3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

rPETG vs PP

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

Recycled PETG (rPETG) guidePolypropylene (PP) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore rPETG comparisonsMore PP comparisons
rPETG vs PP — documented properties and sources
PropertyRecycled PETG (rPETG)PETGPolypropylene (PP)POLYOLEFIN
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$28.99/kg median; $17.24–$39.98/kg across 4 dated product listings$46.56/kg median; $31.99–$53.00/kg across 4 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPETG regranulated from recycled polyester waste; Polymaker's Fiberon PETG-rCF08 adds 8 wt% recycled carbon fibre[1][2][3]Polypropylene — a semi-crystalline polyolefin with no polar groups, so it neither absorbs water nor bonds to most bed surfaces[4][5]
Densityg/cm³1.27 (Prusament) and 1.30 (Fiberon PETG-rCF08), ISO 1183[1][3]0.91 (Prusa PP composite, ISO 1183) — the lightest common filament[6]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 29[7][8][9][10]1 kg-equivalent spools span 27–53; the middle of the market is about 44[11][12][13][14]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg17–40 across brands; Filament PM RePETG 17, 3DXTech ECOMAX 26, GreenGate3D 32, Fiberon rCF08 40[7][8][9][10]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[11][15][12][13][14]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[7][8][9]Available from several mainstream brands[15][12][11]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 1 and 3 kg spools[9][8]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.75 kg spools are common[12]
Typical applicationsNot documentedLiving hinges, chemical-resistant containers, automotive clips and packaging prototypes[4]
Diameter tolerance± mm±0.05 (Prusament PETG Recycled), against ±0.02 for virgin Prusament PETG[1][16]Not documented
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C250 ± 10 (Prusament); 230–255 (Spectrum)[1][2]210–230 (Braskem-type PE/PP window); Formfutura's Centaur PP melts at 205 ± 15 °C[4]
Bed temperature°C80 ± 10 (Prusament); 60–80 (Spectrum)[1][2]Not documented
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine — Spectrum states a closed chamber is not necessary[2]Enclosure recommended — Simplify3D lists an enclosure as a hardware requirement and Polymaker advises one below 70 °C ambient to stop warping and cracking[17][5]
Part cooling fan50 % (Prusament); up to 100 % (Spectrum)[1][2]Part cooling fan required (Simplify3D)[17]
Bed surface & adhesion aidTextured PEI, satin or powder-coated sheets; on smooth PEI a glue stick acts as a release agent[16][18]Packing tape, a polypropylene sheet, or a PP-specific adhesive such as Magigoo PP — ordinary PLA and ABS adhesives do not hold it[17][5]
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][19]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs the right surface or a thin adhesive — the problem is releasing the part, not sticking it[16][18]Very difficult — special plates or slurry required. PP bonds to almost nothing; a polypropylene-specific tape or adhesive is the normal answer[6][5]
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[5]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Easy — minor profile tuning; Spectrum describes printing as similar to standard PETG[2]Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning; bed adhesion is the whole problem[5][6]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[1]Brass fine indefinitely for unfilled grades — Simplify3D states no special hotend is required[17]
Abrasiveness1–5Not documentedNon-abrasive when unfilled[17]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Low — recycled PETG prints on the same hardware as virgin PETG: no special hot-end, no drybox and no hardened nozzle[20][21]Low — Simplify3D lists no special hotend requirement for PP and clogging is not among its listed drawbacks[22][17]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[20]Slightly sensitive[17]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[20]No special hot-end required (Simplify3D)[17]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate (0.3–0.8 %) — recycled PETG shares the virgin matrix, which reaches 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH[16]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%0.07 after 24 h and 0.10 after 7 days at 24 °C / 22 % RH (Prusa Polymers)[1]0.03 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[5]
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 ± 1.8 printed horizontal at yield, ISO 527-1 (Prusament), against 47 ± 2 for virgin Prusament PETG; Spectrum quotes 52 at yield on moulded specimens[1][16][2]12 at yield (Formfutura Centaur PP, ASTM D638)[4]
Young's modulusMPa1500 printed horizontal, 1600 printed vertical (Prusament, ISO 527-1) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG[1][16]724 on extruded PP stock (ASTM D638; converted from 105,000 psi)[23]
Elongation at break%4.5 at yield printed (Prusament); Spectrum quotes 400 at break on moulded specimens[1][2]Above 600 at break (Formfutura Centaur PP, ASTM D638)[4]
Flexural strengthMPa63 ± 1 printed horizontal, ISO 178 (Prusament), against 66 ± 2 for virgin Prusament PETG[1][16]31.0 on extruded PP stock (ASTM D790; converted from 4500 psi)[23]
Flexural modulusMPa1800 printed horizontal, ISO 178 (Prusament)[1]402 flexural modulus (Formfutura Centaur PP, ASTM D790) — an order of magnitude below any rigid filament[4]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²12 ± 1 printed horizontal and 15 ± 3 printed vertical, ISO 179-1 notched (Prusament)[1]Not documented
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 25 ± 3 printed horizontal and 38 ± 11 printed vertical (Prusament, ISO 179-1)[1]Izod notched 112 J/m on extruded PP stock, converted from 2.1 ft-lb/in (ASTM D256)[23]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa15 ± 5 (Prusa Polymers interlayer adhesion test), against 18 ± 4 for virgin Prusament PETG[1][16]Not documented
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1]Very ductile — bends far before failing[4]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell74 Shore D (Prusa Polymers method) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG[1][16]Rockwell R102 (and M95) on extruded PP stock (ASTM D785)[23]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Below average — no recycled-grade creep test; virgin PETG sagged from 12 to 17.1–20.4 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[24][25][26][27]Below average[4]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Moderate — no recycled-grade S-N curve; virgin printed PETG ran 79 000–193 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength[28]Excellent — living hinges viable, the classic polypropylene application[4]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Slightly flexible in thin sections[1]Semi-flexible[4]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C68 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG; Spectrum quotes 70[1][16][2]74 on extruded PP stock (ASTM D648 at 66 psi; converted from 165 °F)[23]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C68 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[1]Not documented
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented205 ± 15 melting (Formfutura Centaur PP)[4]
Continuous service temperature°CNot documentedBounded 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[4][6]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard grades[29]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[5]
Chemical resistanceWithstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure[18]Excellent against acids, alkalis and most solvents — the usual reason to choose PP[5]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedExcellent — 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[5]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[18]Not biodegradable[5]
RecyclabilityThe feedstock itself — Spectrum describes collecting, shredding and re-homogenising PETG waste[2]Mechanically recyclable as resin code 5, but printed waste is not accepted in household collection[5]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[30]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[30]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Open a window / occasional ventilation[30]Open a window / occasional ventilation. Inferred — no polyolefin was measured in the chamber study[30]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands poorly — the material is tough and gums rather than powders[20]Sands poorly — the waxy surface loads abrasive paper[17]
Painting & finishingNot documentedPaint and adhesives do not key to untreated PP; flame or plasma treatment is normally needed first[5]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds PETG cleanly[20]Nothing common bonds untreated PP; flame or plasma treatment is needed before adhesives key[5]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[20]No practical vapour smoothing[17]
Support material pairingPrints its own supports; Polymaker rates PolyDissolve S1 for PETG[20]Prints its own supports; no soluble support is rated for PP[17]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedShrinkage and warping dominate; the low modulus means parts flex rather than hold tolerance[6]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inNo common workshop solvent; 1,2-dichloroethane destroys it inside a week and dichloromethane — a carcinogen — dissolves the surface.[31][32]None at room temperature; chloroform dissolves it at 60 °C and xylene at about 118 °C — the xylene-solubles route.[33][34]
Softened or crazed byAcetone (+16 % weight over 1 year at 23 °C), ethyl acetate, toluene and DMF swell and soften it; methanol crazes it.[31]Xylene, decalin, CCl4 and chlorobenzene are heavily absorbed at 20 °C; oleum, chlorosulphonic acid and bromine destroy it.[33]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentDichloromethane brushed on is the only agent that smooths PETG — a controlled carcinogen, not workshop stock.[32]None — nothing softens PP at room temperature, so joints have to be welded thermally rather than chemically.[33]

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. Prusament PETG Recycled Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  2. Spectrum r-PETG Technical Data Sheet Spectrum Filaments · 2026-08 · tds
  3. Fiberon PETG-rCF08 Technical Data Sheet V1.0 Polymaker · 2026-08 · tds
  4. Centaur PP Technical Data Sheet Formfutura · 2026-08 · tds
  5. PP — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  6. Prusament PP Carbon Fiber Technical Datasheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2024-11 · tds
  7. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. GreenGate3D Recycled PET-G — product data GreenGate3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Filament PM RePETG technical data sheet Filament PM (Plasty Mladec) · 2026-08 · tds
  11. SUNLU product catalogue SUNLU · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. Fiberlogy PP Natural — product page 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. Reli3D Low Warp PP Filament 1.75 mm 1 kg Black — Amazon listing Amazon.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. IEMAI 3D PP 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. PP filament listing 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. Prusament PETG Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  17. Polypropylene — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  18. PETG — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  19. Prusament PP Glass Fiber Technical Datasheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2024-11 · tds
  20. PET and PETG — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  21. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  22. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  23. TECAFINE PP natural — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  24. PCTG vs PETG comparison — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  25. Extrudr PETG vs PCTG vs XPETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  26. Prusament PETG-CF vs PETG V0 vs PETG — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  27. BambuLab PETG Basic vs Translucent vs PETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  28. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  29. Prusament PETG V0 Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  30. 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
  31. Eastman Spectar copolyester — Chemical resistance (unstressed bars, 1 year at 23 °C) Eastman Chemical Company · 2026-08 · tds
  32. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  33. Pro-fax and Moplen polypropylene — Chemical Resistance Guide (20, 60 and 100 °C) LyondellBasell · 2026-08 · tds
  34. US 5,278,282 Polymer recycling by selective dissolution — xylene dissolution temperatures Nauman & Lynch, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · 1994-01 · paper