Polypropylene vs Polyethylene – Comparison

Polyethylene and Polypropylene are very similar as far as physical properties.

Polypropylene Polyethylene
 Monomer of polypropylene is propylene
 It can be produced optically clear  Monomer of polyethylene is ethylene
 It is lighter in weight  Polyethylene can only be made
 PP exhibits a high resistance to cracking, translucent like a milk jug
acids, organic solvents and electrolytes  Its physical properties allow it to stand up
 It has high melting point and good better in cold temperatures, particularly
dielectric properties when using it as signs
 PP is non-toxic  It is a good electrical insulator
 It is stiffer and resistant to chemicals and  PE offers good tracking resistance
organic solvents compared to  Polyethylene is sturdy as compared to
polyethylene Polypropylene
 PP is more rigid than polyethylene

How is PP Made?

Who Invented Polypropylene? Polypropylene was first polymerized by German chemist

named Karl Rehn and an Italian chemist named Giulio Natta to a crystalline isotactic polymer
in 1954. This discovery soon led to a large-scale production of polypropylene starting in 1957
by the Italian firm Montecatini.

Syndiotactic polypropylene was also first synthesized by Natta and his coworkers.

These days, polypropylene is made from polymerization of propene monomer (an

unsaturated organic compound - chemical formula C3H6) by:

 Ziegler-Natta polymerization, or
 Metallocene catalysis polymerization

Ziegler-Natta
Polymerization

Structure of PP Structure of
Or Metallocene Catalysis
Monomer Polypropylene
C3H6 (C3H6)n
Upon polymerization, PP can form three basic chain structures depending on the position of
the methyl groups: