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Dental Resin vs Formlabs Rigid 10K

Polymer · grade comparison

Dental Resin and Rigid 10K are both polymer grades. Rigid 10K is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) against 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) for Dental Resin, about 36% more. In exchange, Dental Resin is the more ductile: elongation 6% versus 2.5% for Rigid 10K. Dental Resin is lighter (1.16 g/cm³ vs 1.55 g/cm³ for Rigid 10K) and Rigid 10K is stiffer (5.5 GPa vs 2.2 GPa). On the shop floor, Dental Resin machines more easily (good vs fair) and Rigid 10K sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than Dental Resin (high, $$$$).

Dental ResinChoose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when weight is the constraint.

Rigid 10KChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part sees heat.

Dental Resin vs Rigid 10K: properties

Dental ResinRigid 10K

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

2.2 GPa0.32 Msi
5.5 GPa0.8 Msi

Shear Modulus

0.8 GPa0.12 Msi
—

Bulk Modulus

3 GPa0.38 Msi
—

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

55 MPa8 ksi
75 MPa10.9 ksi

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

48 MPa7 ksi
—

Elongation at Break

6%
2.5%

Compressive Strength

130 MPa18.9 ksi
105 MPa15.2 ksi

Compressive Modulus

2.3 GPa0.33 Msi
5 GPa0.73 Msi

Flexural Strength

90 MPa13.1 ksi
125 MPa18.1 ksi

Flexural Modulus

2.2 GPa0.32 Msi
5 GPa0.73 Msi

Shear Strength

40 MPa5.8 ksi
—

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

1.1 MPa·√m1 ksi·√in
0.9 MPa·√m0.82 ksi·√in

Izod Impact, Notched

22 J/m0.41 ft·lbf/in
17 J/m0.32 ft·lbf/in

Hardness, Rockwell M

85 HRM
95 HRM

Same in both: Poisson's Ratio 0.35 · Hardness, Shore D 85 Shore D

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

1.16 g/cm³0.04 lb/in³
1.55 g/cm³0.06 lb/in³

Glass Transition (Tg)

78°C172 °F
105°C221 °F

Water Absorption (24 h)

0.9%
0.5%

Water Absorption (Saturation)

2%
—

Refractive Index

1.51
—

Light Transmission

85%
—

Thermal

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

Thermal Conductivity

0.2 W/m·K0.12 BTU/hr·ft·°F
0.3 W/m·K0.17 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity

1,500 J/kg·K0.36 BTU/lb·°F
1,250 J/kg·K0.3 BTU/lb·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

100 µm/m·K55.6 µin/in·°F
45 µm/m·K25 µin/in·°F

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

70°C158 °F
100°C212 °F

Min Service Temperature

-20°C-4 °F
-30°C-22 °F

Heat Deflection Temp. @ 0.45 MPa

75°C167 °F
130°C266 °F

Heat Deflection Temp. @ 1.8 MPa

60°C140 °F
105°C221 °F

Limiting Oxygen Index

19%
21%

Max Service Temperature (short-term)

134°C273 °F
150°C302 °F

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Resistivity

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

Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)

3.4
3.6

Volume Resistivity

1×10¹⁵ Ω·cm
1×10¹⁴ Ω·cm

Surface Resistivity

1×10¹⁵ Ω
1×10¹⁴ Ω

Same in both: Dielectric Strength 15 kV/mm381 V/mil · Dissipation Factor (1 MHz) 0.03

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Corrosion Resistance

85 / 100
80 / 100

UV / Weathering Resistance

35 / 100
25 / 100

Manufacturability

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

Machinability

60 / 100
40 / 100

Weldability

5 / 100
3 / 100

Formability (cold)

5 / 100
3 / 100

Polishability

80 / 100
55 / 100

Mold Shrinkage

1%
—

Mold Temperature (typ.)

30°C86 °F
—

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

110 MJ/kg47,292 BTU/lb
115 MJ/kg49,441 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

5.5 kg CO₂/kg
6 kg CO₂/kg

Same in both: Embodied Water 200 L/kg24 gal/lb · Typical Recycled Content 0%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

47 kN·m/kg
48 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

1.9 MN·m/kg
3.5 MN·m/kg

Thermal Diffusivity

0.1 mm²/s
0.2 mm²/s

Same in both: Thermal Shock Resistance Index 0

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 scaleFormlabs Rigid 10KDental Resin

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityDental ResinRigid 10K
Default conditionStandardGlass Filled
Relative cost$$$$ High$$$ Premium
Min. machined wall——
Best machined surface——

Both are offered for Injection molding and 3D printing. Both take the same 12 finishes: Chrome Plating (Plastic), Conductive Coating, Dyeing (Nylon), EMI Shielding Coating, Painting, Primer Coating, Soft Touch Coating, Spray Painting, Tinted Coating, UV Coating, Vacuum Metallization, Waterproof Coating.

Dental Resin vs Rigid 10K — frequently asked

Is Rigid 10K stronger than Dental Resin?

Yes. Rigid 10K has a typical tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) against 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) for Dental Resin — about 36% more.

Which is cheaper, Dental Resin or Rigid 10K?

Rigid 10K is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) while Dental Resin is high ($$$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.

Which is easier to machine, Dental Resin or Rigid 10K?

Dental Resin. Its machinability rates good (60/100) against fair (40/100) for Rigid 10K.

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Dental Resin and Rigid 10K 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.