Propylene: Characteristics
Polymer, chemical or refinery grade
What this tab covers The physical and chemical properties that set its grade, price and uses, with the commercial grades and the standards that define them.Propylene is sold in three grades that differ by purity. Polymer grade commands the highest price because catalysts for PP need very low impurities. Propane is the main diluent.
Properties that matter commercially
| Property | Value / specification | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purity | polymer grade at least 99.5%; chemical grade 92-96%; refinery grade 50-70% | PP catalysts need high purity; chemical grade suits cumene, oxo alcohols, acrylonitrile. | industry standard (indicative) |
| Boiling point | -47.6°C | Can be shipped pressurised at ambient temperature, so easier to trade than ethylene. | standard physical data |
| Impurities | sulphur, arsine, CO, water at ppm or ppb level | Catalyst poisons in PP plants. | industry standard |
Commercial grades
- Polymer grade (PGP)
- Chemical grade (CGP)
- Refinery grade (RGP)