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Dental Surgical Guide Resin vs Flexible Resin

Polymer · grade comparison

Dental Surgical Guide Resin and Flexible Resin are both polymer grades. Dental Surgical Guide Resin is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) against 9 MPa (1.29 ksi) for Flexible Resin, about 6.2 times as much. In exchange, Flexible Resin is the more ductile: elongation 120% versus 6% for Dental Surgical Guide Resin, and Dental Surgical Guide Resin is harder (85 Shore D vs 30 Shore D). Dental Surgical Guide Resin is stiffer (2.2 GPa vs 0.01 GPa). On the shop floor, Dental Surgical Guide Resin machines more easily (good vs poor) and Flexible Resin sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than Dental Surgical Guide Resin (high, $$$$).

Dental Surgical Guide ResinChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part is machined in volume.

Flexible ResinChoose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when cost is the deciding factor.

Dental Surgical Guide Resin vs Flexible Resin: properties

Dental Surgical Guide ResinFlexible Resin

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

2.2 GPa0.32 Msi
0.01 GPa0 Msi

Poisson's Ratio

0.35
0.48

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

55 MPa8 ksi
9 MPa1.3 ksi

Elongation at Break

6%
120%

Compressive Strength

110 MPa16 ksi
5 MPa0.65 ksi

Compressive Modulus

2.1 GPa0.3 Msi
0.01 GPa0 Msi

Flexural Strength

85 MPa12.3 ksi
—

Flexural Modulus

2.3 GPa0.33 Msi
—

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

1.2 MPa·√m1.1 ksi·√in
—

Izod Impact, Notched

22 J/m0.41 ft·lbf/in
—

Hardness, Shore D

85 Shore D
30 Shore D

Hardness, Rockwell M

92 HRM
—

Shear Strength

—
6 MPa0.87 ksi

Hardness, Shore A

—
80 Shore A

Tear Strength

—
24 kN/m137 lbf/in

Compression Set (22 h, 70 °C)

—
4%

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

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

Glass Transition (Tg)

90°C194 °F
5°C41 °F

Water Absorption (24 h)

0.6%
1.2%

Water Absorption (Saturation)

1.8%
—

Refractive Index

1.51
1.5

Light Transmission

82%
—

Thermal

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

Specific Heat Capacity

1,450 J/kg·K0.35 BTU/lb·°F
1,650 J/kg·K0.39 BTU/lb·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

80 µm/m·K44.4 µin/in·°F
180 µm/m·K100 µin/in·°F

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

70°C158 °F
65°C149 °F

Heat Deflection Temp. @ 0.45 MPa

78°C172 °F
60°C140 °F

Heat Deflection Temp. @ 1.8 MPa

62°C144 °F
—

Max Service Temperature (short-term)

121°C250 °F
85°C185 °F

Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 0.2 W/m·K0.12 BTU/hr·ft·°F · Min Service Temperature -20°C-4 °F · Limiting Oxygen Index 19%

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)

3.4
4

Volume Resistivity

1×10¹⁴ Ω·cm
1×10¹³ Ω·cm

Electrical Resistivity

—
1×10¹¹ Ω·m3.94×10¹⁸ µΩ·in

Dielectric Strength

—
14 kV/mm356 V/mil

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

UV / Weathering Resistance

35 / 100
25 / 100

Corrosion Resistance

—
70 / 100

Manufacturability

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

Machinability

55 / 100
15 / 100

Polishability

65 / 100
25 / 100

Mold Shrinkage

1.2%
1.5%

Processing Melt Temperature (typ.)

—
30°C86 °F

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

105 MJ/kg45,142 BTU/lb
115 MJ/kg49,441 BTU/lb

Same in both: Embodied Carbon (primary production) 5.5 kg CO₂/kg · Typical Recycled Content 0%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

48 kN·m/kg
8 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

1.9 MN·m/kg
0 MN·m/kg

Thermal Shock Resistance Index

0
1

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 scaleFlexible Resin

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityDental Surgical Guide ResinFlexible Resin
Injection molding—Yes
3D printing—Yes
Default condition—Shore A 80
Relative cost$$$$ High$$$ Premium
Min. machined wall——
Best machined surface——
Chrome Plating (Plastic)—Yes
Conductive Coating—Yes
Dyeing (Nylon)—Yes
EMI Shielding Coating—Yes
Painting—Yes
Primer Coating—Yes
Soft Touch Coating—Yes
Spray Painting—Yes
Tinted Coating—Yes
UV Coating—Yes
Vacuum Metallization—Yes
Waterproof Coating—Yes

Dental Surgical Guide Resin vs Flexible Resin — frequently asked

Is Dental Surgical Guide Resin stronger than Flexible Resin?

Yes. Dental Surgical Guide Resin has a typical tensile strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) against 9 MPa (1.29 ksi) for Flexible Resin — about 6.2 times as much.

Which is cheaper, Dental Surgical Guide Resin or Flexible Resin?

Flexible Resin is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) while Dental Surgical Guide Resin is high ($$$$). 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 Surgical Guide Resin or Flexible Resin?

Dental Surgical Guide Resin. Its machinability rates good (55/100) against poor (15/100) for Flexible Resin.

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Dental Surgical Guide Resin and Flexible Resin 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.