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Rigid 10K vs Water-Washable Resin

Polymer · grade comparison

Rigid 10K and Water-Washable Resin are both polymer grades. Rigid 10K is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) against 42 MPa (6.09 ksi) for Water-Washable Resin, about 79% more. In exchange, Water-Washable Resin is the more ductile: elongation 8% versus 2.5% for Rigid 10K, and Rigid 10K is harder (85 Shore D vs 80 Shore D). Water-Washable Resin is lighter (1.13 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, Water-Washable Resin machines more easily (50 vs 40 out of 100) and Rigid 10K sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than Water-Washable Resin (high, $$$$).

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

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

Rigid 10K vs Water-Washable Resin: properties

Rigid 10KWater-Washable Resin

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

5.5 GPa0.8 Msi
2.2 GPa0.32 Msi

Poisson's Ratio

0.35
0.38

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

75 MPa10.9 ksi
42 MPa6.1 ksi

Elongation at Break

2.5%
8%

Compressive Strength

105 MPa15.2 ksi
75 MPa10.9 ksi

Compressive Modulus

5 GPa0.73 Msi
—

Flexural Strength

125 MPa18.1 ksi
65 MPa9.4 ksi

Flexural Modulus

5 GPa0.73 Msi
2.1 GPa0.3 Msi

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

0.9 MPa·√m0.82 ksi·√in
—

Izod Impact, Notched

17 J/m0.32 ft·lbf/in
20 J/m0.37 ft·lbf/in

Hardness, Shore D

85 Shore D
80 Shore D

Hardness, Rockwell M

95 HRM
—

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

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

Glass Transition (Tg)

105°C221 °F
60°C140 °F

Water Absorption (24 h)

0.5%
2.2%

Water Absorption (Saturation)

—
5%

Refractive Index

—
1.51

Thermal

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

Thermal Conductivity

0.3 W/m·K0.17 BTU/hr·ft·°F
0.19 W/m·K0.11 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity

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

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

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

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

100°C212 °F
50°C122 °F

Min Service Temperature

-30°C-22 °F
-20°C-4 °F

Heat Deflection Temp. @ 0.45 MPa

130°C266 °F
55°C131 °F

Heat Deflection Temp. @ 1.8 MPa

105°C221 °F
45°C113 °F

Limiting Oxygen Index

21%
19%

Max Service Temperature (short-term)

150°C302 °F
70°C158 °F

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Dielectric Strength

15 kV/mm381 V/mil
17 kV/mm432 V/mil

Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)

3.6
3.8

Dissipation Factor (1 MHz)

0.03
0.04

Surface Resistivity

1×10¹⁴ Ω
—

Same in both: Electrical Resistivity 1×10¹² Ω·m3.94×10¹⁹ µΩ·in · Volume Resistivity 1×10¹⁴ Ω·cm

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Corrosion Resistance

80 / 100
55 / 100

Same in both: UV / Weathering Resistance 25 / 100

Manufacturability

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

Machinability

40 / 100
50 / 100

Weldability

3 / 100
—

Formability (cold)

3 / 100
—

Polishability

55 / 100
60 / 100

Mold Shrinkage

—
0.4%

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

6 kg CO₂/kg
5.2 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

200 L/kg24 gal/lb
220 L/kg26.4 gal/lb

Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 115 MJ/kg49,441 BTU/lb · Typical Recycled Content 0%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

48 kN·m/kg
37 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

3.5 MN·m/kg
1.9 MN·m/kg

Thermal Diffusivity

0.2 mm²/s
0.1 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 10K

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityRigid 10KWater-Washable Resin
Injection moldingYes—
3D printingYes—
Default conditionGlass Filled—
Relative cost$$$ Premium$$$$ High
Min. machined wall——
Best machined surface——
Chrome Plating (Plastic)Yes—
Conductive CoatingYes—
Dyeing (Nylon)Yes—
EMI Shielding CoatingYes—
PaintingYes—
Primer CoatingYes—
Soft Touch CoatingYes—
Spray PaintingYes—
Tinted CoatingYes—
UV CoatingYes—
Vacuum MetallizationYes—
Waterproof CoatingYes—

Rigid 10K vs Water-Washable Resin — frequently asked

Is Rigid 10K stronger than Water-Washable Resin?

Yes. Rigid 10K has a typical tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) against 42 MPa (6.09 ksi) for Water-Washable Resin — about 79% more.

Which is cheaper, Rigid 10K or Water-Washable Resin?

Rigid 10K is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) while Water-Washable Resin is high ($$$$). 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, Rigid 10K or Water-Washable Resin?

Water-Washable Resin, by a small margin. Both rate fair for machinability — 50/100 against 40/100 for Rigid 10K.

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Rigid 10K and Water-Washable 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.