At BootieButler, many of our shoe covers are made with polypropylene — but we often get questions about what it actually is. Well, in this blog, we will discuss what polypropylene is, and why we chose it as a base for most of our shoe cover products.

What is polypropylene?

Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic. In a scientific sense, thermoplastic is a substance that becomes plastic opon heating, and will harden when cooled. The reason why thermoplastics are a popular product among manufacturers is the ability for the substance to be sent through the heating and cooling process multiple times. However, the ability of reheating isn’t the only thing that makes polypropylene a great product for manufacturing. Polypropylene has a lower density than most plastics and allows weight savings for the manufacturers and distributors.

Why do we use polypropylene in our shoe covers?

Besides benefiting the manufacturer, polypropylene is a perfect material for shoe covers. The ability to resist to stress allows for the material to withstand intense pressure, such as walking through a construction site or being in use for long periods of time. It also has resistance towards chemicals. If a spill were to happen in a laboratory, for example, a diluted base, acid or other chemicals will not affect the shoe covers being used.

The toughness of the polypropylene is essential for the everyday use of shoe covers — making them wearable all day. Additionally, the elasticity that the substance provides gives the ability to stretch to fit most shoe sizes. However, the biggest factor to why we chose polypropylene as the base of our shoe covers is its fatigue resistance. When being made, polypropylene has the ability to retain shape, and that can be translated to when it is in use as a shoe cover. The shoe cover made with polypropylene can keep its shape when placed over the shoe.

When picking the right material for shoe covers, we chose polypropylene to help make our shoe covers durable, resilient, and wearable. Ultimately, the use of polypropylene is why our products can withstand stress, pressures, and retain its correct shape, making our shoe covers ideal for a variety of settings.