Polypropylene consumption

Plastic films represent the largest worldwide market for plastics with practically all extruded (6). They are used to meet different performance requirements particularly for its major packaging market. Worldwide just for biaxial oriented (Chapter 8) polypropylene consumption is about 5 /2 billion lb. Their use includes tape, food, tobacco, and confectionery. Thermoforming film (and extruded sheets) is a major processing technique producing all kinds of products. 

Tables 2.17 and 2.18 represent polypropylene consumption in the appliance industry in Western Europe.

About 35% of total U.S. LPG consumption is as chemical feedstock for petrochemicals and polymer iatermediates. The manufacture of polyethylene, polypropylene, and poly(vinyl chloride) requires huge volumes of ethylene (qv) and propylene which, ia the United States, are produced by thermal cracking/dehydrogenation of propane, butane, and ethane (see Olefin polymers Vinyl polymers). 

It is axiomatic that sales analysis depends on detailed records of sales of a specific chemical to a specific company. Paramount to the success of such studies is the existence of data recorded on a systematic and continuous basis. It follows that these studies are done best by an ia-house staff on products already produced by the company. However, on occasion, a product new to the company can be studied by the ia-house group with the assistance of their field sales force. For example, a producer of polypropylene could use its people to secure data on the consumption of other thermoplastics by their customers. Such an exercise might identify opportunities for a new producer, but a more detailed marketing research study would probably be done before entry iato the new product area was made. 

In the United States, fibers and injection mol ding are the main appHcations for polypropylene (Table 8), followed by film. In Europe and Japan, injection mol ding appHcations predominate (Table 10). This market area is more likely to decline in economic recession, as consumers postpone purchases of apphances and automobiles. Film appHcations are important in both regions, but fibers are a much less important use for polypropylene in Japan than in other developed regions. The heavy use of polypropylene nonwovens in the manufacture of disposable diapers and similar products, and the wide use of polypropylene carpets in the United States, account for the greater consumption of fibers. 

Thermoforming and Extrusion. Improved equipment and polymers have increased the capabiUty to extmde and thermoform polypropylene however, consumption of polypropylene in these areas has not grown dramatically. Drinking straws are commonly extmded from polypropylene, however most larger diameter tubes, such as pipes and conduits, are predominantly extmded from other thermoplastics. Extmded sheet is thermoformed into food containers and trays polypropylene is used when microwavabiUty is desired. 

Disposable polypropylene nonwoven fabrics are widely used as the coverstock for disposable baby diapers. The expansion of the disposable diaper market throughout the world has been the primary source of growth in the consumption of polypropylene in the fiber market. In addition, nonwoven polypropylene fabrics are used in a variety of other disposable sanitary products, such as baby wipes, adult incontinence, and feminine hygiene products. Use of polypropylene nonwovens in disposable medical apparel, such as surgical gowns, has increased as a means of reducing the spread of infection. 

Thermoplastics. The highest consumption of color concentrates is in thermoplastic resins, such as low and high density polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, and polystyrene. Processing techniques for thermoplastics are usually based on dry color dispersion in a compatible resin (36). 

The consumption of 4-/ f2 -butylphenol in the production of phenohc resins represents an appHcation in a mature market and Htfle growth is projected. Its use in end-capping polycarbonates, in the production of glycidyl ethers, and in the production of nucleation agents for polypropylene is expected to grow at a rate above the growth of the GNP (see Table 3). 

Styrene—butadiene elastomers, emulsion and solution types combined, are reported to be the largest-volume synthetic mbber, with 28.7% of the world consumption of all synthetic mbber in 1994 (38). This percentage has decreased steadily since 1973 when SBR s market share was 57% (39). The decline has been attributed to the switch to radial tires (longer milage) and the growth of other synthetic polymers, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, and polystyrene. Since 1985, production of SBR has been flat (Table 3). 

The polymer has found some small-scale outlets in other directions such as sheet, pipe and wire coating. Consumption of the polymer in these directions is, however, dependent on finding applications for which polypropylene is the most suitable material. 

In recent years general purpose polystyrene and high-impact polystyrenes have had to face intensive competition from other materials, particularly polypropylene, which has been available in recent years at what may best be described as an abnormally low price. Whilst polystyrene has lost some of it markets it has generally enjoyed increasing consumption and the more pessimistic predictions of a decline have as yet failed to materialise. Today about 75% of these materials are injection moulded whilst the rest is extruded and/or thermoformed. 

Another important and growing market for plastics is the automotive field. Many automobile parts are now made of plastics. Among the most used polymers are polystyrene polymers and copolymers, polypropylene, polycarbonates, and polyvinyl chloride. These materials reduce the cost and the weight of the cars. As a result, gasoline consumption is also reduced. 

The central feature of this mechanism is, therefore, that the phenoxyl radical is reversibly reduced and re-oxidised this leads to the continuous consumption of macroalkyl radicals. The phenoxyl radical can, therefore, react with polypropylene radicals and compete with PP-MA adduct formation in the stabilised polymer (Figure 3, curve MA-S). 

The research on the processes of mechanical destruction in deformed polypropylene (PP) melts was conducted with the aid of stable radical (tripentachlorphenylmethyl) consumption. There was defined the dependence of radical generation rate on shear rate. At low values y it is approximate to linear. 

As shown in Figure 2.33, polyethylene has the highest consumption (nearly 60%) in both thermoplastic and thermoset (PEX) forms, and also foamed PE (2%). PVC is second (roughly 30%) and the others are polypropylene,TPEs, polyamide, fluoropolymers. .. 

Applications and consumption are far lower than for polyethylene and polypropylene. Consequently, there are relatively few grades marketed, corresponding to the major applications such as ... 

EVOH is a speciality thermoplastic targeting specific applications and consumption is far smaller than for polyethylene and polypropylene. Worldwide production is estimated at 55 000 tonnes including 8000 tonnes consumed in Western Europe, that is to say, less than one thousandth of the total for plastics. Moreover, typical characteristics limit the applications and, consequently, relatively few grades are marketed, corresponding to the major applications ... 

Polyisobutylene and Polypropylene. In a similar way, the material balance of nitrous oxide in the case of polyisobutylene was measured as shown in Table IV. In this case, whereas the enclosed nitrous oxide is not completely consumed during irradiation, the consumption proceeds... 

Fig. 6. Total theoretical power consumption for extrusion of molten polypropylene and core rotation in the head as a function of core s speed at different specific pressures in the molding head 1 — 5 2 — 15 3 — 30 4 - 45 5 - 60...

Fig. 14a-c. Effect of core rotation on the power consumption of the extrusion plant manufacturing polypropylene tube blanks a — power consumed for screw rotation (Ns) b — total power consumption of the plant (NfM) c — total power consumption calculated per unit of product s mass (q). Speed of core rotation, min-1 — 0 2 — 10 J — 20 4 — 30 5 - 40 6 — 50 7 — 60 8 - 70... 

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