Polypropylene fiber is a synthetic fiber spun from polypropylene granules with the trade name polypropylene in China. Polypropylene, abbreviated as PP, also known as crack-resistant fiber and tensile fiber, is a polymer made of propylene through the polymerization reaction. It has good chemical resistance, heat resistance, electrical insulation, mechanical properties, and wear-resistant processing properties. However, it has poor low-temperature impact resistance and is more susceptible to aging, which can be overcome by modification, respectively. Polypropylene belongs to plastic materials, while polypropylene fiber belongs to chemical fiber materials. Petroleum distillation cracking can get propylene, and propylene after polymerization reaction to get polypropylene, and finally polypropylene can be further made into polypropylene fibers.
Performance Characteristics of Polypropylene Fibers
- Lightweight
It is the lightest of all chemical fibers, 20% lighter than nylon, 30% lighter than polyester, and 40% lighter than viscose, so it is suitable to be the fabric of skiing and mountaineering clothing or the wadding of winter clothing.
- High strength, good elasticity, abrasion and corrosion resistance
Polypropylene has high strength (the same in dry state and wet state), which is the ideal material for manufacturing fishing nets and cables. Good abrasion resistance and resilience, and its strength is similar to polyester and polyamide, while the resilience is comparable to polyamide and wool, much greater than polyester and viscose fibers. Polypropylene has poor dimensional stability prone to pilling and deformation. Not moth due to anti-microbial. Chemical resistance is better than general fiber.
- Good electrical insulation and thermal insulation
Polypropylene fiber has high electrical resistivity and low thermal conductivity. Compared with other chemical fibers polypropylene has the best electrical insulation and warmth, but it is easy to produce static electricity when processing.
- Poor heat and aging resistance
The melting point of polypropylene fiber is low (165~173℃) so it has poor stability to light and heat. Poor heat resistance and poor aging resistance lead to its lack of ironing resistance. However, it can be spun by adding anti-aging chemicals to improve its anti-aging properties.
- Poor moisture absorption and dyeability
Polypropylene fiber moisture absorption and dyeing in the chemical fiber is the worst, almost no moisture absorption. However, that is why polypropylene is popular as an easy-to-wash and quick-drying fabric with a low shrinkage rate.
Applications of Polypropylene Fiber
Polypropylene fibers are lightweight and corrosion-resistant and are widely used in textiles, building materials, insulation materials, and more.
Polypropylene fibers are used in textiles, such as the hiking suits and down jackets we currently wear.
Polypropylene fibers can also be used in construction materials, for example, adding polypropylene fibers to a concrete mix can enhance the fracture strength and impact resistance of the mix while extending the service life of the concrete.