FabDigit

Dental Resin vs Silicone and 2 more: properties

Dental ResinSiliconeGreyTough 2000

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

2.2 GPa0.32 Msi
0 GPa3.19×10⁻⁴ Msi
2.5 GPa0.36 Msi
2.4 GPa0.35 Msi

Shear Modulus

0.8 GPa0.12 Msi
7.5×10⁻⁴ GPa1.09×10⁻⁴ Msi

Bulk Modulus

3 GPa0.38 Msi
2 GPa0.22 Msi

Poisson's Ratio

0.35
0.49
0.38
0.39

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

55 MPa8 ksi
8 MPa1.2 ksi
55 MPa8 ksi
50 MPa7.3 ksi

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

48 MPa7 ksi
48 MPa7 ksi
44 MPa6.4 ksi

Elongation at Break

6%
500%
8%
22%

Compressive Strength

130 MPa18.9 ksi
90 MPa13.1 ksi
70 MPa10.2 ksi

Compressive Modulus

2.3 GPa0.33 Msi
2.3 GPa0.33 Msi
2.1 GPa0.3 Msi

Flexural Strength

90 MPa13.1 ksi
80 MPa11.6 ksi
68 MPa9.9 ksi

Flexural Modulus

2.2 GPa0.32 Msi
2.2 GPa0.32 Msi
1.9 GPa0.28 Msi

Shear Strength

40 MPa5.8 ksi

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

1.1 MPa·√m1 ksi·√in
0.8 MPa·√m0.73 ksi·√in

Izod Impact, Notched

22 J/m0.41 ft·lbf/in
20 J/m0.37 ft·lbf/in
38 J/m0.71 ft·lbf/in

Hardness, Shore D

85 Shore D
82 Shore D
80 Shore D

Hardness, Rockwell M

85 HRM
80 HRM

Hardness, Shore A

50 Shore A

Tear Strength

25 kN/m143 lbf/in

Compression Set (22 h, 70 °C)

20%

Hardness, Rockwell R

103 HRR

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

1.16 g/cm³0.04 lb/in³
1.15 g/cm³0.04 lb/in³
1.15 g/cm³0.04 lb/in³
1.15 g/cm³0.04 lb/in³

Glass Transition (Tg)

78°C172 °F
-125°C-193 °F
60°C140 °F
58°C136 °F

Water Absorption (24 h)

0.9%
0.3%
0.5%
0.8%

Water Absorption (Saturation)

2%
1.6%
1.8%

Refractive Index

1.51
1.41
1.51
1.51

Light Transmission

85%
88%

Thermal

How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.

Thermal Conductivity

0.2 W/m·K0.12 BTU/hr·ft·°F
0.22 W/m·K0.13 BTU/hr·ft·°F
0.2 W/m·K0.12 BTU/hr·ft·°F
0.2 W/m·K0.12 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity

1,500 J/kg·K0.36 BTU/lb·°F
1,300 J/kg·K0.31 BTU/lb·°F
1,500 J/kg·K0.36 BTU/lb·°F
1,500 J/kg·K0.36 BTU/lb·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

100 µm/m·K55.6 µin/in·°F
270 µm/m·K150 µin/in·°F
90 µm/m·K50 µin/in·°F
110 µm/m·K61.1 µin/in·°F

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

70°C158 °F
200°C392 °F
50°C122 °F
50°C122 °F

Min Service Temperature

-20°C-4 °F
-60°C-76 °F
-20°C-4 °F
-20°C-4 °F

Heat Deflection Temp. @ 0.45 MPa

75°C167 °F
65°C149 °F
49°C120 °F

Heat Deflection Temp. @ 1.8 MPa

60°C140 °F
52°C126 °F
42°C108 °F

Limiting Oxygen Index

19%
26%
19%
19%

Max Service Temperature (short-term)

134°C273 °F
250°C482 °F
80°C176 °F
70°C158 °F

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Resistivity

1×10¹³ Ω·m3.94×10²⁰ µΩ·in
1×10¹³ Ω·m3.94×10²⁰ µΩ·in
1×10¹² Ω·m3.94×10¹⁹ µΩ·in
1×10¹² Ω·m3.94×10¹⁹ µΩ·in

Dielectric Strength

15 kV/mm381 V/mil
22 kV/mm559 V/mil
15 kV/mm381 V/mil
15 kV/mm381 V/mil

Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)

3.4
3
3.4
3.4

Dissipation Factor (1 MHz)

0.03
0.002
0.03
0.03

Volume Resistivity

1×10¹⁵ Ω·cm
1×10¹⁵ Ω·cm
1×10¹⁴ Ω·cm
1×10¹⁴ Ω·cm

Surface Resistivity

1×10¹⁵ Ω
1×10¹⁴ Ω
1×10¹⁴ Ω
1×10¹⁴ Ω

Comparative Tracking Index (CTI)

600 V

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Corrosion Resistance

85 / 100
90 / 100
70 / 100
55 / 100

UV / Weathering Resistance

35 / 100
97 / 100
25 / 100
30 / 100

Manufacturability

FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.

Machinability

60 / 100
20 / 100
45 / 100
55 / 100

Weldability

5 / 100
20 / 100
5 / 100
5 / 100

Formability (cold)

5 / 100
95 / 100
5 / 100
10 / 100

Polishability

80 / 100
85 / 100
75 / 100
65 / 100

Mold Shrinkage

1%
2.5%

Mold Temperature (typ.)

30°C86 °F
180°C356 °F

Processing Melt Temperature (typ.)

25°C77 °F

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

110 MJ/kg47,292 BTU/lb
110 MJ/kg47,292 BTU/lb
125 MJ/kg53,740 BTU/lb
115 MJ/kg49,441 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

5.5 kg CO₂/kg
6.5 kg CO₂/kg
5.5 kg CO₂/kg
6 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

200 L/kg24 gal/lb
250 L/kg30 gal/lb
250 L/kg30 gal/lb
260 L/kg31.2 gal/lb

Same in both: Typical Recycled Content 0%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

47 kN·m/kg
7 kN·m/kg
48 kN·m/kg
43 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

1.9 MN·m/kg
0 MN·m/kg
2.2 MN·m/kg
2.1 MN·m/kg

Thermal Shock Resistance Index

0
3
0
0

Same in both: Thermal Diffusivity 0.1 mm²/s

Strength versus weight

Yield strength against density for every polymer grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.

0.1110100123Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scaleSiliconeFormlabs GreyFormlabs Tough 2000Dental Resin

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityDental ResinSiliconeGreyTough 2000
3D printingYesYesYes
Default conditionStandardMedical GradeStandardABS-like
Relative cost$$$$ High$$$ Premium$ Budget$$ Standard
Min. machined wall
Best machined surface
Conductive CoatingYesYesYes
Dyeing (Nylon)YesYesYes
PaintingYesYesYes
Primer CoatingYesYesYes
Tinted CoatingYesYesYes
Vacuum MetallizationYesYesYes
Waterproof CoatingYesYesYes

Both are offered for Injection molding. They share 5 finishes: Chrome Plating (Plastic), EMI Shielding Coating, Soft Touch Coating, Spray Painting, UV Coating.

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Dental Resin and Silicone side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.

Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.