Polypropylene Plastic Extrusions

Material Name: Polypropylene (PP)

Polypropylene (PP) is a versatile thermoplastic polymer that is often the chosen material for plastic extrusions due to its low cost, heat resistance, flexibility, customizability and strength. Available as a natural colored, colorable compound.

Polypropylene (PP) #5 Plastic Extrusions

PP (Polypropylene) #5 is a widely used polyolefin, resistant to cracking, acids and organic solvents, with good dielectric properties.

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Common Applications

  • Luggage
  • Microwavable food containers
  • Cutting boards
  • Window components
  • Fodder systems
  • Medical applications.

Advantages of Polypropylene

  • Low Cost of Extrusion (relatively inexpensive material)
  • High Flexural Strength (due to its semi-crystalline nature)
  • Low Coefficient of Thermal Expansion 

Polypropylene (PP) characteristics

  • Increased toughness over Polyethylene (PE) #4
  • Max temperature: 180 – 240 °F (PP #5 doesn’t melt until about 320 °F.)
  • Offers excellent electrical and heat resistance


The two main grades of polypropylene used for plastic extrusions are homo-polymer and co-polymer. Polypropylene co-polymers are slightly softer than homo-polymers, but still tend to be more durable. Fillers boost stiffness to be competitive with other polymeric materials, extending use and versatility.

  • Homo-polymer — strong stiff plastic that can be welded and offers excellent fatigue resistance
  • Co-polymer — tends to be more durable offering better impact and stress resistance (more suitable for uses at lower temperatures)

Custom Plastic Extrusion

Whether its extruded polypropylene or any number of different plastics, choosing the perfect material for a new extrusion project can be an intimidating task. Intek works closely with industry-leading material manufacturers to offer you many different thermoplastic compound options to meet your project’s needs. And Intek Plastics’ tool and die team applies their knowledge and expertise with the most advanced CAD/CAM software, CNC machining and the latest in EDM technology to custom build the highest quality tools. They’ll work with you to literally shape your ideas and take them from concept to production.

Capabilities

With over 30 production lines, we can manufacture rigid PVC extrusions 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, allowing us to scale production to complete large orders of any complexity. And our extensive extrusion experience in pellet and powder compounds, as well as our advanced cooling capabilities in water, air and vacuum sizing, allow us to succeed in jobs of any shape or size. We serve a wide range of OEMs with orders from 5,000 to 15,000,000 feet.

Polyethylene Plastic Properties

The information provided above is based on typical values, and is believed to be reliable. No warranty is given as to the suitability of the product for a particular application. Determination of the suitability of this product for any use is solely the responsibility of the user.

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Work with Intek

Did you know that a whopping 85% of the cost of custom plastic extrusions are determined by the design and material? That’s why it’s important to work with an PVC extruder like Intek who will work hand-in-glove with you and design a high-quality product at the lowest total cost. We start by gaining a deep understanding of your needs. Armed with that information, an Intek project engineer guides you through material selection, highlights critical design considerations and helps develop the most cost-effective solution. This hands-on, knowledge-driven approach keeps your product and business a step ahead of the competition. We’re happy to walk you through the rigid PVC selection process.