---
title: "Vapor Smoothing SLS Polypropylene (PP) | AMT PostPro"
description: "Ricoh and AMT smoothed SLS polypropylene: surface roughness down about 95%, higher elongation at break and break stress, no cytotoxic effects."
canonical: https://amtechnologies.com/resources/whitepapers/new-process-to-smooth-polypropylene-3d-printed-parts/
updated: 2026-10-06
type: whitepaper
---
Whitepaper · Ricoh polypropylene

# Ricoh polypropylene: smoothing SLS PP parts

Polypropylene is durable, light and chemically resistant, but in 3D printing its use has been limited by surface roughness and by its resistance to polar solvents. Ricoh and AMT used AMT’s smoothing technology on Ricoh’s SLS polypropylene.

[Read the whitepaper (PDF, opens in a new tab)](https://6983077.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/6983077/Website/Whitepapers/AMT_WP_RICOH%20PP.pdf?ver=2) [Test your parts](https://amtechnologies.com/test-your-parts/)

Published Nov 7, 2022 Free download, no form

![Cover of the whitepaper “Ricoh polypropylene: smoothing SLS PP parts”](https://amtechnologies.com/img/resources/wp-ricoh-pp-720.webp)

- **With**: Ricoh
- **Material**: Ricoh polypropylene
- **Printing**: SLS (RICOH AMS5500P)
- **Published**: Nov 7, 2022

- 95% lower surface roughness, about

Source: [Ricoh whitepaper, amtechnologies.com](https://amtechnologies.com/resources/whitepapers/new-process-to-smooth-polypropylene-3d-printed-parts/) [PDF (opens in a new tab)](https://6983077.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/6983077/Website/Whitepapers/AMT_WP_RICOH%20PP.pdf?ver=2) published Nov 7, 2022

## Test method

Parts printed on the RICOH AMS5500P from a mix of virgin and refreshed PP were cleaned of loose powder, smoothed, and tested for dimensional variation, solvent uptake, mechanical properties and surface roughness.

## Results

- Surface roughness reduced by around 95%, within the range typical of injection-molded PP, with more hydrophobic surfaces
- Higher elongation at break and break stress
- No cytotoxic effects in tests to ISO standards[PDF](https://6983077.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/6983077/Website/Whitepapers/AMT_WP_RICOH%20PP.pdf?ver=2)

For polypropylene on PostPro systems today, see the FA9202 consumable on the [consumables page](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/consumables/).

Key finding

About 95% lower surface roughness[PDF](https://6983077.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/6983077/Website/Whitepapers/AMT_WP_RICOH%20PP.pdf?ver=2)

Full whitepaper

Method, data and charts in the PDF. Free, no form to fill in.

[Download the PDF (opens in a new tab)](https://6983077.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/6983077/Website/Whitepapers/AMT_WP_RICOH%20PP.pdf?ver=2)

Related

- [Compatible materials lists](https://amtechnologies.com/resources/documents/)
- [What is vapor smoothing?](https://amtechnologies.com/learn/what-is-vapor-smoothing/)
- [All whitepapers](https://amtechnologies.com/resources/whitepapers/)

Test your parts

## Send us a part. See it smoothed.

We vapor smooth your own parts and send them back with the results. No cost to evaluate · Parts returned · Typical turnaround 2–3 weeks[1]

[Test your parts](https://amtechnologies.com/test-your-parts/) [See the systems](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/)

## Sources

1. [PostPro benchmarking: send us your 3D printed parts](https://benchmarking.amtechnologies.com/) · AMT · read Oct 6, 2026