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Homopolymer Polypropylene

 

Homopolymer Polypropylene

North Sea Plastics Ltd Premium Grade homopolymer polypropylene is made to a specification set by NSP that takes into consideration not only the challenging nature of manufacturing in the prosthetics and orthotics profession, but also the mechanical properties of the material.


Shrinkage? Not a problem when using our Premium Grade homopolymer polypropylene; an independent study measured the shrinkage by volume of our copolymer polypropylene at less than 1%, a standard that is hard to match.


Homopolymer polypropylene can be used in orthotics to make AFO’s (Ankle Foot Orthosis), KAFO’s (Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis) and DAFO’s (Dynamic Ankle-Foot Orthosis); and in prosthetics to make definitive AK sockets, and definitive AK frame sockets.


Whilst more rigid than its cousin, copolymer polypropylene, homopolymer polypropylene does not exhibit the same resistance to fatigue that copolymer polypropylene displays. At low temperatures (less than 5°C) homopolymer polypropylene experiences a marked reduction in impact strength and flexural strength. A catastrophic failure is a risk with devices made using homopolymer polypropylene, particularly if the material has been mishandled during the moulding process.


Stress is never a good thing in life and certainly not in plastics. Homopolymer polypropylene suffers more than most when it comes to excess stress. The more stress, the more brittle the material becomes, increasing the risk of a catastrophic failure. North Sea Plastics Ltd only supplies stress relieved homopolymer polypropylene, to provide a better starting point for the manufacture of orthotic and prosthetic devices that require homopolymer polypropylene.

 

  • Lightweight
  • More rigid than copolymer polypropylene
  • Brittle
  • NSP only supplies stress relieved sheet. Non-stress relieved sheet is more brittle than stress relieved
  • Notch sensitive (if any stress is applied to any cuts or "nicks" at the edge of the material it will crack or split).
  • Reasonable impact strength
  • Impact markedly reduced at temperatures below 5°C / 41°F
  • Shrinkage of <1% (by volume)

 

Available in the following thickness:
2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 10mm, 12mm, 15mm.

Tolerance on thickness: ±5%

 

Available in the following colour:
Natural.

 

Sheet size for orthotics:

2440 x 1220mm


Square size for prosthetics:

500 x 500mm,460 x 420mm, 406 x 406mm, 343 x 343mm, 305 x 305mm.

 

Moulding temperature:

Orthotics 180° - 200°C / 356° - 392°F
Prosthetics 200°C - 220°C / 392° - 428°F


Cooking time:

Cooking time: 3 minutes per mm thickness. N.B. As all ovens have slightly different heating
characteristics please use our recommended timings as a guide only.

 

For information regarding the NSP range of ovens click here

 

Prosthetic and Orthotic Applications

 

 


Support Documents

 

 

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North Sea Plastics Ltd | Unit 2, 5 Campsie Road, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow G66 1SL Tel: +44 (0)141 776 7900 Fax: +44 (0)141 776 6699 email: info@northseaplastics.com