PP Ultrafuse

The high quality and high performance Ultrafuse PP filament belongs to the BASF portfolio of engineering filaments. It is a semi crystalline non-polar thermoplastic polymer characterized by low density (lowest among commodity plastics), high flexibility, toughness and high resistance to fatigue, as well as chemical resistance and insulating properties. Furthermore, the Ultrafuse PP has successfully passed tests for cytotoxicity, skin irritation and skin sensitisation, which means it could be used in applications where biocompatible parts are required.

PP (polypropylene) is one of the most used materials in the world and the second most widely produced commodity plastic. It is a very versatile polymer and the combination of toughness, light weight and flexibility is precisely what makes it a very popular material for engineering applications.

Image 1: A fan duct 3D printed with the Ultrafuse PP filament. Source: BASF.

In 3D printing, PP is a quite demanding material to work with, as it tends to warp, does not adhere easily to build surfaces, and requires a heated bed, a layer fan, and, ideally, an enclosed 3D printer. Nevertheless, this is compensated for a great surface finish, strong and resistant parts, and numerous possible applications for the 3D printed parts. The adhesion problems can be remedied by using a special bonding base for PP or adhesives, and the warping issues can be solved by using a 3D printed with a closed chamber, a heated bed or the “raft” setting in the slicing software.

Polypropylene has numerous applications thanks to its combination of mechanical, chemical and electrical properties. PP is used in the manufacturing of living hinges (fatigue resistance), piping systems (reclaimed water, potable water, hydronic heating and cooling), electrical insulation, medical laboratory plastics (resistance to heat and chemicals), food packaging (heat resistance), ropes, carpets, rugs, clothing, and many more.