PP (polypropylene): density, print temperature and when to choose it
PP (polypropylene) is the lightest of the common 3D printing materials (it floats in water) and one of the most chemically resistant, but also one of the fussiest to print: almost nothing sticks to it, including PP itself, which makes bed adhesion the main challenge.
Key properties
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | ≈0.90 g/cm³ — lighter than water |
| Nozzle temperature | 220–240°C |
| Bed temperature | 100–120°C (or a cold bed + PP film/tape) |
| Part cooling | moderate |
| Shrinkage | significant, warping is the main issue |
| Enclosure required | recommended |
Because of its low density, a PP part at equal volume is noticeably lighter than a PLA/PETG/ABS equivalent — worth factoring into weight and material cost calculations.
When to use it
- Parts with living hinges — PP withstands repeated flexing without failure better than almost any other FDM plastic.
- Containers and parts in contact with aggressive chemicals, oils, solvents.
- Lightweight parts where low weight matters while keeping flexibility.
When to pick something else
- You have no experience fighting warping on ABS-like materials — PP warps even more; a first engineering plastic is better started with PETG.
- You need strong adhesive/paint bonding — almost nothing sticks to PP; for parts that need painting, PLA/PETG/ABS is better.
- The printer's bed doesn't heat above 100°C and there's no access to special PP film for adhesion — the print will lift off the bed.
Pros and cons
Pros: excellent fatigue strength in bending (living hinges), chemical resistance to oils/acids/alkalis, the lightest of the common materials, doesn't absorb water.
Cons: difficult bed adhesion — needs special PP film or adhesive, or experimenting with a skirt/kraft tape; noticeable warping; almost nothing bonds to the finished part (post-gluing/painting is difficult).
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Low density reduces material consumption by mass for the same volume — a PP part will cost less in grams of filament than a PETG/ABS equivalent of the same volume. But the higher failure rate from bed detachment (especially before you've dialed in a print profile for a specific printer) should be budgeted as a risk, particularly when you're just starting out with this material.