The Best Polypropylene (PP) Filaments of 2022

Printing & Storage

Printing PP can be a challenge. With the right print settings, however, you can drastically increase your odds of success. Below are the basic print settings that we recommend:

• Nozzle temperature: 205-275 °C
• Bed temperature: 80-100 °C
• Bed surface: Clear packing tape
• Fan speed: 50-100%
• Enclosure: Recommended

The most important takeaways here are the bed temperature and the bed surface. PP is challenging for its tendency to come off the print bed, so these factors are key to a successful print.

In particular, we recommend using clear packing tape as the print surface because PP only likes to stick to itself. Common clear packing tape is usually made of PP, so covering your print bed in a layer of it just like you would with blue painter’s tape should do the trick.

Note that the print settings will vary by manufacturer, so we always suggest checking the specific recommendations for your filament before getting started. If you’re still struggling, we have a more detailed guide to succeeding with PP.

Storage

Frequently, you’ll hear that 3D printing filaments must be stored in dry environments. Thankfully, PP is not considered hygroscopic, meaning that it doesn’t easily absorb moisture. Therefore, you generally don’t need to be concerned about PP degrading with moisture, though we can’t speak for any additives that manufacturers may have used.

PP is, however, susceptible to degradation from UV light. As such, we suggest storing the material somewhere out of direct sunlight. To be absolutely safe, always store your filament as per our handy guide.

Fiberlogy

Fiberlogy is a Polish manufacturer of 3D printable filaments, including a polypropylene option that’s pretty affordable and available in a wide array of colors. Fiberlogy’s PP filament has very low bed temperature requirements and should work without a heated build plate. The company recommends the filament for printed containers, bumpers, toys, and even dishes.

Regarding its material properties, the seller states that Fiberlogy’s PP filament offers resistance to mechanical damage and great layer-to-layer adhesion. On this note, it’s worth noting that one customer mentioned their struggles with over-adhesion on glass build surfaces. In order to resolve the issue, they used tape on their build plate and are planning on using glue meant for polypropylene.

• Nozzle temperature: 220-250 °C
• Bed temperature: 0-80 °C
• Diameter: 1.75 mm
• Price: ~$35 for a 750-g spool (~$23 per 500 g)
• Colors: Natural, blue, graphite, gray, light green, orange, red, yellow, black

FormFutura Centaur

FormFutura’s Centaur PP comes in at a relatively good price, from a very reputable brand. This makes it a great first venture into PP, or just a great all-round filament.

Given the impressively wide range of spool sizes available, you’re likely to find a size that suits your needs. From merely sampling the material to buying it in bulk for high-volume printing, Centaur PP has you covered.

• Nozzle temperature: 220-240 °C
• Bed temperature: Up to 65 °C
• Diameters: 1.75 mm, 2.85 mm
• Price: ~$33 for a 500-g spool
• Colors: Black, white, natural

FormFutura’s Pegasus PP Ultralight is, as its name suggests, extremely light, even for polypropylene. Enhanced with additives and nanotechnology, the material is 20% lighter than FormFutura’s other PP offering, Centaur. This makes Pegasus PP Ultralight ideal for parts that need to be extremely lightweight while maintaining durability and water resistance.

• Nozzle temperature: 215-245 °C
• Bed temperature: Up to 100 °C
• Diameters: 1.75 mm, 2.85 mm
• Price: ~$42 for a 500-g spool
• Color: Natural

Fillamentum is a popular seller of high-quality retail filaments, and their polypropylene option – Fillamentum PP 2320 – is great. In terms of material properties, it’s decently flexible and thermally resistant (up to 100 °C).

Fillamentum’s comparison sheet, available on their website, shows that their PP filament is middle of the road in terms of ease of printing. It’s also worth noting that PP 2320 ranks pretty low in tensile strength and hardness, so it might not be best for producing super-strong parts.

• Nozzle temperature: 225-245 °C
• Bed temperature: 90-105 °C
• Diameter: 1.75 mm
• Price: ~$50 for a 600-g spool (~$42 per 500 g)
• Colors: Black, natural

Ultimaker

Ultimaker’s PP filament is an excellent choice for those looking to spend a little more on a high-performance material. Built into the Ultimaker ecosystem, Ultimaker users will benefit from automatic material detection and a well-integrated workflow. Unfortunately, this filament is only offered in a single diameter, size, and color, limiting applications.

• Nozzle temperature: 205-220 °C
• Bed temperature: 85-100 °C
• Diameter: 2.85 mm
• Price: ~$50 for a 500-g spool
• Color: Natural

BASF Ultrafuse

Formerly known as Innofil3D PP, BASF’s Ultrafuse PP is a high-quality choice for those who need consistent print quality and performance. BASF is known for producing materials for industry use, delivering consistent quality between batches.

The only slight downside is that the material doesn’t come in larger spool sizes for those doing a high volume of printing.

• Nozzle temperature: 220-240 °C
• Bed temperature: 60-80 °C
• Diameters: 1.75 mm, 2.85 mm
• Price: ~$60 for a 700-g spool (~$43 per 500 g)
• Color: Natural

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