

Elastic 3D printing resins have multiple applications in many sectors, and are especially useful in applications such as the production of digital lattice foams, soft end of arm tooling (EOAT) for robots, grommets, bellows and elastic industrial parts. The rubber-like Elastomer-X resin by Liqcreate was designed especially for those purposes. It is a clear photopolymer resin printable on most resin based 3D-printers (DLP, LCD, SLA) in the range of 385-420 nm by brands such as Anycubic or Phrozen. A full list of compatible 3D printers can be consulted here.
Parts 3D-printed with the Elastomer-X resin are exceptionally soft (Shore 43A) and have great flexibility and elasticity, mimicing parts 3D printed with soft TPU or silicone. Another advatage offered by the Elastomer-X resin is that it can be colored with almost any commercially available resin colorant, for example the UVO colorants by Smooth-On.
Adding colorant to the Elastomer-X resin should not in any way influence the mechanical properties of the 3D printed part but it can influence the printing time. The results can also depend on the colorant and 3D printer used, which is why the user should conduct own experiments to elaborate the most convenient coloring procedure.
Curing, washing, and sintering properties |
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Washing time | 4 - 5 min |
Curing time | - |
Curing temperature | - ºC |
General information |
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Manufacturer | Liqcreate |
Material | Photopolymer |
Format | 0.25 kg / 1 kg |
Technology | SLA / LED-LCD / DLP |
Wavelength | 385 - 405 nm |
Viscosity | @ 25 ºC: 2000 cP |
Density (liquid) | 1.18 g/cm² |
Printing properties |
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Layer height | 25 - 100 µm |
Layer exposure time | - |
Layer off time | - |
Lifting height | - mm |
Bottom layer exposure | - |
Bottom layer count | - |
Mechanical properties |
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Izod impact strength | - KJ/m² |
Charpy impact strength | - KJ/m² |
Elongation at break | (ASTM D638M) 140 -180 % |
Tensile strength | (ASTM D638M) 1.5 MPa |
Tensile modulus | - MPa |
Flexural strength | - MPa |
Flexural modulus | - MPa |
Surface hardness | (ASTM D2240) Shore 43 A |
Thermal properties |
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Softening temperature | - ºC |
Specific properties |
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Maximum water absorption | (UD570-98) 1.5 % |
Other |
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HS Code | 2916.1 |
Lifetime (since manufacturing) | - M |
On the Liqcreate website the user can find a guide on how to process flexible 3D printing resins.
In order to ensure resin longevity and successful 3D prints, it is advised to store the Elastomer-X resin in a clean and dry environment, out of direct sunlight and in a temperature of 5-30 ºC. Before use, the resin bottle should be shaken energetically for at least 1 minute (at least 3 minutes in the case of filled resins) and then left to rest for around 10 minutes to let the air bubble escape. Leftover resin can be poured back into the bottle but it should be first filtered to ensure there is no polymer residue present. Safety equipment such as protective garments, gloves and face protection is highly recommended for the handling of resin.
As far as the post-processing of the Elastomer-X, a few simple steps must be followed. First, the 3D printed part has to be cleaned for a maximum of 6 minutes in Liqcreate Resin Cleaner, IPA alcohol or bioethanol, preferably ultrasonic or under agitation. Then the completely dried part has to be cured in a high-power UV curing chamber. The curing workflow is explained in detail by the manufacturer here. It absolutely crucial that the parts are dry before they are cured. The curing of wet or sticky parts will lead to mechanical and surface defects. The drying can be done by simply leaving the cleaned part in a well ventilated area for at least 30 minutes or with the help of pressurized air (2 minutes) for parts cleaned in IPA alcohol or ethanol.