Early, propylene polymerization can only get low degree of polymerization of paper products, are non-crystalline compounds, no practical value. In 1954, Ziegler and Natta invented Ziergler-Natta catalyst and made of crystalline polypropylene, with high stereoregularity, known as isotactic polypropylene or isotactic polypropylene. The results of this research in the field of polymerization has opened up a new direction, to polypropylene large-scale industrial production and in the plastic products and fiber production and laid a foundation for the wider application.
In 1957, by the Italian company Montecatini first realized the industrialization of polypropylene production. In 1958-1960, the company in turn for the production of polypropylene fiber, the development of trade name for the Meraklon polypropylene fiber, after the United States and Canada have also started production.
After 1964, also developed a bundle of polypropylene fiber splitting film, fibrillation from the film made of textile fibers and carpet yarn products.
The 1970s, short-range spinning process and equipment to improve the polypropylene fiber production process. Over the same period, the expansion of continuous filament began for the carpet industry. Currently, 90% of the world's carpet base fabric and 25% of the carpet veil made of polypropylene fiber.
After 1980, with the polypropylene and polypropylene fiber manufacturing technology, especially the invention of metallocene catalyst makes the quality of polypropylene resin has been significantly improved. Because of its improved stereoregularity (isotacticity up to 99.5%), thus greatly improving the inherent quality of polypropylene fiber. The mid-80s, polypropylene fine fibers to replace some of the cotton fibers for textile fabrics and non-woven fabrics. With the development of one-step BCF spinning machine, air-deforming machine and compound spinning machine and the emergence and rapid development of non-woven fabric, the use of polypropylene fiber in decoration and industrial use has been further widened. In addition, the world of polypropylene fiber research and development is also very active, differentiated fiber production technology popularization and improvement, greatly expanded the application of polypropylene fiber.