Skip to content
printsls.ro
ROQuote

Polypropylene PP · SLS powder

The powder is true polypropylene, ductile and light, and parts made from it resist acids, bases and solvents and can be welded to other PP parts.
Get a quote in PP
Powder
Blasted part

Formlabs Polypropylene Powder is pure polypropylene. The part has 29 MPa tensile strength, a modulus of 1640 MPa and 34% elongation at break in X/Y. The density of the sintered part is 0.89 g/cm³, so it floats in water.

The main reason to choose PP is chemical resistance. In the Formlabs 24-hour test, a PP cube gained under 0.1% in weight in concentrated hydrochloric acid and in dilute sodium hydroxide solution. It absorbs 0.25% water and can be welded to other polypropylene parts.

It does have more drawbacks than the polyamides. Parts warp more easily as they cool, the surface is rougher than with PA12, and HDT at 1.8 MPa is only 58 °C. Formlabs has stopped producing the powder, so availability depends on our stock. Ask us before you design a production run around this material.

Data sheet

PP properties

These are typical values, measured by the manufacturer on SLS printed test specimens. How your part behaves also depends on its geometry and orientation in the chamber.

Tensile strength
29 MPaASTM D638-14 Type 1
Tensile modulus
1640 MPaASTM D638-14 Type 1
Elongation at break (X/Y)
34%ASTM D638-14 Type 1
Elongation at break (Z)
16%ASTM D638-14 Type 1
Flexural modulus
1330 MPaASTM D790-17
Notched Izod impact
31 J/mASTM D256-10
HDT at 0.45 MPa
113 °CASTM D648-16
HDT at 1.8 MPa
58 °CASTM D648-16
Density (sintered part)
0.89 g/cm³Formlabs internal method
Dielectric constant
2.27 at 1 GHzASTM D150-22
Fresh powder per build
50%refresh rate; the rest is recovered powder

Source: Formlabs, Polypropylene Powder technical data sheet (TDS)

Colours

Colours for PP

You choose the colour in the quote form. The shades on screen are approximate.

  • Colour of the material

    after blasting

This material stays in its natural colour, because it doesn't hold paint well.

Good for

  • Tanks, channels and connectors for aggressive fluids
  • Prototypes of parts that will be injection-moulded in PP
  • Covers and clips that flex often
  • Housings for antennas and RF electronics, with a dielectric constant of 2.27 at 1 GHz
  • Parts that will later be welded to other PP components

Limitations

  • It warps more easily than the polyamides, and large flat parts can come out distorted.
  • HDT is 58 °C at 1.8 MPa, so it cannot carry loads in heat.
  • The surface is rougher than with PA12, and the parts cannot be immersion-dyed.
  • Formlabs has stopped producing the powder, so availability depends on our stock.

Surface finishing

  • Glass bead blasting in the Fuse Blast (standard)
  • Heat-set brass threaded inserts (on request)

Questions about PP

Does PP resist acids and solvents?

It resists them better than the polyamides. In the Formlabs 24-hour test, a PP cube gained under 0.1% in weight in concentrated hydrochloric acid, against 0.8% for PA12. Xylene and mineral oils swell it more, by 3.0% and 1.4–1.6% respectively.

Can SLS PP parts be welded?

Yes. Formlabs confirms that the parts can be welded to other polypropylene parts. Before welding, clean the powder off the joint area thoroughly.

Why do PP parts sometimes come out warped?

PP is more prone to warping as it cools than the polyamides. We orient parts following the Formlabs recommendations, but large, flat, thin surfaces remain a risk. If your part has a wide plate, add ribs.

Can PP still be ordered?

Formlabs has stopped producing the powder, so we print it only while our stock lasts. For a long production run we agree on an alternative early, usually PA11 or PA12 Tough.

Send your file for a quote in PP

  • Free quote
  • No minimum quantity
  • NDA on request
Send your file

Quote within the same working day · contact@printsls.ro

+40 740 230 314WhatsApp