Even as spring passes and early summer approaches, concerns about fine dust do not easily fade. On hazy days, we find ourselves reaching for a mask before heading out, and even at home, we hesitate before opening the windows for fresh air.

At times like these, the products we naturally turn to are protective masks and air purifiers. Although they serve different purposes, both rely on filters that play a key role in capturing tiny particles in the air.

Hidden inside these filters is an important material that often goes unnoticed: PP (Polypropylene). Today, let’s take a closer look at PP, the material behind the performance of masks and air purifier filters.

What Kind of Material Is PP?

PP stands for Polypropylene, a synthetic resin produced through the polymerization of propylene. Depending on its properties and processing methods, it can be used in many different forms, making it one of the most widely used general-purpose plastics in everyday life. It is commonly used in products ranging from automotive parts and ropes to nonwoven fabrics and medical IV bags.

In particular, PP offers excellent tensile and impact strength, allowing it to withstand external impacts effectively. Another key advantage is its versatility in processing, as it can be manufactured into various forms such as films and fibers. Thanks to these characteristics, PP can be broadly applied across products designed for different purposes.

The Secret Behind Filters That Capture Even Tiny Particles

The ability of air purifiers and protective masks to effectively capture fine dust lies in the structure of the filter. Filters reduce airborne pollutants, and depending on the product’s purpose, they are composed of multiple layers or filtration stages.

In air purifiers, filters are a key factor that determines performance. Multiple filter layers are arranged in stages to capture pollutants of different sizes, while some products also incorporate deodorizing or antibacterial filters. At the final stage, high-performance filters are used to capture even ultrafine dust.

Protective masks also consist of a multi-layer filter structure. Masks certified by Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety carry a KF (Korea Filter) rating, which indicates their fine particle filtration performance. In particular, electrostatic filters used in masks attract and capture fine harmful substances in the air, helping improve filtration efficiency.

In this way, air purifiers and protective masks share one important feature: both filter pollutants from the air through a filter. And PP is the material used as a main raw material for the nonwoven fabric that makes up this filter.

PP and PCR PP: Expanding into Broader Applications

PP is not only used in nonwoven fabrics, but can also be processed in many different ways and applied to a wide range of products in both everyday life and industrial settings. LG Chem produces PP products specialized for applications such as injection molding and fiber, while offering a broad portfolio ranging from film applications to industrial materials.

Recently, PCR PP has also been gaining attention as part of efforts to advance resource circularity. PCR, or Post-Consumer Recycled, refers to the recycling of products that have been used and discarded by consumers. PCR PP is PP made from recycled waste plastics.

PCR PP is manufactured by separating PP from collected plastic waste, crushing and washing it, and then processing it into recycled raw material. This is then blended with LG Chem’s virgin raw material. Depending on the product, LG Chem’s PCR PP contains 50 to 80 percent recycled content while still delivering a level of quality and physical properties equivalent to virgin materials.

This technological capability allows PCR PP to be applied across a wide range of applications where conventional PP has already been used, while also contributing to the reduction of plastic incineration and greenhouse gas emissions.

Although it is not visible on the surface, PP plays an essential role in our daily lives as a material that helps enable product performance. From filters that capture tiny particles to recycled materials such as PCR PP, its range of applications continues to expand.

The next time you put on a mask or use an air purifier, why not take a moment to think about the PP material inside, quietly working behind the scenes?

Learn more about PP 👉 https://www.lgchem.com/product-detail/pp

※Some images in this content were generated using AI.