Polypropylene or polypropene was first introduced in 1957 and later successully polymerized by the Italian company Montecatini. It is now a thermoplastic polymer made by the chemical industry, used in a wide variety of applications with very good resistance to fatigue. With a melting point of 320 °F (160 °C), polypropylene is usually unaffected by water, many solvents, and acids.
For the printing industry, properly treated polypropylene in sheet form is the basis for a durable, weather-resistant poster. It can withstand heavy ink coverage even on material as thin as 7 or 8 mil. This reduces shipping cost for large posters.
Polypropylene containers or fibers can be recycled into new products or alternatively can be incinerated to produce energy. It has been found that mechanical recycling is the best recovery option for large polypropylene automotive components, while energy recovery is the solution for most small plastic parts like bottle caps and drinking straws.