3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PCTG vs PP

Compare printing settings, strength, heat resistance, dated prices and sources.

PCTG guidePolypropylene (PP) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PCTG comparisonsMore PP comparisons
PCTG vs PP — documented properties and sources
PropertyPCTGPETGPolypropylene (PP)POLYOLEFIN
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$34.99/kg median; $14.00–$50.67/kg across 5 dated product listings$46.56/kg median; $31.99–$53.00/kg across 4 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPoly(cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) glycol — a copolyester with a higher cyclohexanedimethanol content than PETG[1][2]Polypropylene — a semi-crystalline polyolefin with no polar groups, so it neither absorbs water nor bonds to most bed surfaces[3][4]
Densityg/cm³1.23 (Extrudr, ASTM D792; 3DXTech, ISO 1183)[2][5]0.91 (Prusa PP composite, ISO 1183) — the lightest common filament[6]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 34[7][5][8]1 kg-equivalent spools span 27–53; the middle of the market is about 44[9][10][11][12]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg14–51 across brands; CHCKX 14 in a 10-roll bundle, Push Plastic 30, Proto-pasta 35 at 1 kg, 3DXTech 51[7][5][13]27–53 across brands; Reli3D 32 on Amazon, SUNLU 44 at 0.8 kg, Fiberlogy 49 at 750 g, IEMAI 3D 53, and the 3DJake PP listing spans 27–49[9][14][10][11][12]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[7][5][8][15]Available from several mainstream brands[14][10][9]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75, 1, 3 and 5 kg spools[7][8][5]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.75 kg spools are common[10]
Typical applicationsTransparent covers, guards and impact-loaded parts where PETG cracks[1][2]Living hinges, chemical-resistant containers, automotive clips and packaging prototypes[3]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C250–270 (Spectrum, Extrudr)[1][2]210–230 (Braskem-type PE/PP window); Formfutura's Centaur PP melts at 205 ± 15 °C[3]
Bed temperature°C60–100 (Spectrum)[1]Not documented
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine — Spectrum and Extrudr both say a closed chamber is not necessary, Extrudr adds it helps on larger parts[1][2]Enclosure recommended — Simplify3D lists an enclosure as a hardware requirement and Polymaker advises one below 70 °C ambient to stop warping and cracking[16][4]
Part cooling fanUp to 100 % (Spectrum); 20–50 % (Extrudr)[1][2]Part cooling fan required (Simplify3D)[16]
Bed surface & adhesion aidTextured PEI, satin or powder-coated sheets; on smooth PEI a glue stick acts as a release agent[17][18]Packing tape, a polypropylene sheet, or a PP-specific adhesive such as Magigoo PP — ordinary PLA and ABS adhesives do not hold it[16][4]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/s1.6–16 at the 20–200 mm/s Extrudr rates the material for, on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[2][19]Not documented
Warping tendency1–5Not documentedHigh — enclosure needed for reliable large parts; PP's crystallinity drives shrinkage and Prusa recommends a brim on its PP grades[6][20]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs the right surface or a thin adhesive — the problem is releasing the part, not sticking it[17][18]Very difficult — special plates or slurry required. PP bonds to almost nothing; a polypropylene-specific tape or adhesive is the normal answer[6][4]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker names stringing as PETG's common quirk[18]Slight — Polymaker advises 1–2 mm retraction at 20–30 mm/s[4]
Shrinkage%0.2–0.5 (Extrudr, ASTM D955)[2]Not documented
Overall printing difficulty1–5Easy — minor profile tuning[1][2]Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning; bed adhesion is the whole problem[4][6]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely — Extrudr explicitly states no hardened nozzle is needed[2]Brass fine indefinitely for unfilled grades — Simplify3D states no special hotend is required[16]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[2]Non-abrasive when unfilled[16]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Low — 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns and no minimum layer height for PCTG, only a 65 °C pre-dry[21]Low — Simplify3D lists no special hotend requirement for PP and clogging is not among its listed drawbacks[22][16]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[23]Slightly sensitive[16]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[23]No special hot-end required (Simplify3D)[16]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate (0.3–0.8 %) — the copolyester matrix reaches 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH and 3DXTech specifies a 65 °C, 4 h pre-dry[17][21]Negligible (<0.1 % EMC) — Prusa measures 0.03 % in 24 h and 0.04 % in 7 days on its PP composite, the lowest figures it publishes for any filament[6]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented0.03 after 24 h and 0.04 after 7 days at 24 °C / 22 % RH (Prusa Polymers, measured on its PP composite)[6]
Drying temperature & timeNot documentedNo drying step is published for PP; uptake is below the level that affects printing[6]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[22]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle; Polymaker still advises a 70 °C dry for 4–6 h despite the low uptake[4]
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker groups PETG with nylon, PVA and TPU as highly hygroscopic; no dry-versus-conditioned strength figures are published for this grade and the loss shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion[22]Not applicable in practice — with equilibrium uptake at 0.04 %, there is no moisture-driven strength loss to measure. Polymaker's sensitivity tiers put polyolefins below even PLA[6][22]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker groups PETG with the highly hygroscopic materials[22][18]No special storage needed[6]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa43–44 at yield and 45–46 at break (ISO 527, injection-moulded resin data from Spectrum and Extrudr); 48 on My Tech Fun printed bars[1][2][24]12 at yield (Formfutura Centaur PP, ASTM D638)[3]
Young's modulusMPaNot documented724 on extruded PP stock (ASTM D638; converted from 105,000 psi)[25]
Elongation at break%215–220 at break on moulded specimens (ISO 527); 4.3–4.4 at yield[1][2]Above 600 at break (Formfutura Centaur PP, ASTM D638)[3]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented31.0 on extruded PP stock (ASTM D790; converted from 4500 psi)[25]
Flexural modulusMPaNot documented402 flexural modulus (Formfutura Centaur PP, ASTM D790) — an order of magnitude below any rigid filament[3]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²93–94 notched Izod at 23 °C on moulded specimens (ISO 180); 3DXTech quotes 8 by ISO 180/A[1][2][5]Not documented
Other impact dataIzod 4.14 kJ/m² on My Tech Fun printed bars, against 3.37 for PETG on the same rig[24]Izod notched 112 J/m on extruded PP stock, converted from 2.1 ft-lb/in (ASTM D256)[25]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa21.6 on My Tech Fun 4×4 mm printed bars, against 32.9 for PETG[24]Not documented
Brittleness1–5Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[1][2]Very ductile — bends far before failing[3]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell69 Shore D measured by My Tech Fun, against 72 for PETG[24]Rockwell R102 (and M95) on extruded PP stock (ASTM D785)[25]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Below average — a 12 mm bar sagged to 19.4 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg, slightly worse than PETG's 18.2[24]Below average[3]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Good — 215 % elongation at break and 94 kJ/m² notched Izod on moulded specimens (Extrudr, Spectrum)[1][2]Excellent — living hinges viable, the classic polypropylene application[3]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Slightly flexible in thin sections[24]Semi-flexible[3]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented74 on extruded PP stock (ASTM D648 at 66 psi; converted from 165 °F)[25]
Glass transition (Tg)°C78 (3DXTech, DSC)[5]Not documented
Melting point / Vicat°CAmorphous — no melting point; Vicat 88 (Spectrum, Extrudr)[1][2]205 ± 15 melting (Formfutura Centaur PP)[3]
Continuous service temperature°C68 — loaded bars begin to move at this temperature, against 65 for PETG[24]Bounded by a melting point of 205 ± 15 °C and by the 158 °C heat deflection of the carbon-filled grade; no loaded-bar service figure is published for unfilled PP[3][6]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard grades[26]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[6]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedMonths outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polypropylene chalks under UV[4]
Chemical resistanceWithstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure[18]Excellent against acids, alkalis and most solvents — the usual reason to choose PP[4]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Good — minor absorption; Spectrum describes the polymer as hydrophobic[1]Excellent — essentially unaffected[6]
Food contactNot certified for food contact as filament[18]Polypropylene is a common food-packaging polymer, but no filament here carries a food-contact certification[4]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[18]Not biodegradable[4]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[18]Mechanically recyclable as resin code 5, but printed waste is not accepted in household collection[4]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (3DXTech, ASTM D257)[5]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[27]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission. Inferred: no polyolefin was among the nine filaments in the Azimi chamber study, so this is a family-level judgement rather than a measurement[27]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Open a window / occasional ventilation[27]Open a window / occasional ventilation. Inferred — no polyolefin was measured in the chamber study[27]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands poorly — the material is tough and gums rather than powders[23]Sands poorly — the waxy surface loads abrasive paper[16]
Painting & finishingNot documentedPaint and adhesives do not key to untreated PP; flame or plasma treatment is normally needed first[4]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds PETG cleanly[23]Nothing common bonds untreated PP; flame or plasma treatment is needed before adhesives key[4]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[23]No practical vapour smoothing[16]
Support material pairingPrints its own supports; Polymaker rates PolyDissolve S1 for PETG[23]Prints its own supports; no soluble support is rated for PP[16]
Dimensional accuracy & detailOptical clarity is the selling point; Extrudr recommends a layer height at most 50 % of nozzle diameter[2]Shrinkage and warping dominate; the low modulus means parts flex rather than hold tolerance[6]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inNo common workshop solvent; Eastman's CHDM copolyester data shows 1,2-dichloroethane destroying it within a week.[28]None at room temperature; chloroform dissolves it at 60 °C and xylene at about 118 °C — the xylene-solubles route.[29][30]
Softened or crazed byAcetone, ethyl acetate, toluene and DMF swell and soften the copolyester; methanol crazes it (Eastman, 1 y at 23 °C).[28]Xylene, decalin, CCl4 and chlorobenzene are heavily absorbed at 20 °C; oleum, chlorosulphonic acid and bromine destroy it.[29]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentDichloromethane brushed on is the only agent that smooths PETG — a controlled carcinogen, not workshop stock.[31]None — nothing softens PP at room temperature, so joints have to be welded thermally rather than chemically.[29]

Material entries describe families or representative grades, not an interchangeable specification for every spool. Test methods, orientations and conditions may differ. Unknown values are marked “Not documented”. Prices and source dates remain historical snapshots; check the linked guide for product details. Differences highlight text, not a universal winner.

Sources for this comparison

  1. Spectrum Premium PCTG Technical Data Sheet Spectrum Filaments · 2026-08 · tds
  2. Extrudr PCTG technical data Extrudr · 2026-08 · tds
  3. Centaur PP Technical Data Sheet Formfutura · 2026-08 · tds
  4. PP — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  5. MAX-G PCTG Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  6. Prusament PP Carbon Fiber Technical Datasheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2024-11 · tds
  7. Push Plastic product catalogue Push Plastic · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Proto-pasta product catalogue Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. SUNLU product catalogue SUNLU · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Fiberlogy PP Natural — product page 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. Reli3D Low Warp PP Filament 1.75 mm 1 kg Black — Amazon listing Amazon.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. IEMAI 3D PP 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. CHCKX 10KG Multicolor PCTG Filament bundle CHCKX (Amazon US) · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. PP filament listing 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. Atomic Filament product catalogue Atomic Filament · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. Polypropylene — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  17. Prusament PETG Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  18. PETG — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  19. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  20. Prusament PP Glass Fiber Technical Datasheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2024-11 · tds
  21. MAX-G PCTG — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  22. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  23. PET and PETG — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  24. PCTG vs PETG comparison — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  25. TECAFINE PP natural — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  26. Prusament PETG V0 Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  27. Emissions of Ultrafine Particles and Volatile Organic Compounds from Commercially Available Desktop Three-Dimensional Printers with Multiple Filaments (Azimi et al.) Environmental Science & Technology 50(3) 1260-1268 · 2016-01 · paper
  28. Eastman Spectar copolyester — Chemical resistance (unstressed bars, 1 year at 23 °C) Eastman Chemical Company · 2026-08 · tds
  29. Pro-fax and Moplen polypropylene — Chemical Resistance Guide (20, 60 and 100 °C) LyondellBasell · 2026-08 · tds
  30. US 5,278,282 Polymer recycling by selective dissolution — xylene dissolution temperatures Nauman & Lynch, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · 1994-01 · paper
  31. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc