Should I choose PC or PP material for a water cup?

2024-08-21
As consumers become increasingly concerned about water safety, durability, and environmental sustainability, the choice of materials for water bottles has become increasingly important. In the plastic water bottle sector, the two most common materials are polypropylene (PP) and polycarbonate (PC). Both are widely used in drinking containers, but they differ significantly in terms of safety, heat resistance, transparency, durability, and intended use.
So, how should you choose between PP and PC? Which one is better suited for your product or application?

What is polycarbonate material?

Polycarbonate, commonly known as "PC", is a thermoplastic material renowned for its exceptional transparency and outstanding impact resistance.
The advantages of PC cups include:
  • Extremely high transparency, nearly comparable to glass
  • Outstanding impact resistance (the Izod notched impact strength of standard polycarbonate typically ranges from 600 to 900 J/m)
The drawbacks of PC cups are also quite obvious
  • Release of toxic substances, The primary raw material used in the manufacturing of PC contains bisphenol A (a substance that has been shown to potentially affect the central nervous system). Bisphenol A is particularly prone to leaching in high-temperature environments; therefore, PC cups are not recommended for use in hot water, dishwashers, microwaves, or steam sterilization.
  • Not scratch-resistant，Although PC material is highly impact-resistant, it has poor scratch resistance and is prone to scratching.
pc drink water bucket

Although PC materials pose a risk of bisphenol A leaching, its excellent impact resistance means they are still widely used in drinking water containers at room temperature.

PCTG sports bottle
If you need to use transparent plastic materials in high-temperature environments, we recommend choosing PCTG or PETG.
This is a modified PET material that can be used in high-temperature environments exceeding 95°C, unlike standard PET, and does not leach bisphenol A, unlike PC. It retains the high transparency of both PET and PC and is commonly used in the production of sports water bottles.

What is polypropylene material?

Polypropylene, also known as "PP," is one of the most widely used polymer materials and is applied in many fields due to its excellent properties.
Advantages of PP cups:
  • Lightweight, low density, and low weight
  • Chemical resistance, suitable for storing carbonated and acidic beverages
  • Low cost
  • High safety standards, BPA-free
pp cups
PP plastic cups offer good heat resistance. Standard PP material can withstand prolonged exposure to temperatures 80 - 100°C and can briefly withstand temperatures of 110 - 120°C, making them suitable for use as household hot water cups as well as commercial bubble tea cups.
PP cups offer good transparency in thin-wall applications, allowing the contents to be clearly seen; however, in thicker-wall applications, they are prone to reduced transparency, whitening, and high haze, though they are still suitable for general use.
PP cups have poor low-temperature resistance; at temperatures below 0°C, PP material has poor impact resistance and is prone to shattering when subjected to external impact. We do not recommend using PP cups in winter or when outdoor temperatures are low.

Which polypropylene material can be used in cups?

Chamborad MT60 PP from China is specifically designed for the production of disposable water cups and bubble tea cups. It features high transparency and high flowability, and the cups produced have a frosted finish, as shown in the image above.
Chambroad MT60 has a melt flow rate of 60 g/10 min. It is suitable for injection molding equipment and offers high flowability, making it ideal for large-scale, high-speed production of water cups. With a Rockwell hardness of 80 and an Izod notched impact strength of 1 kJ/m² at 23°C, it possesses high strength but only average impact resistance; therefore, its use is not recommended in low-temperature environments.

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