7 Need-to-Know Polypropylene Material Properties

7 Need-to-Know Polypropylene Material Properties

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Custom wire baskets are often coated with various polymers to enhance structural durability and to better hold and protect delicate parts. The right polymer for your steel wire basket coating depends on your specific process. Among the most popular polymers used for basket coatings is polypropylene, which possesses unique properties that may suit your needs.

What Is Polypropylene Material?

Polypropylene is a thermoplastic material often compared to PVC (polyvinyl chloride). While it’s not as widely used as PVC, polypropylene remains an excellent option for coating custom wire baskets.

This rigid, crystalline thermoplastic is produced from the propene or propylene monomer. It is one of the most affordable plastics available today, used in applications across various industries, including automotive manufacturing, furniture assembly, and aerospace.

What Is Polypropylene Used For?

Thanks to its rigid structure and affordability, polypropylene is utilized in numerous applications. It has good chemical resistance and weldability, making it ideal for industries such as automotive, consumer goods, furniture, and industrial applications like custom wire baskets.

Common applications of polypropylene include:

• Packaging Applications: Its strength makes polypropylene cost-effective for various packaging needs.
• Consumer Goods: It is used in many consumer products including translucent items, housewares, furniture, appliances, luggage, and toys.
• Automotive Applications: Widely utilized for automotive components due to its low cost and robust mechanical properties. Found in battery cases, bumpers, fender liners, interior trim, and instrumental panels.
• Fibers and Fabrics: Used in multiple fiber and fabric applications such as raffia, tape, strapping, continuous filament, and staple fibers.
• Medical Applications: Due to its chemical and bacterial resistance, polypropylene is suitable for medical devices like vials, diagnostic devices, petri dishes, and syringes.
• Industrial Applications: Its high tensile strength makes it perfect for chemical tanks, sheets, pipes, and returnable transport packaging (RTP).

What Are the Properties of Polypropylene?

Key properties of polypropylene that are crucial when selecting a coating for your custom wire basket include:

• Chemical Resistance: Polypropylene is resistant to many organic solvents, acids, and alkalis, although it may be affected by oxidizing acids and chlorinated hydrocarbons.
• Tensile Strength: It offers good tensile strength at approximately 4,800 psi, enabling it to support heavy loads while remaining lightweight.
• Impact Tolerance: While it has decent tensile strength, its impact resistance is inferior compared to polyethylene.
• Water Absorption: Polypropylene is highly water-resistant, absorbing less than 0.01% of its weight when soaked for 24 hours, making it ideal for immersion applications.
• Surface Hardness: Measuring at 92 on the Rockwell R scale, polypropylene is semi-rigid, allowing it to flex without breaking upon impact.
• Operating Temperature: The maximum operating temperature does not exceed 180°F (82.2°C) without compromising material performance.
• Melting Temperature: Polypropylene melts at 327°F (163.8°C), making it unsuitable for high-temperature applications.

What Are the Advantages & Disadvantages of Polypropylene?

Why You Should Use Polypropylene

Liquid Cleaning Processes

Polypropylene is particularly well-suited for aqueous parts washing processes where the coated basket is submerged in non-oxidizing agents for extended periods. Its impermeability protects the basket from cleaning solutions, and it can endure many uses if temperatures remain below 180°F.

Parts Protection

This material is effective at preventing scratches on delicate components. While not as soft as some PVC formulations, polypropylene is semi-soft, absorbing impacts and reducing the risk of damage to fragile parts during cleaning processes.

When You Shouldn’t Use Polypropylene

Extreme Temperatures & Environments

Due to its low melting point, polypropylene is not suitable for high-temperature processes. Its structural integrity is compromised at low temperatures as well. Below 20°C, polypropylene can become brittle. Avoid processes that involve oxidizing acids, chlorinated solvents, and aromatic solvents, as these can damage the material.

Limited Impact Durability

Sharp impacts can harm polypropylene coatings. Assess your production process for any points of potential impact before opting for a polypropylene coating, as it has poor UV resistance and limited adhesion to paint.

To determine if a polypropylene coating is appropriate for your custom wire basket or tray, examine your process closely. For more information on custom wire basket coatings or to get a quote, contact Marlin Steel!