{
  "spore": "profile",
  "id": "polypropylene",
  "spore_version": "0.2",
  "family": "polyolefins",
  "name": "Polypropylene",
  "abbreviation": "PP",
  "role": "thermoplastic for moulding, films and battery separators",
  "category": "polymers",
  "type": "polyolefins",
  "summary": "Polypropylene (PP) is a semicrystalline polyolefin, sold as a homopolymer or as a random copolymer with a second monomer. Two LyondellBasell grades read for this profile have a density of 0.90 g/cm3 and melt flow rates of 12 g/10 min (Moplen HP500N, homopolymer) and 25 g/10 min (Moplen RP348R, random copolymer) at 230 °C/2.16 kg. As a sample on the MISSE 2 experiment in low Earth orbit it had an atomic oxygen erosion yield of 2.68e-24 cm3/atom, close to the 3.36e-24 cm3/atom predicted by NASA. A 14 µm Celgard monolayer PP membrane is sold as a lithium battery separator with 43 % porosity and zero transverse shrinkage at 105 °C.\n",
  "best_for": "Light battery separators and moulded parts: a 14 µm Celgard PP1410 monolayer at 43 % porosity and 290 gf puncture strength (typical), and a 0.90 g/cm3 density in the LyondellBasell grades",
  "weakest_at": "Heat and atomic oxygen: heat deflection temperatures of 80 °C to 97 °C in the grades read, and an erosion yield of 2.68e-24 cm3/atom in low Earth orbit",
  "identity": {
    "formula": "(C3H6)n; repeat unit C3H6 as printed in the NASA TM polymer table",
    "cas": "9003-07-0",
    "designations": [],
    "source": "netzsch-pp-sds",
    "where": "Section 1.1 (product name Polypropylene, CAS-No. 9003-07-0) and Section 3.1; Anchor Packaging SDS Section 3 also prints CAS 9003-07-0 for Polypropylene at 100 % by weight"
  },
  "tags": {
    "environments": [
      "low-earth-orbit"
    ],
    "stresses": [
      "atomic-oxygen",
      "vacuum-and-outgassing"
    ],
    "applications": [
      "batteries",
      "electronics-and-chips"
    ]
  },
  "properties": [
    {
      "benchmark": "melt_flow_rate",
      "label": "Melt flow rate, Moplen HP500N (homopolymer)",
      "value": 12,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "g/10 min",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temperature": "230 °C",
        "load": "2.16 kg",
        "grade": "Moplen HP500N, homopolymer"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer product page",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "lyb-hp500n",
      "where": "Typical properties table, Melt Flow Rate row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Moplen HP500N, LyondellBasell product page (typical properties)",
        "id": "Product page, typical properties table",
        "url": "https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-HP500N/e8c2d3bb-d271-459f-a439-629a5d85a7da",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "density",
      "label": "Density, Moplen HP500N (homopolymer)",
      "value": 0.9,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "g/cm3",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Moplen HP500N, homopolymer",
        "temperature": "not printed on the page"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer product page; no test standard printed",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "lyb-hp500n",
      "where": "Typical properties table, Density row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Moplen HP500N, LyondellBasell product page (typical properties)",
        "id": "Product page, typical properties table",
        "url": "https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-HP500N/e8c2d3bb-d271-459f-a439-629a5d85a7da",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "flexural_modulus",
      "label": "Flexural modulus, Moplen HP500N",
      "value": 1480,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "MPa",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Moplen HP500N",
        "test": "not printed on the page"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer product page; no test standard printed",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "lyb-hp500n",
      "where": "Typical properties table, Flexural Modulus row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Moplen HP500N, LyondellBasell product page (typical properties)",
        "id": "Product page, typical properties table",
        "url": "https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-HP500N/e8c2d3bb-d271-459f-a439-629a5d85a7da",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "tensile_yield_strength",
      "label": "Tensile strength at yield, Moplen HP500N",
      "value": 34,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "MPa",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Moplen HP500N",
        "test": "not printed on the page"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer product page; no test standard printed",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "lyb-hp500n",
      "where": "Typical properties table, Tensile Strength at Yield row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Moplen HP500N, LyondellBasell product page (typical properties)",
        "id": "Product page, typical properties table",
        "url": "https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-HP500N/e8c2d3bb-d271-459f-a439-629a5d85a7da",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "izod_impact",
      "label": "Notched Izod impact strength, Moplen HP500N",
      "value": 25,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "J/m",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Moplen HP500N",
        "temperature": "23 °C"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer product page",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "lyb-hp500n",
      "where": "Typical properties table, Notched Izod Impact Strength row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Moplen HP500N, LyondellBasell product page (typical properties)",
        "id": "Product page, typical properties table",
        "url": "https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-HP500N/e8c2d3bb-d271-459f-a439-629a5d85a7da",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "heat_deflection_temperature",
      "label": "Deflection temperature under load, Moplen HP500N",
      "value": 97,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "°C",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Moplen HP500N",
        "load": "0.46 N/mm2"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer product page",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "lyb-hp500n",
      "where": "Typical properties table, Deflection Temperature Under Load row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Moplen HP500N, LyondellBasell product page (typical properties)",
        "id": "Product page, typical properties table",
        "url": "https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-HP500N/e8c2d3bb-d271-459f-a439-629a5d85a7da",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "melt_flow_rate",
      "label": "Melt flow rate, Moplen RP348R (random copolymer)",
      "value": 25,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "g/10 min",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temperature": "230 °C",
        "load": "2.16 kg",
        "grade": "Moplen RP348R, random copolymer"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer product page",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "lyb-rp348r",
      "where": "Typical properties table, Melt Flow Rate row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Moplen RP348R, LyondellBasell product page (typical properties)",
        "id": "Product page, typical properties table",
        "url": "https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-RP348R/aecfd785-14f8-4ea8-8b75-8672e262abe4",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "density",
      "label": "Density, Moplen RP348R (random copolymer)",
      "value": 0.9,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "g/cm3",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temperature": "23 °C",
        "grade": "Moplen RP348R, random copolymer"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer product page",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "lyb-rp348r",
      "where": "Typical properties table, Density (23 °C) row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Moplen RP348R, LyondellBasell product page (typical properties)",
        "id": "Product page, typical properties table",
        "url": "https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-RP348R/aecfd785-14f8-4ea8-8b75-8672e262abe4",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "tensile_modulus",
      "label": "Tensile modulus, Moplen RP348R",
      "value": 1150,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "MPa",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Moplen RP348R",
        "test": "not printed on the page"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer product page; no test standard printed",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "lyb-rp348r",
      "where": "Typical properties table, Tensile Modulus row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Moplen RP348R, LyondellBasell product page (typical properties)",
        "id": "Product page, typical properties table",
        "url": "https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-RP348R/aecfd785-14f8-4ea8-8b75-8672e262abe4",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "tensile_yield_strength",
      "label": "Tensile stress at yield, Moplen RP348R",
      "value": 30,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "MPa",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Moplen RP348R",
        "test": "not printed on the page"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer product page; no test standard printed",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "lyb-rp348r",
      "where": "Typical properties table, Tensile Stress at Yield row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Moplen RP348R, LyondellBasell product page (typical properties)",
        "id": "Product page, typical properties table",
        "url": "https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-RP348R/aecfd785-14f8-4ea8-8b75-8672e262abe4",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "vicat_softening_temperature",
      "label": "Vicat softening temperature (A50), Moplen RP348R",
      "value": 130,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "°C",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Moplen RP348R",
        "method_as_printed": "Vicat A50"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer product page",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "lyb-rp348r",
      "where": "Typical properties table, Vicat Softening Temperature (A50) row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Moplen RP348R, LyondellBasell product page (typical properties)",
        "id": "Product page, typical properties table",
        "url": "https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-RP348R/aecfd785-14f8-4ea8-8b75-8672e262abe4",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "heat_deflection_temperature",
      "label": "Heat deflection temperature B (0.45 MPa, unannealed), Moplen RP348R",
      "value": 80,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "°C",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Moplen RP348R",
        "load": "0.45 MPa",
        "annealing": "unannealed"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer product page",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "lyb-rp348r",
      "where": "Typical properties table, Heat Deflection Temperature B row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Moplen RP348R, LyondellBasell product page (typical properties)",
        "id": "Product page, typical properties table",
        "url": "https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-RP348R/aecfd785-14f8-4ea8-8b75-8672e262abe4",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "flexural_modulus",
      "label": "Flexural modulus, Moplen RP348N (random copolymer)",
      "value": 1050,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "MPa",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Moplen RP348N, random copolymer",
        "test": "not printed on the page"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer product page; no test standard printed",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "lyb-rp348n",
      "where": "Typical properties table, Flexural Modulus row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Moplen RP348N, LyondellBasell product page (typical properties)",
        "id": "Product page, typical properties table",
        "url": "https://lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-RP348N/b92d9cbe-872c-438a-bbe8-18632615e9f0",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "izod_impact",
      "label": "Notched Izod impact strength, Moplen RP348N (random copolymer)",
      "value": 70,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "J/m",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Moplen RP348N, random copolymer",
        "temperature": "23 °C"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer product page",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "lyb-rp348n",
      "where": "Typical properties table, Notched Izod Impact Strength row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Moplen RP348N, LyondellBasell product page (typical properties)",
        "id": "Product page, typical properties table",
        "url": "https://lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-RP348N/b92d9cbe-872c-438a-bbe8-18632615e9f0",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "melting_point",
      "label": "Melting point / melting range, polypropylene",
      "value": 140,
      "value_high": 170,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "°C",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "form": "solid plastic granules, white",
        "product": "Polypropylene, CAS 9003-07-0"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in the product safety data sheet, physical and chemical properties block",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "netzsch-pp-sds",
      "where": "Section 9, Melting point / Melting range row (Appearance and Change in condition block)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "NETZSCH Product Safety Data Sheet, Polypropylene, version 1.1",
        "id": "CAS 9003-07-0, revision 28.02.2023",
        "url": "https://analyzing-testing.netzsch.com/_Resources/Persistent/f/0/3/3/f0331bad3b5d235718c8474ba9e2a5ef382773a3/PSDS%20E%20Polypropylene%201.1%20%281%29.pdf",
        "year": 2023,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "supplier SDS, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield",
      "label": "Atomic oxygen erosion yield, polypropylene (MISSE 2)",
      "value": 2.68e-24,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "cm3/atom",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "platform": "ISS, MISSE 2 PEACE, low Earth orbit",
        "table": "Table I, MISSE 2 PEACE polymers erosion yield data"
      },
      "method": "Measured on MISSE 2 flight samples and listed in NASA TM-2008-215490, Table I",
      "status": "flight",
      "source": "nasa-tm-2008-215490",
      "where": "Table I (MISSE 2 PEACE polymers erosion yield data), row Polypropylene, PP",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit",
        "id": "NASA/TM-2008-215490 (Banks, de Groh and Backus, 2008), NTRS 20090011780",
        "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780",
        "year": 2008,
        "kind": "report",
        "license": "NASA public document"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield",
      "label": "Atomic oxygen erosion yield, polypropylene (predicted)",
      "value": 3.36e-24,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "cm3/atom",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "predictive tool, NASA TM-2008-215490"
      },
      "method": "Predicted by the NASA predictive tool; listed in Table VII next to the MISSE 2 measured value",
      "status": "prediction",
      "source": "nasa-tm-2008-215490",
      "where": "Table VII (comparison of predicted and actual measured atomic oxygen erosion yields), row Polypropylene, PP",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit",
        "id": "NASA/TM-2008-215490 (Banks, de Groh and Backus, 2008), NTRS 20090011780",
        "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780",
        "year": 2008,
        "kind": "report",
        "license": "NASA public document"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "thickness",
      "label": "Thickness, Celgard PP1410 monolayer",
      "value": 14,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "µm",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "product": "Celgard PP1410, 14 µm monolayer microporous membrane (PP)"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer datasheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "celgard-pp1410",
      "where": "Technical Data (Typical Properties) table, Basic Film Properties, Thickness row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Celgard PP1410 Monolayer Microporous Membrane (PP), typical properties",
        "id": "Celgard PP1410 data sheet, 2022-04",
        "url": "https://www.celgard.com/storage/components/pp1410_com_data_2022-04_20079.pdf",
        "year": 2022,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer datasheet, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "gurley",
      "label": "Gurley (JIS), Celgard PP1410",
      "value": 185,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "s",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "product": "Celgard PP1410",
        "method_as_printed": "Gurley (JIS)"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer datasheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "celgard-pp1410",
      "where": "Technical Data (Typical Properties) table, Gurley (JIS) row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Celgard PP1410 Monolayer Microporous Membrane (PP), typical properties",
        "id": "Celgard PP1410 data sheet, 2022-04",
        "url": "https://www.celgard.com/storage/components/pp1410_com_data_2022-04_20079.pdf",
        "year": 2022,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer datasheet, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "porosity",
      "label": "Porosity (calculated), Celgard PP1410",
      "value": 43,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "%",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "product": "Celgard PP1410",
        "basis": "calculated, as printed"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer datasheet, marked calculated",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "celgard-pp1410",
      "where": "Technical Data (Typical Properties) table, Porosity (calculated) row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Celgard PP1410 Monolayer Microporous Membrane (PP), typical properties",
        "id": "Celgard PP1410 data sheet, 2022-04",
        "url": "https://www.celgard.com/storage/components/pp1410_com_data_2022-04_20079.pdf",
        "year": 2022,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer datasheet, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "puncture_strength",
      "label": "Puncture strength (typical), Celgard PP1410",
      "value": 290,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "gf",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "product": "Celgard PP1410",
        "minimum_as_printed": "200 gf"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer datasheet (minimum 200 gf printed alongside)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "celgard-pp1410",
      "where": "Technical Data (Typical Properties) table, Puncture Strength row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Celgard PP1410 Monolayer Microporous Membrane (PP), typical properties",
        "id": "Celgard PP1410 data sheet, 2022-04",
        "url": "https://www.celgard.com/storage/components/pp1410_com_data_2022-04_20079.pdf",
        "year": 2022,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer datasheet, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "thermal_shrinkage",
      "label": "TD shrinkage at 105 °C, 1 hour (typical), Celgard PP1410",
      "value": 0,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "%",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temperature": "105 °C",
        "time": "1 hour",
        "product": "Celgard PP1410"
      },
      "method": "Typical value printed on the manufacturer datasheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "celgard-pp1410",
      "where": "Technical Data (Typical Properties) table, TD Shrinkage row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Celgard PP1410 Monolayer Microporous Membrane (PP), typical properties",
        "id": "Celgard PP1410 data sheet, 2022-04",
        "url": "https://www.celgard.com/storage/components/pp1410_com_data_2022-04_20079.pdf",
        "year": 2022,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "manufacturer datasheet, linked not reproduced"
      }
    }
  ],
  "corrosion": [
    {
      "environment": "UV exposure in the laboratory, 365 nm lamp",
      "headline": "Light stabilisers protect PP outdoors, and a 2020 study tested two HALS and one nano-ZnO UV absorber in PP films.",
      "effect": "The study exposed films with 0.5 to 1.25 wt % additive in 40 phr PP for up to 6 weeks at 16.9 mW/cm2, a dose the authors put at 121 times Texas sunlight. The 0-week elongation at break is 279 to 299 mm. The tables read give no retention figure after exposure.",
      "rating": "unknown",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "PP films, laboratory UV lamp; not a service test",
        "reference": "Brostow et al. 2020, Table 1 and Section 2.4"
      },
      "source": "brostow-2020-uv",
      "where": "Section 2.4 and Table 4, Section 3.2"
    },
    {
      "environment": "Temperatures above 100 C in service",
      "headline": "PP is liable to chain degradation above 100 C, and oxidation attacks the tertiary carbon.",
      "effect": "Wikipedia states that PP is liable to chain degradation from exposure to temperatures above 100 °C, and that oxidation usually occurs at the tertiary carbon centres, breaking the chain by reaction with oxygen.",
      "rating": "unknown",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "general statement, no test condition given in the source"
      },
      "source": "wikipedia-polypropylene",
      "where": "Chemical and physical properties, Degradation"
    },
    {
      "environment": "Long-term service with UV and oxygen exposure",
      "headline": "Antioxidants and UV-absorbing additives are the stated protection for PP.",
      "effect": "Wikipedia states that PP may be protected by various polymer stabilisers, including UV-absorbing additives and anti-oxidants. Brostow et al. 2020 state that HALS act by inhibiting degradation after free radicals form, rather than by absorbing UV radiation.",
      "rating": "unknown",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "general statement; the HALS mechanism is a statement in the paper"
      },
      "source": "brostow-2020-uv",
      "where": "Section 1"
    },
    {
      "environment": "Below 0 C",
      "headline": "PP becomes brittle below 0 C.",
      "effect": "Wikipedia states that below 0 °C, PP becomes brittle. The page gives no glass transition value.",
      "rating": "unknown",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "general statement, no test condition given in the source"
      },
      "source": "wikipedia-polypropylene",
      "where": "Chemical and physical properties, Thermal properties"
    }
  ],
  "risks": {
    "hazards": [
      {
        "text": "Classification according to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 is printed as None, and the labelling is printed as None. PBT and vPvB are printed as not applicable.",
        "ghs": [],
        "source": "netzsch-pp-sds",
        "where": "Sections 2.1 and 2.2"
      },
      {
        "text": "Anchor Packaging states the product is an article and is exempt from GHS labelling and SDS classification. Signal word, pictograms and hazard phrases are printed as Not Applicable.",
        "ghs": [],
        "source": "anchor-pp-sds",
        "where": "Opening statement and Section 2"
      }
    ],
    "failure_risks": [
      {
        "mode": "Atomic oxygen erosion in low Earth orbit",
        "trigger": "Exposure of a polypropylene part to atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit, as on the MISSE 2 flight",
        "consequence": "Surface erosion at a yield of 2.68e-24 cm3/atom as measured on MISSE 2, and 3.36e-24 cm3/atom predicted by NASA.",
        "severity": "moderate",
        "source": "nasa-tm-2008-215490",
        "where": "Table I and Table VII"
      }
    ],
    "side_effects": [],
    "handling": [
      {
        "text": "The product is a solid plastic granule; the SDS prints no classification and no special hazard for handling.",
        "source": "netzsch-pp-sds"
      }
    ],
    "mitigations": []
  },
  "uses": [
    {
      "application": "batteries",
      "device": "Microporous separator membrane in lithium battery cells",
      "example": "Celgard PP1410, a 14 µm monolayer microporous PP membrane for high power lithium battery systems. The datasheet lists zero TD shrinkage as a benefit for reduced internal shorting.",
      "source": "celgard-pp1410",
      "where": "Product Name and Description; Primary Applications; Product Benefits"
    },
    {
      "application": "electronics-and-chips",
      "device": "Polymer sample on a space flight experiment",
      "example": "Polypropylene on the MISSE 2 PEACE tray, flown on the ISS in low Earth orbit, with erosion yield listed in NASA TM-2008-215490.",
      "source": "nasa-tm-2008-215490",
      "where": "Table I"
    }
  ],
  "supply": [
    {
      "subject": "Propylene (monomer for PP)",
      "producers": [],
      "critical_lists": [],
      "substitutes": [],
      "source": "wikipedia-propylene",
      "where": "Market; Uses; Steam cracking; Fluid catalytic cracking; Other commercialized methods"
    },
    {
      "subject": "Polypropylene (global output)",
      "abundance": "Producers named in the source (no country shares given): Braskem; Reliance Industries; ExxonMobil; Borouge.",
      "producers": [],
      "critical_lists": [],
      "substitutes": [],
      "source": "plasticpractical-pp-2022",
      "where": "Key Takeaways and FAQ; producers named in the text with no tonnages"
    },
    {
      "subject": "Polypropylene (rank among plastics)",
      "producers": [],
      "critical_lists": [],
      "substitutes": [],
      "source": "wikipedia-polypropylene",
      "where": "Lead"
    }
  ],
  "media": [],
  "documents": [
    {
      "title": "LyondellBasell product page, Moplen HP500N (homopolymer)",
      "type": "datasheet",
      "url": "https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-HP500N/e8c2d3bb-d271-459f-a439-629a5d85a7da"
    },
    {
      "title": "LyondellBasell product page, Moplen RP348R (random copolymer)",
      "type": "datasheet",
      "url": "https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-RP348R/aecfd785-14f8-4ea8-8b75-8672e262abe4"
    },
    {
      "title": "LyondellBasell product page, Moplen RP348N (random copolymer)",
      "type": "datasheet",
      "url": "https://lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-RP348N/b92d9cbe-872c-438a-bbe8-18632615e9f0"
    },
    {
      "title": "Banks, de Groh and Backus, Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit, NASA/TM-2008-215490",
      "type": "report",
      "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780",
      "year": 2008
    },
    {
      "title": "Celgard PP1410 Monolayer Microporous Membrane datasheet",
      "type": "datasheet",
      "url": "https://www.celgard.com/storage/components/pp1410_com_data_2022-04_20079.pdf",
      "year": 2022
    },
    {
      "title": "NETZSCH product safety data sheet, Polypropylene, version 1.1",
      "type": "sds",
      "url": "https://analyzing-testing.netzsch.com/_Resources/Persistent/f/0/3/3/f0331bad3b5d235718c8474ba9e2a5ef382773a3/PSDS%20E%20Polypropylene%201.1%20%281%29.pdf",
      "year": 2023
    },
    {
      "title": "Anchor Packaging SDS, Rigid Polypropylene (2019)",
      "type": "sds",
      "url": "https://anchorpackaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/AnchorPackaging-SDS-Rigid-Polypropylene-2019.pdf",
      "year": 2019
    },
    {
      "title": "NIST Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions, carbon and hydrogen",
      "type": "database",
      "url": "https://physics.nist.gov/cgi-bin/Compositions/stand_alone.pl?ele=C&all=all&ascii=html"
    },
    {
      "title": "Brostow, Lu, Gencel and Osmanson, Effects of UV Stabilizers on Polypropylene Outdoors, Materials (Basel) 13(7), 1626",
      "type": "paper",
      "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7178429/",
      "year": 2020
    }
  ],
  "gaps": [
    "Polypropylene copolymer density and melting point from a manufacturer datasheet: the RP348N page prints no density, and no melting point was printed on the RP348R page.",
    "Celgard PP1410 is a monolayer separator and a datasheet for a PP product of the 2500 family or a 25 µm grade was not read: the Celgard 3419S/3420 datasheet PDF could not be read.",
    "Electronics use (dielectric, circuit, packaging film): no sourced property value was read in this run.",
    "Chemical resistance of PP (solvents, acids, bases) was not read on a fetched page in this run.",
    "Producer tonnages for PP and propylene were not found on a primary source. The producer names come from a market page with no figures, and the 2022 global total is uncited.",
    "UV ageing: no retention of tensile strength or elongation after UV exposure was read; the Brostow et al. 2020 tables give 0-week values only.",
    "Supply and producers: no USGS or market source was read for polypropylene.",
    "Hazard text of the Nayara Energy homopolymer sheet (Flammable Solid Category 1) was not opened, so it is not recorded; the IRPC SDS (403) and Sigma-Aldrich pages could not be read.",
    "No test standard (ISO or ASTM number) is printed on the LyondellBasell typical-property tables, so conditions for density, modulus, yield and HDT are as far as the pages state.",
    "No outgassing, total mass loss or UV, radiation or thermal-cycling data for polypropylene in space was read in this run.",
    "Bulk density of 400 to 620 g/cm3 printed in the NETZSCH SDS is a powder property and is not recorded as a material density."
  ],
  "story": {
    "why": "Polypropylene is a light, semicrystalline plastic. The LyondellBasell homopolymer Moplen HP500N has a density of 0.90 g/cm3 and a melt flow rate of 12 g/10 min at 230 °C/2.16 kg. The random copolymer Moplen RP348R has a melt flow rate of 25 g/10 min and a density of 0.90 g/cm3 at 23 °C. Its use as a battery separator is shown by the Celgard PP1410 monolayer, a 14 µm membrane with 43 % porosity.",
    "uses": [],
    "can_do": [
      {
        "label": "Light and stiff enough",
        "line": "The homopolymer HP500N has a flexural modulus of 1480 MPa and a tensile strength at yield of 34 MPa, as printed on the product page. The copolymer RP348N has a flexural modulus of 1050 MPa.",
        "scope": "material",
        "value": "1480 MPa flexural modulus"
      },
      {
        "label": "Hold a separator shape",
        "line": "The Celgard PP1410 datasheet prints 0 % transverse-direction shrinkage at 105 °C for 1 hour, and a puncture strength of 290 gf typical (200 gf minimum).",
        "benchmark": "thermal_shrinkage",
        "scope": "material",
        "value": "0 % TD shrinkage at 105 °C"
      },
      {
        "label": "Survive in orbit",
        "line": "NASA lists a MISSE 2 erosion yield for polypropylene of 2.68e-24 cm3/atom, and predicts 3.36e-24 cm3/atom in its Table VII.",
        "benchmark": "atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield",
        "scope": "material",
        "value": "2.68e-24 cm3/atom"
      }
    ],
    "compare": "The sheet and datasheet values here are for different products, so read the table rows as examples, not a ranking. In this polymers in this site's profile set use different grades and test conditions, so they cannot be ranked from these values.",
    "compare_rows": [
      {
        "label": "Density",
        "benchmark": "density",
        "scope": "material"
      },
      {
        "label": "Erosion yield",
        "benchmark": "atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield",
        "scope": "material"
      },
      {
        "label": "Thickness",
        "benchmark": "thickness",
        "scope": "material"
      }
    ],
    "handling": [
      "Specify the grade, since the homopolymer and copolymer differ in modulus and heat deflection.",
      "Check the current supplier SDS for each grade before handling, since classification differs between the SDSs read.",
      "Treat the Celgard and LyondellBasell values as typical, not as specification limits, as the sources state."
    ],
    "good_for": [
      "Battery separators: a 14 µm monolayer at 43 % porosity and 0 % TD shrinkage at 105 °C (Celgard PP1410).",
      "Light moulded parts: 0.90 g/cm3 density in both LyondellBasell grades read.",
      "Known atomic oxygen behaviour: 2.68e-24 cm3/atom on MISSE 2, measured in low Earth orbit."
    ],
    "watch_out": [
      "Heat: the heat deflection temperature is 80 °C for RP348R and 97 °C for HP500N, so PP softens well below its melting range of 140 to 170 °C under load.",
      "Atomic oxygen erodes PP at 2.68e-24 cm3/atom, so exterior use needs protection or a rate allowance.",
      "No outgassing, radiation or UV test for PP in space was found, so only the erosion yield is recorded.",
      "Copolymer density and melting point from a datasheet were not found, and the SDS melting range is not a datasheet value."
    ],
    "verdict": "Polypropylene is a light plastic with a density of 0.90 g/cm3 in the grades read, a 14 µm separator with 43 % porosity and 0 % TD shrinkage at 105 °C, and a MISSE 2 erosion yield of 2.68e-24 cm3/atom in low Earth orbit. Its heat deflection of 80 to 97 °C limits use under load, and this profile has no sourced electronics or outgassing values.",
    "recipe": {
      "line": "Polypropylene is made by chain-growth polymerisation of the monomer propylene (CH2=CH-CH3). The repeat unit is -[CH2-CH(CH3)]-, a head-to-tail chain with a methyl group on alternating carbons. Heterogeneous catalysts are prepared from TiCl4 with an MgCl2 support, and syndiotactic PP is made with metallocene catalysts.",
      "parts": [
        {
          "name": "Carbon",
          "symbol": "C",
          "role": "Three carbons per repeat unit: two in the chain and one in the methyl group.",
          "atoms": 3,
          "share_note": "atomic_weight [12.0096, 12.0116]"
        },
        {
          "name": "Hydrogen",
          "symbol": "H",
          "role": "Six hydrogens per repeat unit, filling the chain and methyl sites.",
          "atoms": 6,
          "share_note": "atomic_weight [1.007 84, 1.008 11]"
        }
      ]
    },
    "risk_groups": [
      {
        "title": "For people",
        "lead": "The SDS pages read here classify polypropylene as not hazardous under EU rules.",
        "points": [
          {
            "label": "Classification",
            "line": "The NETZSCH SDS prints the EU CLP classification and labelling as None, and the Anchor SDS treats the product as an article exempt from GHS labelling."
          },
          {
            "label": "Handling",
            "line": "The product is a solid granule with a melting range of 140 to 170 °C, as printed in the NETZSCH SDS."
          }
        ],
        "level": 1,
        "verdict": "Not classified in two SDSs"
      },
      {
        "title": "If it fails",
        "lead": "The failure route in these sources is erosion in orbit, measured on one flight sample.",
        "points": [
          {
            "label": "Atomic oxygen",
            "line": "On MISSE 2 the erosion yield was 2.68e-24 cm3/atom, against 3.36e-24 cm3/atom predicted. Both values come from the same NASA report."
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "updated": "2026-10-18",
  "review": {
    "status": "draft",
    "method": "assistant",
    "checked_values": 22,
    "unreachable": 6,
    "caveats": 6,
    "note": "Values were read by an AI assistant on 2026-10-18 from the pages named in each entry. NASA Table I and Table VII were read from the text of the NTRS PDF. Unreachable: Celgard 3419S and 2500 datasheets, IRPC SDS (403), Braskem 6D83GA (404), PubChem polypropylene record (captcha), Anchor SDS fields beyond Section 2 and 3 were read from its text. Caveats: LyondellBasell values are typical with no test standard printed; HP500N and RP348R density are given without a test standard; the separator values are one manufacturer's typical values for a 14 um product; the erosion yield is a flight value for one sample with its exposure time not read; the melting range is a SDS value and not a datasheet value."
  },
  "sources": {
    "nist-atomic-weights": {
      "title": "NIST Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions for All Elements (C and H rows)",
      "id": "NIST standard atomic weight table: C [12.0096, 12.0116]; H [1.007 84, 1.008 11]",
      "url": "https://physics.nist.gov/cgi-bin/Compositions/stand_alone.pl?ele=C&all=all&ascii=html",
      "kind": "database",
      "license": "US government data"
    },
    "wikipedia-polypropylene": {
      "title": "Polypropylene, Wikipedia",
      "id": "Polypropylene article, Chemical and physical properties",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypropylene",
      "kind": "web",
      "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0, linked not reproduced"
    },
    "wikipedia-propylene": {
      "title": "Propylene, Wikipedia",
      "id": "Propylene article, Market and production sections",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propylene",
      "kind": "web",
      "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0, linked not reproduced"
    },
    "brostow-2020-uv": {
      "title": "Effects of UV Stabilizers on Polypropylene Outdoors",
      "id": "Brostow, Lu, Gencel and Osmanson, Materials (Basel) 13(7), 1626",
      "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7178429/",
      "year": 2020,
      "kind": "paper",
      "license": "open access article, linked not reproduced"
    },
    "plasticpractical-pp-2022": {
      "title": "Global Production: How Much Polypropylene Is Produced Each Year?",
      "id": "Plastic Practical article, FAQ and Key Takeaways (no primary source cited)",
      "url": "https://plasticpractical.com/global-production-how-much-polypropylene-is-produced-each-year/",
      "kind": "web",
      "license": "web article, linked not reproduced"
    },
    "lyb-hp500n": {
      "title": "Moplen HP500N, LyondellBasell product page (typical properties)",
      "id": "Product page, typical properties table",
      "url": "https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-HP500N/e8c2d3bb-d271-459f-a439-629a5d85a7da",
      "year": 2026,
      "kind": "datasheet",
      "license": "manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced"
    },
    "lyb-rp348r": {
      "title": "Moplen RP348R, LyondellBasell product page (typical properties)",
      "id": "Product page, typical properties table",
      "url": "https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-RP348R/aecfd785-14f8-4ea8-8b75-8672e262abe4",
      "year": 2026,
      "kind": "datasheet",
      "license": "manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced"
    },
    "lyb-rp348n": {
      "title": "Moplen RP348N, LyondellBasell product page (typical properties)",
      "id": "Product page, typical properties table",
      "url": "https://lyondellbasell.com/en/polymers/p/Moplen-RP348N/b92d9cbe-872c-438a-bbe8-18632615e9f0",
      "year": 2026,
      "kind": "datasheet",
      "license": "manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced"
    },
    "nasa-tm-2008-215490": {
      "title": "Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit",
      "id": "NASA/TM-2008-215490 (Banks, de Groh and Backus, 2008), NTRS 20090011780",
      "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780",
      "year": 2008,
      "kind": "report",
      "license": "NASA public document"
    },
    "celgard-pp1410": {
      "title": "Celgard PP1410 Monolayer Microporous Membrane (PP), typical properties",
      "id": "Celgard PP1410 data sheet, 2022-04",
      "url": "https://www.celgard.com/storage/components/pp1410_com_data_2022-04_20079.pdf",
      "year": 2022,
      "kind": "datasheet",
      "license": "manufacturer datasheet, linked not reproduced"
    },
    "netzsch-pp-sds": {
      "title": "NETZSCH Product Safety Data Sheet, Polypropylene, version 1.1",
      "id": "CAS 9003-07-0, revision 28.02.2023",
      "url": "https://analyzing-testing.netzsch.com/_Resources/Persistent/f/0/3/3/f0331bad3b5d235718c8474ba9e2a5ef382773a3/PSDS%20E%20Polypropylene%201.1%20%281%29.pdf",
      "year": 2023,
      "kind": "datasheet",
      "license": "supplier SDS, linked not reproduced"
    },
    "anchor-pp-sds": {
      "title": "Anchor Packaging Safety Data Sheet, Rigid Polypropylene",
      "id": "SDS, 2019 (file dated 2021-07 on server)",
      "url": "https://anchorpackaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/AnchorPackaging-SDS-Rigid-Polypropylene-2019.pdf",
      "year": 2019,
      "kind": "datasheet",
      "license": "supplier SDS, linked not reproduced"
    }
  },
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "url": "https://spacemushroom.com/profiles/polypropylene/"
}