Clear As-Printed
Print state
also Transparent Resin, Clear Resin
Only relevant for form/fit checks or parts to be bonded before cure — green strength and heat resistance are much lower and creep is significant.
Values for the As-Printed condition
Other Clear grades and fills
Clear is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at Clear.
- As-Printed
- Optical Grade
- UV Resistant
Compare all 3 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As-PrintedThis page washed but not UV post-cured | Only relevant for form/fit checks or parts to be bonded before cure — green strength and heat resistance are much lower and creep is significant. | — | 38 | 12 | 70 Shore D |
low-haze, index-controlled clear resin for light-guiding parts | Pick when the part must transmit or guide light (lenses, light pipes, flow cells) and will be sanded/polished or vapour-clear-coated. | — | 60 | 7 | 79 Shore D |
HALS/UV-absorber stabilized clear resin, reduced yellowing | Use for parts with sunlight or lamp exposure where colour stability over months matters; slightly lower initial clarity and marginally softer cure. | — | 62 | 7.5 | 78 Shore D |
What is Clear As-Printed?
Clear As-Printed is Clear in the As-Printed condition — only relevant for form/fit checks or parts to be bonded before cure — green strength and heat resistance are much lower and creep is significant. Clear As-Printed has a yield strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) and a tensile strength of 38 MPa (5.51 ksi) — stronger than 56% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 1.6 GPa (0.232 Msi). Clear As-Printed has a density of 1.19 g/cm³ (0.043 lb/in³), heavier than 53% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 65°C (149 °F).
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 92% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 35°C (95 °F), worse than 100% of polymer grades
- Limited formability — 5/100, worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Low fracture toughness — 0.9 MPa·√m (0.819 ksi·√in), worse than 90% of polymer grades
- Difficult to weld — 5/100, worse than 89% of polymer grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 65/100, worse than 86% of polymer grades
Clear As-Printed properties
Typical room-temperature values for Clear As-Printed; 11 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Clear reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
Clear As-Printed has a density of 1.19 g/cm³ (0.043 lb/in³), heavier than 53% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 65°C (149 °F).
Mechanical14
Clear As-Printed has a yield strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) and a tensile strength of 38 MPa (5.51 ksi) — stronger than 56% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 1.6 GPa (0.232 Msi).
Thermal11
Clear As-Printed is rated for continuous service to 35°C (95 °F). It conducts heat at 0.2 W/m·K (0.116 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 56% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 110 µm/m·K (61.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
Clear As-Printed is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 15 kV/mm (381 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), worse than 86% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Clear As-Printed takes about 110 MJ of energy and emits 5.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 64% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability4
Clear As-Printed's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades); weldability not recommended (5/100); formability not recommended (5/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Clear As-Printed
Is Clear easy to machine?
Drill and mill with sharp carbide, high speed, light feed and air cooling; the crosslinked resin is notch-sensitive and will craze or chip if heated or clamped hard.
Can Clear be welded?
Thermoset — cannot be heat welded; join with UV-cure acrylate adhesive, cyanoacrylate or a drop of the same resin cured under a 405 nm lamp.
Can Clear be formed, bent or molded?
Vat photopolymerization only: resin 25–35 °C, 25–100 µm layers, then IPA wash (keep soak short to avoid clouding/swelling) and 30–60 min 405 nm post-cure at 60–80 °C for full properties; expect ~0.2–0.5% cure shrinkage and warping in thick solid sections.
What surface finishes work on Clear?
For clarity wet-sand 400→3000 grit then polish with plastic compound, or apply a thin clear UV/acrylic coat; avoid acetone and prolonged IPA, and add a UV-blocking topcoat if the part sees sunlight.
Clear chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| urethane acrylate / epoxy acrylate oligobackbone oligomer, sets stiffness and toughness | 30 – 60 | 45 |
| photoinitiator (TPO / BAPO / Irgacure ty385/405 nm absorbing | 0.5 – 4 | 2 |
| UV absorber / light blockercontrols cure depth; higher in UV-resistant grade with HALS | 0 – 1 | 0.2 |
| additives (defoamer, stabilizer, chain-t | 0.1 – 3 | 1 |
| acrylate / methacrylate reactive monomere.g. HDDA, TPGDA, IBOA — controls viscosity and Tg | ≥ 30 (balance) | — |
Clear As-Printed — frequently asked
What is Clear As-Printed used for?
Clear As-Printed is typically used for optical prototypes, light pipes, LED diffusers and lens covers, fluidic and microfluidic test channels, sight glasses and inspection windows and transparent demonstration housings. In short: optically clear photopolymer.
What is the yield strength of Clear As-Printed?
Clear As-Printed has a typical yield strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) and a tensile strength of 38 MPa (5.51 ksi) — stronger than 56% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is Clear As-Printed easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades). Drill and mill with sharp carbide, high speed, light feed and air cooling; the crosslinked resin is notch-sensitive and will craze or chip if heated or clamped hard.
Can Clear As-Printed be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (5/100). Thermoset — cannot be heat welded; join with UV-cure acrylate adhesive, cyanoacrylate or a drop of the same resin cured under a 405 nm lamp.
What surface finishes work on Clear As-Printed?
For clarity wet-sand 400→3000 grit then polish with plastic compound, or apply a thin clear UV/acrylic coat; avoid acetone and prolonged IPA, and add a UV-blocking topcoat if the part sees sunlight.
Can Clear As-Printed be formed, bent or molded?
Vat photopolymerization only: resin 25–35 °C, 25–100 µm layers, then IPA wash (keep soak short to avoid clouding/swelling) and 30–60 min 405 nm post-cure at 60–80 °C for full properties; expect ~0.2–0.5% cure shrinkage and warping in thick solid sections.
What is the maximum service temperature of Clear As-Printed?
Clear As-Printed is rated for continuous use to about 35°C (95 °F), and briefly to 85°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in Clear As-Printed?
Yes — Clear As-Printed is available for injection molding and 3D printing with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Clear Resin photopolymer technical data sheet (SLA/LFS) — Formlabs (2023)
- ASTM D638 / D790 / D256 / D648 test methods for plastics — ASTM International (2022)
- Photopolymers: Chemistry and Properties of UV-curable acrylate systems — Wiley / SpecialChem technical literature (2019)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.