Denture Base Resin Flex
Grade
Flex = flexible denture base resin
Elastomeric-modified printable base for flexible partials and soft-clasp appliances; not a substitute for rigid ISO 20795-1 Type 1 bases.
Values for the Flex condition
Other Denture Base Resin grades and fills
Denture Base Resin is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at Denture Base Resin.
Compare all 7 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FlexThis page Flexible denture base resin | Elastomeric-modified printable base for flexible partials and soft-clasp appliances; not a substitute for rigid ISO 20795-1 Type 1 bases. | 15 | 25 | 60 | 55 Shore D |
As-printed | Reference state only — dimensionally fragile, high residual monomer, must never be delivered to a patient. | 24 | 28 | 9 | 70 Shore D |
Dark / Reddish Pink | Deeper, more red pigment loading for darker gingival tissue matching; same strength class as standard pink. | 44 | 47 | 4 | 82 Shore D |
high-pigment, non-translucent | Higher pigment/TiO2 loading to mask metal frameworks or dark relines; slightly stiffer, lower light transmission. | 44 | 46 | 3.5 | 83 Shore D |
PINKDefault Standard Pink | Default gingival-pink shade, washed and fully post-cured; use for production removable full/partial denture bases. | 45 | 48 | 4 | 82 Shore D |
Light Pink | Pick for lighter/Caucasian gingival aesthetics; mechanical properties essentially identical to standard pink. | 45 | 48 | 4 | 82 Shore D |
High-impact / toughened denture base (nano-filled or rubber-toughened) | Choose for thin palates, implant-supported overdentures and drop-prone patients where fracture toughness matters more than stiffness. | 50 | 55 | 7 | 80 Shore D |
What is Denture Base Resin Flex?
Denture Base Resin Flex is Denture Base Resin in the Flex grade — elastomeric-modified printable base for flexible partials and soft-clasp appliances; not a substitute for rigid ISO 20795-1 Type 1 bases. Denture Base Resin Flex has a yield strength of 15 MPa (2.18 ksi) and a tensile strength of 25 MPa (3.63 ksi) — weaker than 84% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 60% and the elastic modulus is 0.7 GPa (0.102 Msi). Denture Base Resin Flex has a density of 1.18 g/cm³ (0.0426 lb/in³), heavier than 50% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 55°C (131 °F). PINK is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Flex is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 88/100, better than 95% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 55°C (131 °F), worse than 91% of polymer grades
- Difficult to weld — 5/100, worse than 89% of polymer grades
- Low strength — 15 MPa (2.18 ksi), worse than 84% of polymer grades
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 0.8%, worse than 80% of polymer grades
- Difficult to machine — 45/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades
Denture Base Resin Flex properties
Typical room-temperature values for Denture Base Resin Flex; 28 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Denture Base Resin reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
Denture Base Resin Flex has a density of 1.18 g/cm³ (0.0426 lb/in³), heavier than 50% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 55°C (131 °F).
Mechanical15
Denture Base Resin Flex has a yield strength of 15 MPa (2.18 ksi) and a tensile strength of 25 MPa (3.63 ksi) — weaker than 84% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 60% and the elastic modulus is 0.7 GPa (0.102 Msi).
Thermal11
Denture Base Resin Flex is rated for continuous service to 55°C (131 °F). It conducts heat at 0.19 W/m·K (0.11 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 68% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 80 µm/m·K (44.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Denture Base Resin Flex has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (78/100), worse than 61% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Denture Base Resin Flex takes about 110 MJ of energy and emits 5.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 64% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability6
Denture Base Resin Flex's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades); weldability not recommended (5/100); formability good (55/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Denture Base Resin Flex
Is Denture Base Resin easy to machine?
Trim sprues and adjust intaglio with carbide acrylic burs or tungsten trimmers at low speed with wet/vacuum dust extraction; avoid heat build-up that crazes the surface.
Can Denture Base Resin be welded?
Not weldable; repairs and relines are done chemically with self-cure PMMA or a matching light-cure repair resin after roughening and monomer wetting.
Can Denture Base Resin be formed, bent or molded?
Print at 25–35 °C vat temperature, 50–100 µm layers, orient the base 20–30° with supports on the polished flange side; wash in fresh IPA (≤5 min total to avoid softening) and post-cure in a nitrogen/glycerin-free UV oven per the validated cycle.
What surface finishes work on Denture Base Resin?
Bond teeth with the matching adhesive resin, then finish with pumice and acrylic high-shine compound; steam-clean rather than boil, and never autoclave or use alcohol-based disinfectants long-term.
Denture Base Resin 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 dimethacrylate / Bis-EMA oligomcrosslinking methacrylate backbone | 40 – 70 | 55 |
| low-viscosity methacrylate diluents (TEGreactive diluent, sets viscosity and conversion | 15 – 45 | 30 |
| silica / nano-ceramic fillerraises modulus and wear resistance; higher in filled/high-impact grades | 0 – 20 | 10 |
| photoinitiator (TPO / BAPO / camphorquin385/405 nm cure | 0.3 – 2 | 1 |
| pigments (iron oxides, TiO2) and fiber fgingival shade; veining fibers optional | 0.1 – 3 | 1 |
| stabilizers / inhibitors / UV absorbershelf life and cure control | 0.05 – 1 | 0.3 |
| methacrylate matrix | balance | — |
Denture Base Resin Flex — frequently asked
What is Denture Base Resin Flex used for?
Denture Base Resin Flex is typically used for removable denture bases, denture try-ins and denture repairs. In short: denture-standard biocompatible resin; full pink shade range; 105 °C glass transition.
What is the yield strength of Denture Base Resin Flex?
Denture Base Resin Flex has a typical yield strength of 15 MPa (2.18 ksi) and a tensile strength of 25 MPa (3.63 ksi) — weaker than 84% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is Denture Base Resin Flex easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades). Trim sprues and adjust intaglio with carbide acrylic burs or tungsten trimmers at low speed with wet/vacuum dust extraction; avoid heat build-up that crazes the surface.
Can Denture Base Resin Flex be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (5/100). Not weldable; repairs and relines are done chemically with self-cure PMMA or a matching light-cure repair resin after roughening and monomer wetting.
What surface finishes work on Denture Base Resin Flex?
Bond teeth with the matching adhesive resin, then finish with pumice and acrylic high-shine compound; steam-clean rather than boil, and never autoclave or use alcohol-based disinfectants long-term.
Can Denture Base Resin Flex be formed, bent or molded?
Print at 25–35 °C vat temperature, 50–100 µm layers, orient the base 20–30° with supports on the polished flange side; wash in fresh IPA (≤5 min total to avoid softening) and post-cure in a nitrogen/glycerin-free UV oven per the validated cycle.
What is the maximum service temperature of Denture Base Resin Flex?
Denture Base Resin Flex is rated for continuous use to about 55°C (131 °F), and briefly to 80°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Denture Base Resin PINK and Denture Base Resin Flex?
PINK is the default condition — default gingival-pink shade, washed and fully post-cured; use for production removable full/partial denture bases. Flex: elastomeric-modified printable base for flexible partials and soft-clasp appliances; not a substitute for rigid ISO 20795-1 Type 1 bases. Yield strength is 45 MPa in PINK versus 15 MPa in Flex.
Sources
- ISO 20795-1 Dentistry — Base polymers, Part 1: Denture base polymers — ISO (2013)
- ISO 10993-1 Biological evaluation of medical devices — ISO (2018)
- Denture Base LP Resin — Technical Data Sheet — Formlabs (2023)
- NextDent Denture 3D+ Instructions for Use / TDS — NextDent (3D Systems) (2022)
- DENTCA Denture Base II datasheet — DENTCA (2021)
- Comparative flexural strength / sorption data for printed vs heat-cured denture base polymers — J Prosthet Dent / Dent Mater review literature (2022)
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.