Polypropylene density polyethylene

HDPE, high density polyethylene PP, polypropylene EVA, ethylene—vinyl alcohol SMC, sheet-molding compound ERP, fiber-reinforced plastic LDPE, low density polyethylene PE, polyethylene BMC, bulk mol ding compound TPE, thermoplastic elastomer. 

Table 6 shows the sales estimates for principal film and sheet products for the year 1990 (14). Low density polyethylene films dominate the market in volume, followed by polystyrene and the vinyls. High density polyethylene, poly(ethylene terephthalate), and polypropylene are close in market share and complete the primary products. A number of specialty resins are used to produce 25,000—100,000 t of film or sheet, and then there are a large number of high priced, high performance materials that serve niche markets. The original clear film product, ceUophane, has faUen to about 25,000 t in the United States, with only one domestic producer. Table 7 Hsts some of the principal film and sheet material manufacturers in the United States.

Structural Components. In most appHcations stmctural foam parts are used as direct replacements for wood, metals, or soHd plastics and find wide acceptance in appHances, automobUes, furniture, materials-handling equipment, and in constmction. Use in the huil ding and constmction industry account for more than one-half of the total volume of stmctural foam appHcations. High impact polystyrene is the most widely used stmctural foam, foUowed by polypropylene, high density polyethylene, and poly(vinyl chloride). The constmction industry offers the greatest growth potential for ceUular plastics. 

Plastic materials represent less than 10% by weight of all packagiag materials. They have a value of over 7 biUion including composite flexible packagiag about half is for film and half for botties, jars, cups, tubs, and trays. The principal materials used are high density polyethylene (HDPE) for botties, low density polyethylene for film, polypropylene (PP) for film, and polyester for both botties and films. Plastic resias are manufactured by petrochemical companies, eg. Union Carbide and Mobil Chemical for low density polyethylene (LDPE), Solvay for high density polyethylene, Himont for polypropylene, and Shell and Eastman for polyester. 

Formic acid is commonly shipped in road or raH tankers or dmms. For storage of the 85% acid at lower temperatures, containers of stainless steel (ASTM grades 304, 316, or 321), high density polyethylene, polypropylene, or mbber-lined carbon steels can be used (34). For higher concentrations. Austenitic stainless steels (ASTM 316) are recommended. 

The majority of spunbonded fabrics are based on isotactic polypropylene and polyester (Table 1). Small quantities are made from nylon-6,6 and a growing percentage from high density polyethylene. Table 3 illustrates the basic characteristics of fibers made from different base polymers. Although some interest has been seen in the use of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) as a base polymer, largely because of potential increases in the softness of the final fabric (9), economic factors continue to favor polypropylene (see OlefinPOLYMERS, POLYPROPYLENE). 

Polypropylene polymers are typically modified with ethylene to obtain desirable properties for specific applications. Specifically, ethylene—propylene mbbers are introduced as a discrete phase in heterophasic copolymers to improve toughness and low temperature impact resistance (see Elastomers, ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE rubber). This is done by sequential polymerisation of homopolymer polypropylene and ethylene—propylene mbber in a multistage reactor process or by the extmsion compounding of ethylene—propylene mbber with a homopolymer. Addition of high density polyethylene, by polymerisation or compounding, is sometimes used to reduce stress whitening. In all cases, a superior balance of properties is obtained when the sise of the discrete mbber phase is approximately one micrometer. Examples of these polymers and their properties are shown in Table 2. Mineral fillers, such as talc or calcium carbonate, can be added to polypropylene to increase stiffness and high temperature properties, as shown in Table 3. 

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). 

Ref. 136. LDPE = low density polyethylene HDPE = high density polyethylene PP = polypropylene PS = polystyrene EPVC = flexible PVC ... 

Blends of isobutylene polymers with thermoplastic resins are used for toughening these compounds. High density polyethylene and isotactic polypropylene are often modified with 5 to 30 wt % polyisobutylene. At higher elastomer concentration the blends of butyl-type polymers with polyolefins become more mbbery in nature, and these compositions are used as thermoplastic elastomers (98). In some cases, a halobutyl phase is cross-linked as it is dispersed in the polyolefin to produce a highly elastic compound that is processible in thermoplastic mol ding equipment (99) (see Elastomers, synthetic-thermoplastic). ... 

In the mid-1950s a number of new thermoplastics with some very valuable properties beeame available. High-density polyethylenes produced by the Phillips process and the Ziegler process were marketed and these were shortly followed by the discovery and rapid exploitation of polypropylene. These polyolefins soon became large tonnage thermoplastics. Somewhat more specialised materials were the acetal resins, first introduced by Du Pont, and the polycarbonates, developed simultaneously but independently in the United States and Germany. Further developments in high-impact polystyrenes led to the development of ABS polymers. 

Following the considerable commercial success of Ziegler-Natta polymerisation systems which made possible high density polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-propylene rubbers and a number of speciality materials, a considerable... 

Tension Above materials plus High-density polyethylene Polypropylene Acetal polymers Aliphatic polyamides (nylons) PPO Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Polysulphones... 

Although very similar to high-density polyethylene, isotactic polypropylene differs from the former in a number of respects of which the following are among the most important ... 

The electrical properties of polypropylene are very similar to those of high-density polyethylenes. In particular the power factor is critically dependent on the amount of catalyst residues in the polymer. Some typical properties are given in Table 11.3 but it should be noted that these properties are dependent on the antioxidant system employed as well as on the catalyst residues. 

In broad tonnage terms the injection moulding markets for high-density polyethylene and polypropylene are very similar. The main reasons for selecting polypropylene have been given above. In favour of HDPE is the inherently better oxidation and ultraviolet resistance. Whilst these properties may be greatly improved in polypropylene by the use of additives these may increase the cost of polypropylene compounds to beyond that which is considered economically attractive. It is for this reason that HDPE has retained a substantial part of the crate market. 

This polymer is typical of the aliphatic polyolefins in its good electrical insulation and chemical resistance. It has a melting point and stiffness intermediate between high-density and low-density polyethylene and a thermal stability intermediate between polyethylene and polypropylene. 

Fig. 11. Effect of polyolefin primers on bond strength of ethyl cyanoacrylate to plastics. All assemblies tested in accordance with ASTM D 4501 (block shear method). ETFE = ethylene tetrafluoroethylene copolymer LDPE = low-density polyethylene PFA = polyper-fluoroalkoxycthylene PBT = polybutylene terephthalate, PMP = polymethylpentene PPS = polyphenylene sulfide PP = polypropylene PS = polystyrene PTFE = polytetrafluoroethylene PU = polyurethane. From ref. [73].

Resins and plastics such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HOPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ... 

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