoven, 100% of packaging cloth, 85% of sanitary items, and 64-70% of medical applications. The world consumption of industrial nonwoven products was 1.329 MT in 2000. Polypropylene topped all synthetic fibers with a share of over 40% in this market segment. 

Horticultural applications include use of greenhouse thermal screens, rowcrop and turf covers, conveyer belts to process agricultural products, and other similar items. High performance fibers are not normally used in these apphcations, but high strength fibers are preferable for conveyer belts. Environmentally inert low cost fibers such as polypropylene are used for many of the outdoor horticultural applications. 

PE sheets have major applications in the building industry, in agriculture, and in orthopedic surgery. Such sheeting is made of polypropylene, polyethylene, or modified polyethylene, sueh as ethylene eopolymer, consisting of a major portion of ethylene in combination with a minor portion of other monomers or a mixture of polyethylene with a lesser amount of the other polymer. 

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