What is Polyolefin?
Polyolefin is the largest class of organic thermoplastic polymers. Polyolefins are non-polar, odorless, nonporous materials. As polyolefin materials are used in consumer goods, structural plastics, food packaging and industrial products, they are also called commodity thermoplastics. The term polyolefin means “oil-like,” and refers to the oily or waxy texture of this class of plastic resins. Polyolefin is more commonly referred to as polyalkene, although polyolefin is still a common term in organic chemistry and the petrochemical industry.
Polyolefin is also a term used to refer to plastic shrink wrap. Polyolefin shrink wrap is a thermoplastic material that expands when heated to lower temperatures relative to other thermoplastics. The material retains its odorless, nonporous properties as it heats and cools making polyolefin shrink wrap an ideal material in food packaging. Polyolefin is also used in packaging of higher-end consumer goods like CDs or electronics as it keeps the goods safe from moisture, dust, and static.
At the molecular level, polyolefin substances are created by the polymerization of a simple olefin. Simple olefins, also known as alkenes, are organic hydrocarbons comprised of one double-bonded pair of carbon atoms and four hydrogen atoms. The simplest alkene is CnH2n. The other types of more complex olefins include ethylene, propylene, the butenes and butadiene. All natural olefins are derived from oil and natural gas.
Polyolefin materials are comprised of only carbon and hydrogen atoms. The double-bond carbon atoms form the core of the molecule. Polyolefin materials such as poly-alpha-olefin, polybutene, polyethylene and polypropylene have more complex olefin branches that are bonded to the double-bonded carbon molecules.
Polyolefins are easy and inexpensive to dye and mold, making them preferred plastic resins in industry and for consumer goods. Higher polyolefins — those polymers created from more complex olefins — maintain their molecular structure at hotter and colder temperatures than lower polyolefins. In general, polyolefins melt at extremely high temperatures and shatter at extremely cold temperatures.
Polyolefin materials include polybutene, polyethylene, polypropylene. Polybutene is a liquid polymer used in lubricants, sealants, synthetic rubber, makeup and lipstick. Polyethylene is commonly used in products like shrink wrap and plastic grocery bags. Polypropylene a hard plastic resin used in products from food packaging, electronics, carpeting and dishwasher-safe plastic food containers.
Written by Christopher Fox Graham
