CR-3D has listed PP GF15 UL V-0, a polypropylene filament with 15 % glass fibre and halogen-free flame retardant, rated UL 94 V-0 at 3 mm test thickness. At 1.16 g/cm³ it is the lightest material in the company's FlameX range. It targets light covers, housings and test fixtures that need fire protection.
What is PP GF15 UL V-0?
It is halogen-free flame-retardant polypropylene with 15 % glass fibre, rated UL 94 V-0 at 3 mm test thickness. Density is 1.16 g/cm³, tensile modulus 3,200 MPa and heat deflection up to 100 °C. Polypropylene absorbs little moisture, and it is very resistant to water, cleaning agents, alcohols, acetone and some acids, a guide value for the material group at room temperature. Concentrated nitric or sulphuric acid should be tested first.
How does the rating apply to printed parts?
The rating applies to the material at 3 mm. It is a material test, not a UL listing. Wall thickness, infill and orientation of a printed part decide its behaviour, so a part with a fire requirement should be tested in its exact build.
How is it printed?
Start values match PP GF25, the other glass-filled PP in the range, which offers 25 % fibre and heat resistance to 128 °C. Nozzle 250 °C with a hardened nozzle from 0.5 mm, bed 90 °C with Powder PEI or FR4 with PP glue stick, and a closed chamber. With dry storage no drying is needed. It comes in black and natural, on 0.5, 1, 2.1 and 10 kg spools, plus a 50 g sample.
What it means
For small and mid-sized manufacturers, a light, halogen-free V-0 material that needs no drying and shares settings with PP GF25 lowers the barrier to trying fire-rated FFF parts. The caveat is qualification: the rating is for the material at 3 mm, not for a printed part, so the actual geometry must be verified. This follows CR-3D's recent additions of flame-retardant PC-ABS and PPS CF10 to the FlameX range.
Frequently asked questions
Is PP GF15 UL V-0 a UL-listed material?
No. It is rated UL 94 V-0 in a material test at 3 mm thickness, not a UL listing. Printed parts with fire requirements should be tested in their actual wall thickness, infill and orientation.
What is the difference to PP GF25?
Both are glass-filled polypropylene with the same start settings. PP GF15 UL V-0 adds flame retardancy, while PP GF25 has 25 % glass fibre, more toughness and heat resistance to 128 °C.
Does the filament need drying?
Not with dry storage, since polypropylene absorbs little moisture. The spool should go into a sealed box after printing.
