World production and use of polypropylene fibres and thread. A review

Abstract

The existence of sources of accessible and inexpensive raw material has caused the turbulent development of PP fibres and thread. At present, they occupy third place in the world in production volume, after polyamide and polyester fibres and yarns, and could be in first place by 2000 based on the production growth rates. The cause of this rapid development is the relatively simple and ecologically “clean” technology and low production costs. Industrial production of PP fibres and thread is still concentrated in Western Europe, the US, and Japan, where 70% of all PP is produced. In the 1990s, the proportion began to decrease due to production in developing countries in South America, Asia, and Africa. Since the mid-1980s, PP fibre and yarn production capacity has increased, while the development of production capacities for film fibres and monofilaments has virtually stabilized. The areas of application of PP fibres and yarns are determined by their properties. Carpet manufacture is the largest and most developed area of their use. In the future, PP fibres and thread could move to first place in production of carpets, outstripping polyamide fibres; this could be due to the appearance of BSF PP yarns from DuPont (USA) on the world market. The increase in the market for PP floor coverings is related to their use in the automobile industry. Nonwovens from PP fibres are used in both the home and in industry (construction, agriculture, automobile, furniture, and shoe industries, etc.). Development of sanitary and hygienic nonwovens made of PP fibres has increased.