3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PP-GF vs PSU

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

Glass-fibre PP (PP-GF) guidePSU guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PP-GF comparisonsMore PSU comparisons
PP-GF vs PSU — documented properties and sources
PropertyGlass-fibre PP (PP-GF)POLYOLEFINPSUHIGHTEMP
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$49.09/kg median; $46.27–$86.01/kg across 3 dated product listings$168.00/kg median; $168.00–$168.00/kg across 1 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPolypropylene reinforced with chopped glass fibre[1][2]Polysulfone — the lowest-temperature and cheapest of the sulfone family[3]
Densityg/cm³1.12 (Prusament PP Glass Fiber, ISO 1183) — the glass lifts it above water[1]1.24 (ISO 1183)[3]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 49[4][5][6]1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 250[7]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg46-86 across brands; BCN3D PP GF30 46 at 700 g, BASF Ultrafuse PP GF30 49 at 2.2 kg, Prusament PP Glass Fiber 86 at 850 g[4][5][6]168-250 across formats; 250 g spool $42 (168/kg), 500 g $125 (250/kg) — 3DXTech is the only filament supplier found[7]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[4][5][6]Special order, 1–2 makers worldwide[7]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 700 g, 850 g and 2.2 kg spools[4][5][6]1.75 mm; 250 g and 500 g spools[7]
Typical applicationsStiff, chemically resistant parts where PP-CF's cost or conductivity is unwanted[2]Transparent high-temperature housings, medical trays and hot-water fittings[3]
Diameter tolerance± mm±0.04 (Prusament)[1]Not documented
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C245 ± 10 (Prusament) — 25 °C below the carbon-fibre grade[1][8]Not documented
Bed temperature°C95 ± 10 (Prusament)[1]120–140 (3DXTech)[3]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended — Simplify3D lists an enclosure as a hardware requirement and Polymaker advises one below 70 °C ambient to stop warping and cracking[9][10]Actively heated chamber required[11][12]
Part cooling fanOff — Prusa runs 0 % except 100 % on bridges[1]Not documented
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/s4 at Prusa's 50 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[1][13]Not documented
Warping tendency1–5High — enclosure needed for reliable large parts; Prusa recommends a brim[1]Not documented
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Very difficult — special plates or slurry required[1]Not documented
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning; hardened nozzle mandatory[1]Expert / industrial hardware only[11][12]
Extruder requirementPrusa states a hardened nozzle is necessary and recommends a brim[1]Not documented
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required[1]Brass fine indefinitely for unfilled grades, but brass softens near these nozzle temperatures — hardened or plated hot ends are the norm[11]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard GF composite[1]Non-abrasive when unfilled[3]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; Prusa lists higher risk of nozzle clogging for glass-filled composites[14]Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns but a mandatory 120 °C pre-dry before every print[15]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Low (0.1–0.3 %) — 0.11 % at both 24 h and 7 days, higher than the carbon-fibre grade's 0.04 % but still very low[1][8]Not documented
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.11 after 24 h and 0.11 after 7 days at 24 °C / 22 % RH (Prusa Polymers)[1]0.30 in 24 h on extruded stock (ASTM D570)[16]
Effect of moisture on strengthNot applicable in practice at 0.11 % equilibrium uptake[1]No dry-versus-conditioned figures are published; 3DXTech mandates a 120 °C, 4 h pre-dry before every print because trapped water flashes to steam at these nozzle temperatures[15]
Storage requirementNo special storage needed[1]Not documented
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa46.6 ± 1.3 filament tensile yield (Prusament, ISO 527) — more than double the carbon-fibre grade's 21[1][8]52 (printed XY, ISO 527, 3DXTech); 81 at break on extruded stock (ASTM D638)[3][16]
Young's modulusMPaNot documented2100 (printed XY, ISO 527)[3]
Elongation at break%Not documented8 (printed XY, ISO 527) against 50 on extruded stock — nearly three times PPSU's printed 3 %[3][17][16]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented87 (printed XY, ISO 178)[3]
Flexural modulusMPaNot documented2050 (printed XY, ISO 178)[3]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²7.9 ± 0.4 printed horizontal and 9.9 ± 0.8 printed vertical XZ (ISO 179-1, notched)[1]Not documented
Other impact dataNot documentedIzod notched 69 J/m on extruded PSU stock, converted from 1.3 ft-lb/in (ASTM D256)[16]
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1]Moderate[3]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellRockwell R102 (and M95) on extruded unfilled PP stock (ASTM D785); no figure is published for a glass-fibre PP filament[18]Rockwell M120 on extruded PSU stock (ASTM D785)[16]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Not documentedGood. Ensinger lists high creep resistance as a headline property of extruded PSU stock, which is rated to 173 °C heat deflection at 1.8 MPa[16]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[3]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C138.3 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[1]172 (printed XY, ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa, 3DXTech); 181 on extruded stock, converted from 358 °F at 66 psi[3][16]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C112.6 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[1]174 on extruded PSU stock, converted from 345 °F at 264 psi (ASTM D648)[16]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented187 (DSC, 3DXTech) and 185 on extruded stock (ASTM D3418), against 230 for PPSU[3][17][16]
Continuous service temperature°CNot documented141 long-term service on extruded PSU stock, converted from 285 °F[16]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·KNot documented55.8 (extruded PSU stock, ASTM D696; source states 3.1e-5 in/in/°F)[16]
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedUL 94 V-0 on extruded PSU stock[16]
Environment & Chemical
Chemical resistanceExcellent against acids, alkalis and most solvents[10]Not documented
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Excellent — essentially unaffected[1]Not documented
Electrical & ESD propertiesNot documentedSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — an insulator (IEC 60093)[3]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Low 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[19]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised. None of these polymers was in the chamber study, and all are processed far above the temperatures it covered[19]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Open a window / occasional ventilation. Inferred — no polyolefin was measured in the chamber study[19]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[19]
Dust & fibre handling hazardGlass fibre is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[1]Not documented
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inNone at room temperature; chloroform dissolves the matrix at 60 °C and xylene at about 118 °C, leaving the fibre.[20][21]Chlorinated hydrocarbons — dichloromethane, chloroform — dissolve polysulfone; ketones and esters attack it as well.[22][23]
Softened or crazed byXylene, decalin, CCl4 and chlorobenzene are heavily absorbed at 20 °C; oleum, chlorosulphonic acid and bromine destroy it.[20]Acetone, MEK, ethyl acetate, benzene and toluene craze or stress-crack it; methanol and isopropanol only marginally.[23][22]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nothing softens PP at room temperature, so joints have to be welded thermally rather than chemically.[20]Dichloromethane cement welds PSU and NMP softens residual resin. Both are laboratory reagents.[22]

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 PP Glass Fiber Technical Datasheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2024-11 · tds
  2. Prusament PP Glass Fiber — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  3. ThermaX PSU Technical Data Sheet v3 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  4. BASF Ultrafuse PP GF30 Black 2.85 mm 2.200 g igo3d · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. BCN3D PP GF30 Black 2.85 mm 700 g igo3d · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. Prusa Prusament PP Glass Fiber Natural (NFC), 1.75 mm / 850 g 3DJAKE · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Prusament PP Carbon Fiber Technical Datasheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2024-11 · tds
  9. Polypropylene — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  10. PP — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  11. Prusament PEI 1010 Technical Datasheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2024-09 · tds
  12. Prusament PEI 1010 — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  13. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  14. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  15. THERMAX PSU — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  16. TECASON S natural (PSU) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  17. ThermaX PPSU Technical Data Sheet v3 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  18. TECAFINE PP natural — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  19. 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
  20. Pro-fax and Moplen polypropylene — Chemical Resistance Guide (20, 60 and 100 °C) LyondellBasell · 2026-08 · tds
  21. US 5,278,282 Polymer recycling by selective dissolution — xylene dissolution temperatures Nauman & Lynch, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · 1994-01 · paper
  22. Radel PPSU, Veradel PESU, Acudel modified PPSU Design Guide — environmental stress cracking tables Solvay Specialty Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  23. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds