We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Materials

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Polyolefin?

By Christopher Fox Graham
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 64,237
Share

Polyolefin is the largest class of organic thermoplastic polymers. They are non-polar, odorless, nonporous materials that are often used in consumer goods, structural plastics, food packaging and industrial products. As a result, they are also called "commodity thermoplastics." The name means "oil-like," and refers to the oily or waxy texture of this class of plastic resins. This class of polymers is more commonly referred to as polyalkene, although "polyolefin" is still a common term in organic chemistry and the petrochemical industry.

In some places, the term is also used to refer to plastic shrink wrap, 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 it 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, these 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 other types of more complex olefins include ethylene, propylene, the butenes, and butadiene. All natural ones are derived from oil and natural gas.

Polyolefin materials are made up of only carbon and hydrogen atoms. The double-bond carbon atoms form the core of the molecule. Materials such as poly-alpha-olefin, polybutene, polyethylene and polypropylene have more complex olefin branches that are bonded to the double-bonded carbon molecules.

Easy and inexpensive to dye and mold, polyolefins are preferred plastic resins in industry and for consumer goods. Higher ones — those polymers created from more complex olefins — maintain their molecular structure at hotter and colder temperatures than lower ones. In general, they melt at extremely high temperatures and shatter at extremely cold temperatures.

Polyolefin materials include polybutene, polyethylene, and 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 is a hard plastic resin used in products from food packaging, electronics, carpeting and dishwasher-safe plastic food containers.

Share
About Mechanics is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By anon166138 — On Apr 07, 2011

in a body and paint industry, we paint this type of polypropylene type bumper. What is the best way to prep it before we applied paint to an adhesion promoter?

By BigBloom — On Feb 12, 2011

Polyolefin shrink film enables an object to be well preserved and protected from airborne microbes which could allow mold or fungus to grow. It is a great long-term protector for objects stored in "time capsules," especially when these are buried underground.

By Tufenkian925 — On Feb 10, 2011

Polyolefin heat shrink tubing is a helpful industrial tool which will probably only grow in demand as protection for wires and new technological components continues to increase. The uniquely flexible structure and design of this material makes it a helpful tool for preservation and protection of various necessary parts.

Share
https://www.aboutmechanics.com/what-is-polyolefin.htm
Copy this link
About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.