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Elastic Resin vs Formlabs Tough 2000

Polymer · grade comparison

Elastic Resin and Tough 2000 are both polymer grades. Tough 2000 is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) against 3 MPa (0.464 ksi) for Elastic Resin, about 16 times as much. In exchange, Elastic Resin is the more ductile: elongation 160% versus 22% for Tough 2000, and Tough 2000 is harder (80 Shore D vs 13 Shore D). Tough 2000 is stiffer (2.4 GPa vs 0 GPa) and Elastic Resin runs hotter in service (60°C vs 50°C continuous). On the shop floor, Tough 2000 machines more easily (good vs not recommended) and Tough 2000 sits in a lower cost tier (standard, $$) than Elastic Resin (high, $$$$).

Elastic ResinChoose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when the part sees heat.

Tough 2000Choose it when strength drives the design, or when the part is machined in volume.

Elastic Resin vs Tough 2000: properties

Elastic ResinTough 2000

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

0 GPa4.06×10⁻⁴ Msi
2.4 GPa0.35 Msi

Poisson's Ratio

0.48
0.39

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

3 MPa0.46 ksi
50 MPa7.3 ksi

Elongation at Break

160%
22%

Compressive Strength

3 MPa0.36 ksi
70 MPa10.2 ksi

Compressive Modulus

0 GPa4.35×10⁻⁴ Msi
2.1 GPa0.3 Msi

Flexural Modulus

0 GPa4.5×10⁻⁴ Msi
1.9 GPa0.28 Msi

Shear Strength

2 MPa0.3 ksi
—

Hardness, Shore A

50 Shore A
—

Hardness, Shore D

13 Shore D
80 Shore D

Tear Strength

19 kN/m108 lbf/in
—

Compression Set (22 h, 70 °C)

5%
—

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

—
44 MPa6.4 ksi

Flexural Strength

—
68 MPa9.9 ksi

Izod Impact, Notched

—
38 J/m0.71 ft·lbf/in

Hardness, Rockwell R

—
103 HRR

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

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

Glass Transition (Tg)

5°C41 °F
58°C136 °F

Water Absorption (24 h)

1%
0.8%

Water Absorption (Saturation)

3%
1.8%

Refractive Index

1.5
1.51

Light Transmission

70%
—

Thermal

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

Thermal Conductivity

0.19 W/m·K0.11 BTU/hr·ft·°F
0.2 W/m·K0.12 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity

1,600 J/kg·K0.38 BTU/lb·°F
1,500 J/kg·K0.36 BTU/lb·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

190 µm/m·K106 µin/in·°F
110 µm/m·K61.1 µin/in·°F

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

60°C140 °F
50°C122 °F

Max Service Temperature (short-term)

90°C194 °F
70°C158 °F

Heat Deflection Temp. @ 0.45 MPa

—
49°C120 °F

Heat Deflection Temp. @ 1.8 MPa

—
42°C108 °F

Same in both: Min Service Temperature -20°C-4 °F · Limiting Oxygen Index 19%

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Resistivity

1×10¹¹ Ω·m3.94×10¹⁸ µΩ·in
1×10¹² Ω·m3.94×10¹⁹ µΩ·in

Dielectric Strength

14 kV/mm356 V/mil
15 kV/mm381 V/mil

Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)

4
3.4

Dissipation Factor (1 MHz)

0.05
0.03

Volume Resistivity

1×10¹³ Ω·cm
1×10¹⁴ Ω·cm

Surface Resistivity

—
1×10¹⁴ Ω

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Corrosion Resistance

70 / 100
55 / 100

UV / Weathering Resistance

25 / 100
30 / 100

Manufacturability

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

Machinability

12 / 100
55 / 100

Polishability

20 / 100
65 / 100

Mold Shrinkage

2%
—

Weldability

—
5 / 100

Formability (cold)

—
10 / 100

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

120 MJ/kg51,591 BTU/lb
115 MJ/kg49,441 BTU/lb

Embodied Water

220 L/kg26.4 gal/lb
260 L/kg31.2 gal/lb

Same in both: Embodied Carbon (primary production) 6 kg CO₂/kg · Typical Recycled Content 0%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

3 kN·m/kg
43 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

0 MN·m/kg
2.1 MN·m/kg

Thermal Shock Resistance Index

1
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 scaleFormlabs Tough 2000

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityElastic ResinTough 2000
Injection molding—Yes
3D printing—Yes
Default condition—ABS-like
Relative cost$$$$ High$$ Standard
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

Elastic Resin vs Tough 2000 — frequently asked

Is Tough 2000 stronger than Elastic Resin?

Yes. Tough 2000 has a typical tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) against 3 MPa (0.464 ksi) for Elastic Resin — about 16 times as much.

Which is cheaper, Elastic Resin or Tough 2000?

Tough 2000 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the standard tier ($$) while Elastic Resin is high ($$$$). 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, Elastic Resin or Tough 2000?

Tough 2000. Its machinability rates good (55/100) against not recommended (12/100) for Elastic Resin.

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Elastic Resin and Tough 2000 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.