Petrochemical Industry Polypropylene Plant - Application Note

In addition to polyethylene, one of the most common plastics is polypropylene. The relatively high melting point of polypropylene makes it a good material for the medical industry since it can withstand the heat of sterilization. The stiffness qualities of polypropylene make it an ideal polymer to make synthetic fibers (carpets), injection molded items (toys), and blow molded items (squeezed bottles).

As with other polymers, polypropylene is often a mixture of propylene plus a second compound called a comonomer. The actual chemical used for the comonomer varies depending on the desired properties, but can range from a simple chemical like ethylene to more complex butenes and hexenes. A number of polypropylene plant designs are available in the industry. The example given here is a two stage slurry reactor design.