Naming method for polypropylene grades----A primer

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1. **The naming method for standard grades is as shown in the example below: PPB-MP-300–M. PPB----------Characteristic unit 1; MP-----------Characteristic unit 2; 300-----------Characteristic unit 3; M-------------Characteristic unit 4. Here, Characteristic unit 1 is the abbreviation in English for polypropylene – Polypropylene, and this is consistent for all grades.** The abbreviations indicating the type of propylene polymer are as follows: H – Propylene homopolymer; R – Propylene random copolymer; B – Propylene block copolymer. Feature Unit 2 describes the main uses or processing methods of polypropylene products, their key properties, and additives, etc. All are denoted by the corresponding English letters. The codes are arranged from left to right, and are sequentially called the first, second, third, and fourth digits. The material’s application or processing method is indicated first, while important properties, additives, etc. are listed from second to fourth. Code used for Feature Unit 2: Code, First digit, Codes for digits 2–4: C – Rolling; A – Processing stability; E – Extruding pipes, profiles, and sheets; B – Anti-adhesion; F – Extruding flat films, thin films, and sheets; D – Powder form; G – General purpose; L – Lightfastness and/or weather resistance; H – Coating; P – Impact modification; Blowing – S; Lubrication – J; Cable sheathing – X; Cross-linkable – M; Injection molding – Z; Antistatic – Q; Compression molding – H; Heat aging resistance – T; Extruding flat filaments – Y; Spinning – Y. Feature Unit 3 represents the nominal value of the polymer’s melt flow rate. The code for the nominal melt flow rate is represented by the resin value obtained by multiplying the nominal melt flow rate by 100, provided that this value consists of no fewer than three integers. If multiplying by 100 results in only two integers, a 0 should be added in front of these two integers ； If the value after multiplying by 100 is four integers, then this number is used as the code. Feature unit 4 is for remarks; it can indicate the type of polymerization, and if necessary, list the code for the material’s main uses or characteristics. New grades, new applications, and new special fillers can be added as needed. Codes used for feature unit 4: Code E – Random copolymer; Code A – Antistatic; Code EP – Random tercopolymer; Code B – Anti-adhesion; Code M – Block copolymer with low ethylene content; Code C – Controllable rheology; Code R – Block copolymer with medium ethylene content; Code H – Heat-resistant and aging-resistant; Code U – Block copolymer with high ethylene content; Code D – Material specifically designed for medical use and resistant to radiation; Code H – Block copolymer with extremely high ethylene content; Code S – Lubricating; Code T – Material specifically designed for cigarette filter rods; Code NA – Aluminized; Code H – Heat-resistant and aging-resistant; Code G – General-purpose grade. Taking the example of the grade PPB-MP-300–M, it represents a block copolymer with low ethylene content intended for injection molding, with a melt index of 3.00 and impact resistance. 2 Naming convention for enterprise standard grades The naming of polypropylene resin grades consists of three parts: the first part is a code indicating the processing method of the material, the second part is a code representing the nominal value of the material’s melt flow rate, and the third part is a code indicating the type of polymerization used. 　　Schematic diagram of the basic pattern for naming enterprise standard grades: Code for processing method, melt flow rate, code for nominal value, code for type of polymerization, code for main application or characteristics. First part: Processing method of the material, represented by its initial letter in English; the following codes are used in this Product Catalog: F----Extruded flat film ； 　M----Injection molding ； 　　H----coating ； 　　　T----Extruded flat wire ； 　　I----Blown film ； 　Y----spinning ； G----General Part Two: The code for the nominal value of the melt flow rate is represented by the value obtained by multiplying the nominal melt flow rate by 100, provided that this value consists of at least three integers. If multiplying by 100 results in only two integers, a 0 should be added in front of these two integers ； If the value after multiplying by 100 is four integers, then this number is used as the code. 　　Example 1: If the MFR is 2, then 2×100=200; hence, 200 is used as the code. Example 2: If the MFR is 0.45, then 0.45×100=45; hence, 045 is used as the code ； 　　Example 3: If the MFR is 20, then 20×100=2000, so 2000 is used as the code. 　　Additional explanation for Part 2: In order to distinguish between materials that have the same grade name but were processed through different numbers of granulation steps, the last digit of the code indicating the melt flow rate is used as a distinguishing factor in the grade designation: a “1” indicates that the material has been granulated only once, while a “0” indicates that it has been granulated twice. 　　Part Three: When the type of polymerization is homopolymerization, Part Three is omitted. The notation for other types of polymer polymerization is as follows: E------random copolymer ； 　　EP-----Random terpolymer ； 　　M------Block copolymer with low ethylene content ； 　　Block copolymer with ethylene content in R------ ； 　　U------Block copolymers with high ethylene content ； 　　H------Block copolymer with extremely high ethylene content. 　　Additional notes for Part 3: If necessary, list the codes for the main uses or characteristics of the materials at the end of Part 3. For example: A------Antistatic electrode ； 　　B------Anti-adhesion ； 　　C------Controllable rheology ； 　　D------Medical radiation-resistant specialty material ； 　　G------General grade ； 　　H------Heat aging resistance ； 　　L------Lightfastness and/or weathering resistance ； 　　S------Lubrication ； 　　T-------Material specifically designed for tobacco filter tow. Taking grade F800EPS as an example, its representative melt index is 8.0 g/10 min; it is a random terpolymer used for extruding flat films and possesses lubricating properties. 3 Introduction of grade naming system: The naming method for grades was adopted from several well-known foreign companies (such as Basell), and domestic enterprises have continued to use these grade names since adopting them. Taking EP2C37F as an example, it can be divided into four parts from back to front: F, 37, C, EP2, which are referred to as the first, second, third, and fourth parts respectively. The meanings represented by each section are as follows:
First section: Product application
A – Antistatic
B – Blown film
F – Film types
G – General purpose
S – Textured, fibrous
P – Pipes
R – Injection molding

Second section: Additional information on product application
30 – General purpose; suitable for long-term use in environments with temperatures up to 90 degrees.
33 – General-purpose grade; suitable for outdoor use in sunlight, with temperatures up to 90 degrees.
34 – Smooth and slippery surface.
35 – Smooth and slippery surface with anti-sticking properties.
37 – Smooth and slippery surface with anti-sticking properties.
38 – Better oxidation resistance than grade 30.
40 – Good heat stability; can be used at temperatures up to 110 degrees.
50 – Better heat stability than grade 40; can be used at temperatures up to 120 degrees.
60 – Can be used in detergent solutions at temperatures up to 120 degrees.

Third section: Product melt index (230 degrees, 21.6 N)
D – 0.2–0.5
Q – 0.6–1.0
S – 1.5–2.0
T – 2.5–3.5
C – 5.0–7.0
X – 7.0–10.0
F – 10.0–14.0
V – 14–19
Z – 20–30
H – 30–40

Fourth section: Homopolymer grade – This section can be ignored. EP impact-resistant copolymer products: EP1 or EP2; random copolymer products. For impact-resistant grades, the letters following the two digits indicate the following: M – medium impact resistance, with 6% ethylene content; R – high impact resistance, with 9% ethylene content; U – ultra-high impact resistance, with 12% ethylene content. Therefore, EP2C37F denotes a film material that is randomly copolymerized, with a melt index of 5.0–7.0, and possesses smoothness and anti-sticking properties. Additionally, 1. Regarding the issue of melt index *100, many grades are not named according to this rule; those with a melt index of *10 also exist. 2. I’m not quite sure what EP1, EP2, and EP3’s 1, 2, 3 mean either. Could the experts please explain it to me? 3. Enterprise designations cannot be generalized; each company has its own method of naming. For example, Yanhe and Yangzi adopted Mitsubishi’s naming system after introducing Mitsubishi’s equipment, with the difference being that they changed the first letter – a approach that does not fit any of the naming methods mentioned above. 4. For the same grade in different companies, it is often distinguished using the pinyin letters of that company’s name. For example, for the F280BOPP grade, the one produced by Maoming is labeled F280M, the one from Zhenhai is F280Z, and the one from Shanghai is F280S. 5. Transparent grades usually have T or TM added to indicate transparency. Please also point out any other exceptions one by one, so as to help us all improve together. Thank you. This post was last edited by QXZ-1966 on 2008-6-12 at 16:14.]