Water-Washable Resin
Water-Washable Resin is a hydrophilic-modified 405 nm photopolymer for LCD, DLP and SLA printers that can be cleaned in plain water instead of isopropyl alcohol, cutting solvent handling and VOC exposure in the workshop.
Reference datasheet — Water-Washable Resin is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Water-Washable Resin grades and fills
Water-Washable Resin is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 4 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flexible / elastic water-washable | Choose for gaskets, grips, shoe soles and living-hinge models needing rubber-like recovery; low tear and creep resistance. | 8 | 110 | 30 Shore D | |
Plant-based / low-odour water-washable | For schools, home offices and skin-contact-averse users: soy/plant-derived acrylate content, minimal smell, mechanicals close to standard grade. | 34 | 38 | 10 | 78 Shore D |
Tough / ABS-like water-washable | Pick when thin walls, snap features or drop resistance are needed and some stiffness can be traded away. | 38 | 48 | 22 | 77 Shore D |
High-temperature / high-stiffness water-washable | Use for jigs, lamp housings or parts that must hold shape near 90–120 °C, accepting brittle behaviour. | 62 | 3 | 86 Shore D |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Water-Washable Resin is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
Clear | Transparent / high-clarity water-washable | Grade option |
STDDefault | Standard rigid water-washable | Standard supply |
What is Water-Washable Resin?
Water-Washable Resin is a hydrophilic-modified 405 nm photopolymer for LCD, DLP and SLA printers that can be cleaned in plain water instead of isopropyl alcohol, cutting solvent handling and VOC exposure in the workshop. It is stocked in STD, Tough, HT, Clear, Flex and ECO versions for general prototyping and desktop use. Cured properties are 42 MPa tensile strength, 8% elongation, 80 Shore D and a 50 °C service ceiling. The same surface chemistry that allows water washing reduces moisture resistance, so parts absorb humidity, can craze after long water soaks and should be sealed; use a standard IPA-wash resin where long-term moisture exposure is expected. Water-Washable Resin has a density of 1.13 g/cm³ (0.0408 lb/in³), lighter than 62% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 60°C (140 °F). Water-Washable Resin has a tensile strength of 42 MPa (6.09 ksi), weaker than 55% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 2.2 GPa (0.319 Msi).
What is Water-Washable Resin used for?
- hobbyist/desktop printing
- low-VOC workshop use
- general prototypes
Advantages
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.4%, better than 82% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 2.2%, worse than 98% of polymer grades
- Limited service temperature — 50°C (122 °F), worse than 94% of polymer grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 55/100, worse than 94% of polymer grades
- Degrades in UV without stabilisers — 25/100, worse than 76% of polymer grades
Water-Washable Resin properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
Water-Washable Resin has a density of 1.13 g/cm³ (0.0408 lb/in³), lighter than 62% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 60°C (140 °F).
Mechanical9
Water-Washable Resin has a tensile strength of 42 MPa (6.09 ksi), weaker than 55% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 2.2 GPa (0.319 Msi).
Thermal10
Water-Washable Resin is rated for continuous service to 50°C (122 °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 100 µm/m·K (55.6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
Water-Washable Resin is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 17 kV/mm (431.8 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 94% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Water-Washable Resin takes about 115 MJ of energy and emits 5.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 70% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability3
Water-Washable Resin's machinability is fair (50/100, worse than 73% of polymer grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. Water-Washable Resin is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Water-Washable Resin
Is Water-Washable Resin easy to machine?
Post-cured parts drill, sand and file easily but chip at edges — use sharp tools, low feed, and support thin sections; wet-sand to avoid dust.
Can Water-Washable Resin be welded?
Thermoset, not weldable; join with cyanoacrylate or UV-cure resin fillets and post-cure the joint.
Can Water-Washable Resin be formed, bent or molded?
Printed on 405 nm LCD/DLP/SLA at 0.02–0.05 mm layers, 2–4 s exposure typical; wash 3–5 min in clean water only (long soaks swell and craze parts), then dry fully before 2–6 min UV post-cure.
Water-Washable 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/epoxy acrylate oligomernetwork backbone; determines stiffness and toughness | 25 – 55 | 40 |
| hydrophilic acrylate monomer (PEG-DA / gprovides water rinsability of uncured resin | 15 – 45 | 30 |
| reactive diluent monomer (mono-/di-functviscosity control and cure speed | 10 – 35 | 22 |
| photoinitiator (TPO / BAPO type, 405 nm) | 0.5 – 3 | 1.5 |
| pigment / dye + additives (defoamer, staopaque grades; omitted in CLEAR | 0.2 – 5 | 2 |
| acrylate resin systembalance of formulation | balance |
What surface finishes work on Water-Washable Resin?
Primer/filler plus acrylic or 2K clear coat is strongly recommended — the coating both hides layer lines and seals the hydrophilic surface against humidity.
How much does Water-Washable Resin cost?
Water-Washable Resin is a high-cost polymer ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Water-Washable Resin — frequently asked
What is Water-Washable Resin used for?
Water-Washable Resin is typically used for hobbyist/desktop printing, low-VOC workshop use and general prototypes. In short: water wash, no IPA; low-VOC post-processing; reduced moisture resistance.
What is the tensile strength of Water-Washable Resin?
Water-Washable Resin has a typical tensile strength of 42 MPa (6.09 ksi) — weaker than 55% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Water-Washable Resin easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, worse than 73% of polymer grades). Post-cured parts drill, sand and file easily but chip at edges — use sharp tools, low feed, and support thin sections; wet-sand to avoid dust.
Can Water-Washable Resin be welded?
Thermoset, not weldable; join with cyanoacrylate or UV-cure resin fillets and post-cure the joint.
What surface finishes work on Water-Washable Resin?
Primer/filler plus acrylic or 2K clear coat is strongly recommended — the coating both hides layer lines and seals the hydrophilic surface against humidity.
Can Water-Washable Resin be formed, bent or molded?
Printed on 405 nm LCD/DLP/SLA at 0.02–0.05 mm layers, 2–4 s exposure typical; wash 3–5 min in clean water only (long soaks swell and craze parts), then dry fully before 2–6 min UV post-cure.
What is the maximum service temperature of Water-Washable Resin?
Water-Washable Resin is rated for continuous use to about 50°C (122 °F), and briefly to 70°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Water-Washable Resin cost?
Water-Washable Resin is a high-cost polymer ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- Water-Washable Photopolymer Resin technical data sheets — Elegoo / Anycubic / eSUN / Phrozen (2024)
- ASTM D638 / D790 / D256 / D648 test methods for plastics — ASTM International (2022)
- Chemistry & Technology of UV & EB Formulation for Coatings, Inks & Paints — SITA Technology (2010)
- Photopolymer property comparison data — FabDigit internal compilation (2026)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.