Better weather resistance of polypropylene fabric

Polypropylene (PP) fiber is a synthetic fiber spun from isotactic polypropylene, which is polymerized by propylene. In this article we explain how to get better weather resistance of polypropylene fabric. But first, let&#;s start with some information about the main categories and applications of PP fiber.

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What are main categories and applications of PP fibers?

Polypropylene fibers include long fiber type, staple fiber type, melt-blown nonwoven, etc.

• Polypropylene long fiber has the characteristics of good gloss, drapability and soft hand feeling, so it as an ideal material for clothing and textile industry, such as high-grade sportswear & T-shirts
• Polypropylene staple fiber mixed with cotton. Common applications are propylene cotton fine cloth, bed sheets, blankets, carpets, etc.
• The fiber produced by melt-blown nonwoven processing is very fine (up to 0.25μm). Melt-blown fabric has a large specific surface area, small pores and large porosity, so its filtering and fine shielding properties are much better than those produced by other technologies. Today, most medical-grade virus prevention masks are made from this non-woven material.

Key benefits of PP fiber

• Light weight; The density of polypropylene fiber is about 0.90-0.92 g/cm3, which is the lightest of all synthetic fibers. 20% lighter than nylon and 30% lighter than polyester. Therefore, it is suitable for making the wadding and fabric of winter clothing, such as ski suits and mountain suits.
• High strength, good elasticity, wear resistance and corrosion resistance.

Some application restrictions

• Poor thermo-stability and aging resistance; Polypropylene fibers have poor thermal and aging resistance, so most of polypropylene fibers are not resistant to ironing. Adding antioxidants and HALS stabilizers during the spin will improve this.
• Poor hygroscopicity and staining; Most polypropylene fibers are produced by pre-staining. Dope dyeing and fiber modification will improve the color quality and color fastness

How to improve the thermal and light aging resistance of PP fibers?

Since there are a large number of tertiary carbon atoms in the polypropylene molecules, it is highly unstable under the influence of external factors such as heat and light and is prone to oxidative degradation.

Antioxidants play a crucial role in improving the thermal stability of fibers during production, processing and finishing. In polypropylene fibers we often use Hindered phenolic antioxidants. Such antioxidants can prevent thermal oxidative degradation with the free radical scavenging mechanism to stabilize the mechanical properties of fibers.

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Achieving resistance to UV light by adding HALS stabilizers, or in the UV resistant finishing stage of textiles. Post-treatment modified polypropylene fibers and additives have better color fastness and durability.

Omnistab additives for weather resistance of polypropylene fabric

• LS 944 &#; Good extraction resistance, low volatility and high safety
• LS 119 &#; HALS with large molecular structure, which has low volatility and high anti-migration in fabrics. Widely used in melt-blown nonwoven fabric of medical grade mask to maintain the bacterial barrier performance.
• LS 292 &#; Liquid HALS stabilizer, suitable for water-based textile finishing agent to improve the thermal stability of textiles.
• UV &#; Liquid benzotriazole UV absorber. Easy to be emulsified and dispersed in water-based textile finishing agent to improve the weatherability of textiles, and it usually used together with Omnistab LS 292
• UV &#; Highly efficient light stabilizer, good compatibility with polypropylene fibers. Add alone or in combination with HALS.
• AN &#; Hindered phenolic antioxidant, which improves long-term thermal stabilization in fiber processing. Suitable for high temperature processing environment

Light weight, high strength, good elasticity, wear resistance and corrosion resistance.

By using hotter mold temperatures, high injection speed and avoid high melting temperature.

It as an ideal material for clothing and textile industry, such as high-grade sportswear & T-shirts, cotton fine cloth, bed sheets, blankets, carpets.

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