PP (polypropylene): density, print temperature and when to choose it
- Density
- 0.9g/cm³
- Nozzle temperature
- 220–240°C
- Bed temperature
- 100–120°C
Filament weight ↔ length
Based on the density of PP (0.9 g/cm³). Enter weight or length and the other value updates.
- Weight of 1 m
- 2.16 g/m
- Meters per 1 kg
- 462 m
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.