Polypropylene CAS 9003-07-0
Chelora Chemicals supplies homopolymer, random copolymer and impact copolymer polypropylene to injection moulders, film producers, fibre spinners and compounders worldwide. Every consignment leaves with a batch-specific COA covering melt flow rate, type, additive package and mechanical properties, the current SDS and full export documentation.
Also known as: PP · Polypropene · PPH / PPR / PPC · Propylene polymer
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Price, lead time and a sample COA for Polypropylene, usually within one working day. We ship worldwide.
Request a Quote Email the DeskDocumentation
- Batch-specific COA (MFR, type, mechanical properties)
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
- Transport and export documents
- Third-party inspection on request
- Certificate of origin
What is Polypropylene?
Polypropylene is the polymer of propylene, made with Ziegler-Natta or metallocene catalysts that control the stereochemistry. Isotactic PP, where methyl groups sit on the same side of the chain, is the commercial material.
Three families cover almost all applications: homopolymer for stiffness and clarity, random copolymer with a little ethylene for clarity and impact, and impact copolymer with a rubber phase for low-temperature toughness.
Applications range as widely as any polymer: injection moulded parts, BOPP and cast film, non-woven fabric for hygiene, fibre and raffia, and automotive compounds.
PP is lighter than polyethylene, stiffer, and withstands higher temperature, which is why it dominates applications like hot-fill packaging and under-bonnet automotive parts.
Why polypropylene specifically
- Higher service temperature. Melting near 165 °C allows steam sterilisation and hot-fill applications that polyethylene cannot survive.
- Low density. At about 0.90 g/cm³ it is the lightest major commodity polymer, giving more parts per tonne.
- Family versatility. Homopolymer, random and impact copolymer cover stiffness, clarity and toughness from one chemistry.
- Excellent fatigue resistance. Living hinges survive millions of flex cycles, which no other commodity polymer manages as well.
How Polypropylene is Manufactured
Polypropylene is made by stereospecific catalytic polymerisation of propylene, usually in bulk loop or gas phase reactors.
- Propylene feed. Polymer-grade propylene at 99.5% or better, with ethylene comonomer for copolymer grades.
- Catalyst system. High-yield Ziegler-Natta catalysts with external donors control isotacticity; metallocenes give narrower distributions.
- Bulk loop polymerisation. Liquid propylene loop reactors operate at 30 to 40 bar and 70 °C.
- Gas phase copolymerisation. A second gas phase reactor introduces the ethylene-propylene rubber phase for impact copolymers.
- Degassing. Residual monomer is stripped from the polymer powder.
- Compounding and pelletising. Antioxidants, nucleating agents, clarifiers and other additives are added to the grade recipe.
Typical Commercial Specification
Figures below are representative of a general-purpose injection moulding homopolymer. Each grade has its own data sheet — tell us the application and we will send the matching one.
| Parameter | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Translucent to opaque pellets, free of contamination |
| Melt flow rate (230 °C / 2.16 kg) | 0.3 – 100 g/10 min depending on grade |
| Density | 0.900 – 0.910 g/cm³ |
| Type | Homopolymer, random copolymer or impact copolymer |
| Tensile strength at yield | Typically 25 – 38 MPa |
| Flexural modulus | Typically 1100 – 1800 MPa |
| Izod impact at 23 °C | To grade data sheet |
| Heat deflection temperature | Typically 85 – 110 °C at 0.45 MPa |
| Volatiles and ash | To grade, typically 0.05% and 0.03% max |
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Chemical formula | (C₃H₆)ₙ, isotactic |
| Appearance | Translucent to opaque white pellets |
| Density | 0.900 – 0.910 g/cm³ — the lightest commodity polymer |
| Melting point | About 160 to 168 °C for homopolymer |
| Crystallinity | Typically 40 to 60% |
| Water absorption | Negligible, under 0.02% |
| Chemical resistance | Excellent to acids, alkalis and polar solvents |
| Service temperature | Typically −10 to 100 °C; impact grades extend lower |
| Processing temperature | Typically 200 to 260 °C |
| UV sensitivity | Degrades under UV without stabilisation |
| Incompatibilities | Strong oxidisers; swelling by hydrocarbons at elevated temperature |
Behaviour in the process
PP has characteristic behaviours that come from its crystallinity and its tertiary carbon:
- Brittle below about 0 °C. Homopolymer loses impact strength at low temperature; impact copolymer grades address this with a rubber phase.
- UV sensitive. The tertiary hydrogen is vulnerable to oxidative attack, so outdoor grades need UV stabilisation.
- High shrinkage and warpage. Crystalline shrinkage is significant; nucleating agents improve dimensional consistency.
- Excellent hinge properties. Oriented crystallinity at a thin section gives living hinges that survive millions of cycles.
Polypropylene Families and Alternatives
Polypropylene is bought by family first and melt flow rate second, because the family sets the property balance.
| Material | Origin / type | When it is the right choice |
|---|---|---|
| Homopolymer PP | Propylene only | Stiffness, clarity and heat resistance — fibre, raffia, BOPP film, rigid mouldings |
| Random copolymer PP | Small ethylene content | Clarity and impact — transparent containers, pipe, hot-fill packaging |
| Impact copolymer PP | Rubber phase included | Low-temperature toughness — automotive, crates, industrial parts |
| HDPE | CAS 9002-88-4 | Better ESCR and low-temperature impact; lower stiffness and heat resistance |
| Metallocene PP | Single-site catalyst | Narrow distribution for fibre, film and clarity-critical applications |
Stated plainly: if the part sees cold, specify impact copolymer. If it must be clear, specify random copolymer or a clarified grade. Choosing on melt flow rate alone is the most common PP specification mistake.
Industries We Supply Polypropylene To
Polypropylene reaches more industries than any other commodity polymer.
Where Polypropylene is Used
Injection moulding and fibre take the largest shares, with film, non-wovens and automotive compounds behind them.
In injection moulding
PP's crystallisation on cooling drives both its stiffness and its shrinkage, typically 1.2 to 2%. Nucleating agents raise crystallisation temperature and give faster cycles with better dimensional stability; clarifiers do the same while keeping the part transparent. Grade selection is about matching flow to the part geometry and toughness to the service temperature.
In non-wovens and fibre
Spunbond and meltblown processes use very high melt flow rate grades, often 25 to 1200 g/10 min, produced either directly or by controlled rheology using peroxide during compounding. Consistency of melt flow rate and freedom from gels matter far more here than mechanical property data, because a single defect breaks the filament.
Need a specific grade, purity and packing format?
Tell us the grade, the family, melt flow rate and service temperature your part requires, the packing format you can receive and the annual quantity. We will come back with a price, a lead time, a sample COA and the full documentation set.
Quality Control & Testing
Every lot is released against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis with the grade's defining properties, so your incoming inspection can release against the actual material.
- Melt flow rate — at 230 °C and 2.16 kg, the primary processing indicator.
- Polymer type — homopolymer, random or impact copolymer, confirmed on every lot.
- Mechanical properties — tensile, flexural modulus and impact to the grade data sheet.
- Heat deflection temperature — for parts with a thermal requirement.
- Volatiles, ash and pellet appearance — confirming freedom from contamination.
- Additive package — antioxidant, nucleator, clarifier and UV stabiliser where specified.
Common Process Problems & Likely Causes
When polypropylene causes trouble, it is usually family mismatch, moulding conditions or UV degradation. This table is the shortcut our technical desk works through before anyone opens a complaint file.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Parts cracking in cold conditions | Homopolymer used where impact copolymer is needed | Polymer type against the service temperature |
| Warping or dimensional variation | Crystalline shrinkage and cooling non-uniformity | Mould cooling, gate design and nucleation of the grade |
| Part clarity poor | Grade is homopolymer or unclarified rather than clarified random | Polymer type and clarifier package |
| Yellowing or embrittlement outdoors | UV degradation of unstabilised resin | UV stabiliser package against the exposure |
| Filament breaks in fibre spinning | Gels, contamination or MFR variation | Pellet appearance, MFR consistency and filtration |
| Flow marks or short shots | Melt flow rate too low for the part geometry | MFR against part wall thickness and flow length |
Packaging, Storage & Shipping
- Standard packing. 25 kg bags, 500 to 1250 kg jumbo bags, octabins and bulk containers or silo trucks.
- Storage. Dry, covered warehousing away from direct sunlight; PP without UV stabilisation degrades on exposure.
- Temperature. Ambient storage; avoid prolonged exposure above 40 °C.
- Grade segregation. Keep homopolymer, random and impact copolymer strictly separated; they are visually indistinguishable.
- Conveying. Control velocity to limit fines, which cause gels in film and fibre.
- Contamination control. Clean lines and silos between grades, particularly before clarified or fibre grades.
- Shelf life. Typically 24 months in sealed bags in covered storage.
- Transport classification. Not classified as dangerous goods for transport.
Hazards & Safe Handling
Polypropylene is an inert polymer with no significant health hazard in normal handling. The practical concerns are molten polymer burns, pellet slip hazards and fume from overheating.
- Inert in normal handling. Not classified as hazardous. Pellets present no chemical risk in storage or transport.
- Molten polymer burns. Melt at 200 to 260 °C adheres to skin and causes severe burns; use proper PPE at the machine.
- Thermal decomposition fumes. Overheating releases hydrocarbons and irritating fumes; ventilate processing areas, especially at the high temperatures used for meltblown.
- Slip hazard. Spilled pellets are a serious slip hazard; clean up promptly.
- Dust and fines. Polypropylene dust is combustible in high concentration; maintain extraction and housekeeping.
- Environment. Pellet loss to the environment is a recognised marine litter source; containment at every transfer point is expected practice.
Regulatory & Compliance Notes
Polypropylene is unregulated for transport, with food contact, medical and automotive requirements applying by application. The notes below are orientation rather than legal advice.
- GHS classification. Not classified as hazardous.
- Transport. Not classified as dangerous goods. Standard packaged and bulk cargo documentation applies.
- Food contact. Food grades comply with EU 10/2011, FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 or equivalent, with declarations of compliance supplied.
- Medical grades. Non-wovens and medical mouldings require additional documentation including resin consistency commitments.
- Automotive specifications. OEM material specifications and emissions testing apply to interior compounds.
- Pellet loss prevention. Operation Clean Sweep and equivalent programmes set expectations for pellet containment at handling sites.
We Supply Polypropylene Worldwide
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and export partner, not a single-plant trader. We ship Polypropylene from India and from partner sources to customers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and North and South America, handling the export documentation, transport paperwork and freight so the material arrives ready to use.
- Incoterms. EXW, FOB, CIF, CFR and DAP quoted to suit your purchasing terms and freight arrangements.
- Ports. Regular shipments through Nhava Sheva (JNPT) and Mundra, with other ports arranged where routing and cargo rules allow.
- Documentation. Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, COA, SDS and the transport declaration issued as a complete set.
- Flexible volumes. From a pallet of bagged resin up to repeat bulk shipments on a supply contract.
- Supply continuity. Because we are independent of any one producer, a plant turnaround or a shipping disruption at one source does not have to become your stock-out.
Buying Polypropylene from Chelora
We are an independent sourcing and supply partner. For polypropylene that means settling three things at enquiry: the polymer family your service conditions require, the melt flow rate for your process, and whether food contact, medical or automotive documentation is needed.
- Documentation on every lot. Batch-specific COA (MFR, type, mechanical properties), plus SDS and the full transport paperwork.
- Analysis before commitment. Representative analysis shared ahead of a commercial order so your lab can qualify the material.
- Quantities. From a pallet of bagged resin through to full bulk shipments on contract supply.
- Grade matching. Homopolymer, random or impact copolymer at the melt flow rate and additive package your application requires.
- Inspection. Independent third-party inspection available at loading when the contract requires it.
- Related products. Propylene, High-Density Polyethylene, Linear Low-Density Polyethylene and other feedstocks alongside Polypropylene from one supplier.
How ordering works
- Send the enquiry. Product, grade or purity, quantity, destination port and the Incoterm you buy on. If you have a spec sheet, attach it — it saves a round trip.
- We quote. Price, lead time, packing format and a sample COA, normally within one working day.
- Qualify the supply. For first orders or critical applications, we share the analysis and handling documentation so your technical and safety teams can sign off before you commit.
- Confirm the order. Proforma invoice issued; payment terms agreed against the volume and the relationship.
- Allocation and QC. Material allocated and released against a batch-specific COA, with an independent inspection where the contract calls for it.
- Ship and document. Filled, labelled and loaded with the full export document set, and tracked through to arrival.
Polypropylene — Common Questions
The questions our technical desk is asked most often about Polypropylene. If yours isn't here, call or email and you will reach someone who knows the chemistry.
What is the CAS number of polypropylene?
The CAS number for polypropylene is 9003-07-0, and it is classified under HS code 3902.10. As a polymer it is exempt from REACH registration, though its monomer and additives are not.
What is polypropylene used for?
For injection moulded caps, closures, housewares, crates and automotive parts; BOPP packaging film; spunbond and meltblown non-wovens for hygiene and medical use; fibre, raffia and carpet backing; and PPR hot water pipe.
Do you supply polypropylene worldwide?
Yes. Chelora Chemicals supplies and exports polypropylene worldwide — across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, as well as throughout India, in bags, jumbo bags, octabins and bulk.
What is the difference between homopolymer, random and impact copolymer?
Homopolymer is propylene alone, giving stiffness, clarity and heat resistance. Random copolymer has a little ethylene for clarity and impact. Impact copolymer contains a rubber phase for low-temperature toughness. They behave very differently at the same melt flow rate.
How is polypropylene manufactured?
By stereospecific polymerisation of propylene over high-yield Ziegler-Natta catalysts with external donors, usually in bulk liquid loop reactors, with a second gas phase reactor adding the rubber phase for impact copolymer grades.
Why does polypropylene become brittle in cold weather?
Because homopolymer PP has a glass transition near 0 °C and loses impact strength below it. Impact copolymer grades include a dispersed ethylene-propylene rubber phase specifically to extend toughness to lower temperatures.
Is polypropylene food contact approved?
Specific grades are, under EU 10/2011, FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 and equivalent regimes. PP is widely used in hot-fill and microwaveable packaging because it tolerates higher temperatures than polyethylene.
Why does PP need UV stabilisation outdoors?
Because the tertiary hydrogen on every third carbon is vulnerable to oxidative attack initiated by UV light. Without a stabiliser package, unprotected PP yellows and embrittles within months of outdoor exposure.
Is polypropylene hazardous?
No. It is an inert polymer not classified as dangerous goods. The practical hazards are burns from molten polymer, fume from overheating at the high temperatures used in meltblown processing, and the slip hazard of spilled pellets.
How should polypropylene be stored?
In dry, covered warehousing away from direct sunlight, with the three families strictly separated — homopolymer, random and impact copolymer pellets are visually indistinguishable.
What is high melt flow PP used for?
Fibre, spunbond and meltblown non-wovens, where melt flow rates from 25 to over 1000 g/10 min are used. These are made either directly or by controlled rheology using peroxide during compounding.
What packing sizes are available?
25 kg bags, 500 to 1250 kg jumbo bags, octabins and bulk containers or silo trucks. Orders run from a pallet of bagged resin up to full bulk shipments.
Ready to source Polypropylene?
Send us your specification, grade and annual volume. You will get a price, a realistic lead time and a sample COA from someone who understands what the material has to do in your process — delivered anywhere in the world.