Propylene - This is an organic substance from which polypropylene is obtained. The latter is used as a packaging material, as well as in medical, construction, household and many other areas. The production and use of polypropylene is described in this material.
The content of the article
- What is propylene
- Application of polypropylene
What is propylene
Propylene itself is an organic compound of formula C3H6. It is obtained from propane C3H8 by dehydrogenation (removal of 2 hydrogen atoms). Therefore, the resulting compound is sometimes referred to as polypropylene cut propane. The figure shows a model of a molecule of this substance (grey indicates carbon atoms, white indicates hydrogen atoms, straight lines indicate single and double chemical bonds).
By itself, propylene is not of particular interest in terms of practical application in its original form. Much more often they use the compound that precedes it - propane (household gas). As for propylene itself, an organic polymer called polypropylene is produced from it.
Its production was opened in 1957. inventors Ziegler and Nutt, after whom the catalyst is named, accelerating the corresponding chemical reaction. Metallocene catalysts are also used, but only in 8-10% of cases.
The main industrial production method is the polymerization of propylene. The essence of the process is that small C3H6 molecules combine with each other and turn into long chains, resulting in the formation of a dense film. The polymerization of polypropylene proceeds at a temperature of 70-80 degrees and a pressure of 10 atm.
Application of polypropylene
The production of polypropylene is carried out mainly for the manufacture of packaging materials:
- containers;
- film for products;
- film for cosmetic products;
- disposable tableware;
- containers;
- cases.
You can say about polypropylene what kind of material it is, if you know that it comes in different densities. According to this indicator, it is conditionally divided into soft and hard. Therefore, the product is used not only as packaging. It is also used in other areas:
- Manufacture of household items and equipment - furniture, appliances, toys.
- Parts for cars - battery cases, pallet elements, bumpers, dashboards, door accessories, moldings.
- Medical field - syringes and other disposable consumables, test tubes for research, sampling, sterilized containers for medicines, treatment baths, parts for diagnostic equipment.
- Containers for special liquids such as alkalis or acids.
- Elastic fibers in fabrics.
- Case elements of electronics, household appliances, for example, in televisions, telephones.
- Electrical - coils, sheaths for insulation.
Thus, the use of propylene is quite extensive, which is associated with the properties of this material. It is strong enough, not subject to corrosion and decay, resistant to temperature extremes. At the same time, it can collapse under prolonged exposure to the sun's rays, it is quite difficult to glue it together, so repair is often impossible. However, since polypropylene is quite cheap, it remains one of the most popular packaging materials.
