ABSTRACT
Propylene-based polyolefins are produced with transition metal catalysts resulting in linear chain structures with stereospecific arrangement of the propylene units or special stereoblock structures from a single-site catalyst. The polyolefins can be classified based on their monomeric unit and chain structures as ethylene-based polyolefins, propylene-based polyolefins, higher polyolefins, and polyolefin elastomers. Polypropylene (PP) has higher strength than other polyolefins, low density, and acceptable thermal resistance and is available in many grades differing in molar mass and copolymer type and distribution. C. Marais indicated that single-polymer composites (SPC) were manufactured using high-modulus polyethylene polyethylene (PE) fibers in a PE matrix. PP SPCs were produced by the undercooling melt film-stacking method within a large usable processing temperature window from 125°C to 150°C. TENFOR is the trade name given to high-modulus PE fibers produced by the melt-spinning/hot-drawing route. It was realized that under the right conditions of temperature and pressure, it is possible to melt a very small proportion of each fiber.
