Polypropylene Vs Acrylic: Selecting the Perfect Material for Your Needs

Polypropylene is a thermoplastic polymer. It is often addressed by a short-form name –”PP.” This construction material is highly popular in various industries due to its strength, chemical resistance, recyclability, and cost-effectiveness. On the contrary, Acrylic is a thermoplastic homopolymer. It is also known asPolymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA). Weather resistiveness and durability are the two prime properties of this material.

Both of the materials have their unique properties, applications, advantages, and disadvantages. A sound understanding of the differences in terms of Polypropylene vs Acrylic can assist the experts in selecting the right construction material for the product construction. Here, we detail this so you can select the perfect material for your needs.

Polypropylene: Everything You Need to Know

Polypropylene was invented by two Italian chemists, Giulio Natta and Karl Ziegler, in 1954. They independently discovered the polymerization process for propylene by employing catalysts. Here, the catalysts were invented by Karl Ziegler. For these remarkable inventions, Natta and Ziegler both received the Nobel Prize in 1963.

The production process of Polypropylene is a critical chemical process known as polymerization. In this process, propylene gas undergoes a transformation in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta or metallocene catalyst. Here, factors like temperature, pressure, etc., are carefully controlled as per the desired grade of Polypropylene output.

Common Characteristics of Polypropylene

The following are the core characteristics of Polypropylene.

Polypropylene can withstand extreme levels of temperatures. It can effectively deal with low freezing temperatures to high heat (160 to 166 °C).
It is tough and semi-rigid.
This material offers higher fatigue resistance while incorporating excellent impact strength.
Polypropylene is a low-density material which makes it lightweight.
It has a greater level of electrical insulation properties.
Polypropylene is a recyclable material. It can be separated from other plastic types and used in new plastic products.

Common Applications of Polypropylene

Below are the highlighted applications of Polypropylene.

Polypropylene is used in packaging materials like flat bags, strapping tapes, etc.
It is also funded in non-packaging products like housewares, toys, carpeting, etc.
Due to excellent durability and moldability, this construction is used in the automotive industry to manufacture dashboards, door panels, bumpers, and so on.
Polypropylene fibers are commonly used in non-woven fabrics for producing products like geotextiles, disposable medical garments, etc.
Polypropylene is utilized in pipes and fittings. The use of this material makes the pipes and fitting effectively deal with heated or freezing water.
By retaining shape under repeated use, Polypropylene is the best-suite construction material for storage boxes, folders, binders, and so on.

Advantages of Polypropylene

Here, we list some advantages of using Polypropylene as a construction material.

Polypropylene does not accommodate any static electricity.
It is highly cost-effective.
It is considered a non-toxic solution to produce high-quality final products.
Polypropylene is considered food safe.
It can be bent easily. In recovery, it retains its original shape without breaking.

Disadvantages of Polypropylene

Below are the associated disadvantages of Polypropylene.

It is not that resistant to high UV exposure.
Polypropylene’s use in high temperatures is limited as it goes toward oxidization.
It exhibits degraded resistance against chlorinated solvents.

Acrylic: Everything You Need to Know

Acrylic was invented by the German chemist Otto Röhm. In 1901, Röhm discovered the process for methyl methacrylate polymerization forming PMMA. But, its commercial journey started later in 1933 under the trademark “Plexiglas.”

The process of forming Acrylic is known as Bulk polymerization. In this process, this material is made by mixing methyl methacrylate with a special substance called a catalyst. The mixing happens in a mold. Following this, a chemical reaction takes place in the mold under sealed and heated conditions.

Common Characteristics of Acrylic

Below are the must-know properties of Acrylic.

The very first thing to mention about Acrylic is that it is transparent.
Acrylic exhibits excellent resistance to ultraviolet radiation.
This material is much more impact-resistant than glass. There is a very low chance that it will shatter or break against impact.
Acrylic is lightweight and easy to fabricate.
It hosts a higher degree of weather resistance properties. It can withstand exposure to extreme weather conditions without degrading.

Common Applications of Acrylic

Here is the use of Acrylic.

Outdoor furniture is made of Acrylic.
Acrylic is also used in various architectural applications like skylights, domes, canopies, and decorative panels.
Acrylic’s exceptional transparency makes it suitable for producing aquariums and aquatic displays.
It is used to create light diffusers, lenses, and covers for lighting fixtures.
The automotive industry also uses Acrylic to manufacture tail lights, headlight lenses, etc.
This construction material is used in LCD displays, paints, various medical equipment, etc.

Advantages of Acrylic

Here are the advantages of using Acrylic.

Provides enhanced optical clarity and transparency.
This material is weather resistive, offering greater durability.
It is ideal for precise finishing work.
It does not react while contacting various chemicals.
Easier to work with.

Disadvantages of Acrylic

Below is a list of issues associated with Acrylic use.

It can get scratched easily.
Acrylic cannot deal with high temperatures effectively but gets melted.
It includes some sort of flammable characteristic.

Comparison Between Polypropylene Vs Acrylic

Type	Polypropylene	Acrylic
Short description	Polypropylene is a thermoplastic polymer	Acrylic is a thermoplastic homopolymer
What ingredients used to make this	Propylene gas, Ziegler-Natta or metallocene catalyst	Methyl methacrylate, catalyst
Applications	Polypropylene is used to manufacture car parts, geotextiles, outdoor furniture, pipes, storage boxes, etc.	skylights, domes, canopies, lenses, LCD displays, paints, etc.
Characteristics	It can deal with extreme temperatures. Semi-rigid. Low-density. Recyclable.	Impact, weather, and UV resistance. Lightweight. Easy to process.
Trade Name	Proteus, Propylux, etc.	Crylux, Hesalite, Plexiglas, etc.
Price	Per Ton Polypropylene price ranges from $1,700 to $2,000	Per Ton price is $2,000 to $2,500.

Final words

Polypropylene and acrylic are the popular engineering plastic, they offer different performance and suitable for different applications. If you don’t know how to choose them for your project and looking for a trustworthy supplier, contact us now!