Materials Overview
Introduction
Carbon resins are the raw materials from which parts are built using Digital Light Synthesis™. These curable liquid polymers are shaped using a series of projected UV light images. All parts printed on a Carbon printer have isotropic material properties due to Carbon's patented CLIP technology.
Click a link below to go to a specific material group:
Valuable information is available as printable handouts to be used in your production facility:
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
An SDS is a document that lists information relating to occupational safety and health for the use of various substances and products. These documents can be found on Carbon's main website here: www.carbon3d.com/stewardship
Pricing
Resin prices (including bulk prices) are available on the Carbon Resin Price List (login required).
Compliance and Safety Documentation
Safety data sheets and other compliance-related documentation (ROHS, REACH, etc.) for all Carbon resins can be found at https://www.carbon3d.com/stewardship.
One-Part Resins
These materials are single component formulations. They are typically best suited for prototyping or specialized applications, and are used extensively in oral health.
Characteristics
- Single component
- Poured directly into the cassette
- Reusable
- Printed parts are cured using UV light only
- Optional color mixing
Mechanical Properties
- Lower mechanical strength & abrasion resistance
Two-Part Resins
These materials consist of two components, part A and part B. They are packaged separately and must be combined and properly mixed before being dispensed into the printer cassette for printing.
See Resin Mixing and Dispensing for more information on mixing options and processes.
The mixed resin has a defined pot life or working time, generally 8 hours. Please refer to the material protocol sheet for the exact pot life for the material in question.
Characteristics:
- Dual component resins - Part A & B
- Part A & B mixed at the time of dispensing
- Limited lifetime (pot life) for use once mixed
- Dual Cure - Printed parts are cured in an oven to achieve ultimate mechanical properties
Mechanical Properties:
- Strong and abrasion-resistant
Dual Cure
Carbon resins are unique due to their dual cure process. The first cure occurs during printing, where DLP projection of UV light sets the liquid resin into a solid shape. This initial UV cure creates a "green state" part, which is solid enough to be handled, cleaned, and prepared for further processing.
The second cure, known as the thermal cure or bake, involves a precise thermal process performed in a convection oven. During this step, the material undergoes extensive cross-linking, transforming into a highly durable, engineering-grade material.
Material Selection
Selecting an appropriate material is a critical component of the part's success. This selection process can be complex and confusing. The following information offers some guidance.
Material Selection Process
The material selection process will narrow the list of manufacturing methods available for an application and provide a handful of suitable materials. Knowing the material options for DLS manufacturing is important for establishing design possibilities.
Identify the end-use application of the component.
Evaluate the critical performance needs of the application.
- Material type:
- Rigid
- Elastomer
- Temperature requirements
- Chemical resistance
- Biocompatibility needs
- Needed mechanical performance
Select a suitable material by reviewing material resources.
- DLS Design Quick Guide This guide contains resources that will help you select a material.
- Material Property Summary Chart - This table lists the properties of all Carbon materials in one place. A great reference for engineers and designers!
- Material Chemical Compatibility - This table summarizes degradation of Carbon materials as tested against common chemicals.
- Material Technical Data Sheets (TDS) This page shows all of the materials available on Carbon's platform including rigid, elastomeric and dental specific resins. Click on a material category to see the full list with links to TDSs.
- Carbon Alternatives to Common Thermoplastics Comparison table of common thermoplastics to Carbon materials