Polypropylene applications by product family

Homopolymer
Homopolymer (HP) offers high stiffness and relatively high heat resistance. ExxonMobil offers products in a broad range of molecular weights (MW) or melt flow rates (MFR). Additionally, ExxonMobil PP technology offers the ability to tailor molecular weight distribution (MWD), crystallinity and crystallinity distribution (CD) to enhance these products’ suitability to a variety of applications and conversion processes. These include food packaging film, woven bags and fine denier fibers for woven and nonwoven fabrics; and injection molding.

Impact copolymer
Impact copolymer (ICP) is a two-phase system with polypropylene homopolymer as the matrix phase and ethylene-propylene rubber as the dispersed phase. ICPs provide a balance of stiffness and low-temperature impact strength, which is dependent on the level and composition of the dispersed phase. By controlling the content and characteristics of each phase, product designers can tailor the final product properties to match the requirements of specific end-use applications.

ExxonMobil ICPs offer an industry-leading impact resistance-stiffness balance that’s the choice of many converters. ICPs are typically used in durable goods applications such as automotive parts, appliance parts (large and small) and products such as storage boxes, materials-handling containers and rigid packaging.

Random copolymer
Random copolymer (RCP), as opposed to an impact copolymer, is a single-phase system made by polymerizing low levels of ethylene with propylene, where the ethylene monomer is incorporated randomly along the polymer chain.

RCP offers unique properties, such as clarity and lower melting point, that are not possible with HP or ICP. By controlling the amount of ethylene co-monomer added, product properties can be fine-tuned to the needs of a particular application.

The ExxonMobil PP process offers RCP up to four weight percent ethylene and the ability to tailor both the molecular weight distribution and crystallinity distribution. Typical uses include heat seal films, blow-molded bottles and injection-molded parts.