PP CF

Nanovia is a French specialistic 3D filament and care accessories manufacturer for advanced industrial applications. Their specialty are premium blends and high quality technical filaments. They have been contributing advanced and innovative products to the aeronautical, naval, automobile, paramedical and defense industries since 2014. The Nanovia filaments find multiple applications within those sectors, for example to manufacture functional prototypes, mechanical pieces, tools, flexible parts, and sterilization-resistant molding equipment, to name just a few.

This carbon-reinforced polypropylene FDM filament by Nanovia has many improved qualities compared to a regular PP filament, and it satisfies the need for filament that can withstand prolonged wear in outdoor conditions.

Image 1. Functional pieces 3D printed with the Nanovia PP CF. Source: Nanovia.

Polypropylene (PP) is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer from the polyolefins group. It is formed through the polymerization of propylene. Its properties are similar to those of PE but PP has the advantage of being lighter (one of the lightest 3D printing materials), having high softening temperature, high breaking, shock and wear resistance, excellent chemical resistance, and relative flexibility (semi-rigid). Thanks to those properties, PP is perfect for advanced applications, for example in light but sturdy parts that are in constant repetitive use, such as cogs, screws and hinges.

Filaments with advanced technical applications are frequently boosted with the addition of carbon fibres or glass fibres to ensure the filament will reliably fulfill the role it was designed for. Adding carbon fibre (CF) makes the filament itself and the 3D prints more rigid, stiff, more dimensionally stable, and lighter (which makes an ideal substitute for metal parts). By adding carbon fibers to this particular Nanovia PP CF filament, a number of the limitations of regular PP were overcome:

1. More rigidity.
2. UV resistance.
3. Resistance to humidity (-1 % water absorption after 24h submersion).
4. The gradual increase in PP flexibility with increasing temperature has been remedied. Now the operational temperature of the PP CF is up to 100 ºC.

Image 2: Technical parts printed with the Nanovia PP CF. Source: Nanovia.

Those qualities make this PP filament reinforced with carbon fibers perfect for outdoor applications, even in hot and humid environments, and for the 3D printing of high stress industrial pieces that have to endure regular flexing while maintaining dimensional control in challenging conditions. A great example of a PP CF application would be a high performance light mechanical part that is in contact with a solvent and/or exposed to the elements.