How to Produce Polypropylene?

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



Structure of PP Monomer
C3H6

Ziegler-Natta Polymerization

Or Metallocene Catalysis


Structure of Polypropylene
(C3H6)n



Upon polymerization, PP can form three basic chain structures depending on the position of the methyl groups:

·         Atactic (aPP) - Irregular methyl group (CH3) arrangement

·         Isotactic (iPP) – Methyl groups (CH3) arranged on one side of the carbon chain

·         Syndiotactic (sPP) - Alternating methyl group (CH3) arrangement