Polypropylene is chemically resistant, flexible, and fatigue-resistant. It is extremely difficult to achieve bed adhesion — PP tape or special adhesive sheets are required. Near-zero moisture absorption makes it ideal for containers and chemical applications.
Properties
- Chemical Resistance — Excellent resistance to acids, bases, and organic solvents
- Fatigue Resistance — Outstanding living hinge performance, can flex thousands of times
- Lightweight — Lowest density of common printing filaments (0.9 g/cm³)
- Low Friction — Naturally slippery surface, good for moving parts
- Moisture Resistance — Near-zero water absorption, ideal for wet environments
Best Practices
- PP tape on the bed is essential — nothing else sticks reliably
- Print on a PP sheet or use specialized PP adhesive
- Use a brim of at least 10mm to combat warping
- Print slowly (25-40 mm/s) for best adhesion
- Minimal part cooling to maintain interlayer bonding
- Expect significant warping on large parts — keep models small or use supports