Time To Know The Difference Between Polypropylene And Polyethylene

Just look around us and you will see a wide variety of plastic products like plumbing pipes, dental fillings, phones, bottles, cars and eyeglass lenses, among others. Plastic is generally used to make commercially sold soft drink bottles, condiment bottles and sports drink bottles. Even if you feel that all the plastic products are made using the same variety of plastic, it is actually not so.

Two variety of plastics which are widely used are polypropylene and polyethylene. The primary difference between them is that moulding the former is quite easy when it reaches a certain temperature. It returns to a solid-state once it cools down. It also has a high melting point when compared to polyethylene.

Why Is The Demand For Polypropylene High?

One of the primary reasons why the demand for polypropylene is always high is that it can be used both as a fiber and a structural plastic. Manufacturers can combine them with various materials to produce a wide variety of products. Rubber is generally added to make it pliable. Sometimes, minerals are also used as additives which can easily turn a polypropylene sheet into a synthetic paper.

Few products made using synthetic paper are floor graphics, booklets, membership cards, phone cards, banners, menus, maps, signs, counter mats and booklets. Printing on synthetic paper is quite easy and can be used for advertisement purposes. They can also be die-cut, hot stamped, folded and sewn. The material is 100% environmentally friendly, water-resistance and durable.

Polypropylene Or Polyethylene?

Though polyethylene is more stable than polypropylene, it can't take repeated motions. This is why the latter is generally used to make hinges which you can open and close as many times you want as they become resistance to fatigue. The physical properties of both these types of plastic are more or less the same. Two industries where polypropylene is widely used are the packaging industry and automotive industry. They even cater to the packaging needs in the food industry and are used to make food containers, pallets, food crates and bottles.

7 Basic Differences Between Polypropylene And Polyethylene

• Polypropylene is translucent like a milk jug while polyethylene is optically clear.
• The physical properties of polyethylene prevent them from standing in cold temperatures, especially when used as signs.
• Polyethylene is sturdier than polypropylene.
• The rigidity of polypropylene is better than polyethylene which makes them pure and non-stretching.
• Though polyethylene can offer good tracking resistance being a good electrical insulator, they become electrically charged easily.
• Polypropylene has a lighter weight as compared to polyethylene and is highly resistant to acids, cracking, electrolytes and organic solvents.
• Propylene is the monomer of polypropylene while ethylene is the monomer of polyethylene.

Since you are now aware of the basic differences between polypropylene and polyethylene and the benefits offered by them, it's time you choose one according to your business needs and approach a leading supplier offering it at affordable prices.