What exactly is polypropylene?
Polypropylene is a thermoplastic material produced from propylene monomers through a polymerisation process. The chemical structure of PP consists of long chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms linked by covalent bonds. The physical and mechanical properties of polypropylene include high strength, toughness, flexibility and resistance to many other chemicals.
Polypropylene can also be used with mineral fillers for the manufacture of KEGs. Compared to traditional metal KEGs, polypropylene designs are often lighter. However, they do not offer the same positive properties as a stainless steel KEG. For example, they are not completely gas-tight, which means that carbon dioxide can escape from beverages. Furthermore, the plastic cannot prevent the transfer of taste or odours. Although KEGs made of PP can be reused, they have a significantly shorter service life than their stainless steel counterparts.
The plastic is instead frequently used in the packaging industry. This includes the manufacture of containers, bottle caps and films. PP is also used in the automotive industry. Typical examples are bumpers, interior trim and other technical components. In addition, it is used in the medical sector for products such as syringes, sample containers and medical textiles.
This versatility in industries outside KEG manufacturing makes PP one of the most widely used plastics worldwide.
