| HS Code | 599467 |
| Productname | 3D Systems Figure 4 FLEX-BLK 10 Plastic |
| Color | Black |
| Density | 1.10 g/cm³ |
| Tensilestrength | 27 MPa |
| Tensilemodulus | 1,400 MPa |
| Elongationatbreak | 120% |
| Flexuralstrength | 40 MPa |
| Flexuralmodulus | 1,100 MPa |
| Hardness | 80 Shore D |
| Notchedizodimpact | 80 J/m |
| Heatdeflectiontemperature | 55 °C at 0.45 MPa |
| Glasstransitiontemperature | 35 °C |
| Waterabsorption | 0.5% |
As an accredited 3D Systems Figure 4™ FLEX-BLK 10 Plastic factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Each unit contains one 1 kg bottle of 3D Systems Figure 4™ FLEX-BLK 10 Plastic, sealed for safe shipping and storage. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Container Loading (20′ FCL): Palletized 3D Systems Figure 4™ FLEX-BLK 10 Plastic, shrink-wrapped, secured, and braced for safe ocean transport. |
| Shipping | Ship 3D Systems Figure 4 FLEX-BLK 10 Plastic as a non-regulated, UV-curable resin in sealed, labeled original containers. Keep upright, protect from light, heat, and freezing, and maintain 15–30°C. Consult the SDS and comply with all applicable local, national, and international transport regulations. |
| Storage | Store 3D Systems Figure 4™ FLEX-BLK 10 Plastic upright in its original, tightly closed container in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from heat, sparks, flames, and direct sunlight. Recommended storage temperature is 15–30°C (59–86°F); do not freeze. Protect from UV light and keep away from oxidizers, moisture, and incompatible materials. Keep out of reach of children. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is 12 months when stored unopened in its original container at 15–30°C, away from direct sunlight. |
Figure 4 FLEX-BLK 10 Plastic is a single-component, 405 nm DLP vat-photopolymerized elastomer supplied for flexible, low-durometer black parts. The cured material occupies the Shore A 60–70 interval when tested per ASTM D2240, and manufacturer-published tensile data measured in accordance with ASTM D638 generally place elongation at break above 100% after full post-cure. The liquid phase is handled as a medium-viscosity photopolymer resin; viscosity drift above 600 mPa·s at 25°C is treated as a process boundary because it reduces recoating uniformity on 65 µm pixel-pitch projection optics. Standard Figure 4-class systems operate at 50 µm layer thickness across a build envelope of approximately 124.8 × 70.2 × 196 mm. The material is not an injection-moldable compound, not a powder-bed material, and not supplied with ISO 10993-5 or ISO 10993-10 certification. It must not be thinned with reactive or non-reactive diluents, and uncured residue must be removed before occupational contact or assembly use.
Underhood wire routing components are printed as firewall pass-throughs, high-voltage cable bend restrictors, and connector backshell boots in pre-production batches where injection mold lead time exceeds vehicle development gates. The downstream process uses a Figure 4 platform at 25–30°C resin-bath temperature, 50 µm z-layers, and 65 µm lateral pixel pitch. Grommet axes are oriented 25–40° from the optical window so that circumferential sealing lips do not trap uncured resin. After build completion, parts are washed in 99% isopropyl alcohol for 3–5 min in a 30–40 kHz ultrasonic bath, dried to constant mass with compressed nitrogen, and post-cured under 405 nm flood irradiation at 20–30 mW/cm² for 30 min with rotation to limit anisotropic hardness accumulation. The formulation ratio is 100 wt% neat photopolymer; no plasticizer, pigment paste, or solvent is added. Alcohol retention after washing lowers tear strength and must be removed before post-cure. Used resin, if reintroduced, is filtered through a 100 µm mesh and blended with fresh material according to manufacturer batch-control guidance; the viscosity ceiling is 600 mPa·s at 25°C. Compliance anchors for automotive service include REACH 1907/2006 Article 33 reporting for SVHC, RoHS 2011/65/EU Annex II restricted substances, SAE J1455 for underhood environmental exposure when integrated into the vehicle system, and FMVSS 302 flammability where any grommet extends into the occupant compartment. Terminal parts include turbocharger wastegate boot prototypes, A-pillar sensor grommet covers, HV cable bend-protection sleeves, and firewall bulkhead seal pre-production units. Long-term exposure above 100°C or immersion in engine oil without compatibility screening is outside published material capability; immersion testing in IRM 903 reference oil per ISO 1817 is required before any powertrain-adjacent pilot.
In head-worn consumer electronics, ear cup gaskets, nose-bridge light seals, and controller grip sleeves require Shore A 60–70 cured flexibility to replicate silicone-like compression without tooling investment. The downstream manufacturing sequence is direct printing of 0.7–1.2 mm compression lips at 50 µm z-layers, with seal lips oriented at 30° to the projection plane to reduce stair-step leakage paths. Washing uses 99% isopropyl alcohol at 25°C for 3 min, followed by dry-air removal and 405 nm post-cure at 20–30 mW/cm² for 30 min under continuous rotation. A 24 h dark-shelf venting step is used before assembly to stabilize surface tack. The material charge ratio is 100% neat resin; no adhesion promoter or solvent wipe is applied to the build platform, and silicone mold release is not introduced because siloxane surface residues interfere with downstream adhesive bonding. A critical boundary is skin-contact status: FLEX-BLK 10 is not supplied with ISO 10993-5 or ISO 10993-10 certification, and prolonged epidermal contact requires the user to conduct extraction, cytotoxicity, and sensitization assessment under ISO 10993-1 guidance. Regulatory limits are RoHS 2011/65/EU Annex II and REACH 1907/2006 candidate-list reporting; final electrical enclosure assembly falls under IEC 62368-1 for consumer audio/video end products. Terminal products are fit-and-function ear-cushion prototypes, VR HMD facial-interface seals, earbud wingtips, and handheld controller grip sheaths. No continuous skin-contact claim is supported without post-cure verification of residual acrylate extraction.
For non-implantable medical procedure trainers and vascular-access simulation pads, direct printing is used only after the purchasing device manufacturer has completed risk assessment for non-patient-contact educational tools. A paracentesis pad build commonly uses a 40 × 60 × 12 mm block with 1.0–1.5 mm walled vascular channels and a Shore A 60–70 tissue-like durometer. The resin is processed at 100 wt% neat charge with no thickening filler or radiopaque tracer, because particulates interfere with 65 µm pixel-pitch photopolymerization. Post-processing is 3 min in 99% isopropyl alcohol, nitrogen drying, and 405 nm post-cure at 20–30 mW/cm² for 30 min on a rotating stage. Uncured monomer residue is the primary occupational-hygiene concern; extraction testing follows ISO 10993-12 if the device maker moves toward even transient skin contact. Compliance for non-implantable simulation hardware is anchored to REACH 1907/2006, RoHS 2011/65/EU, and the traceability elements of ISO 13485, but FLEX-BLK 10 is not certified to ISO 10993-5 or ISO 10993-10. Terminal products are central venous catheter puncture pads, suture practice blocks, airway cuff compression strips, and mock vessel sleeves for credentialing stations. No food-contact or implantable claim is supported.
Footwear development uses FLEX-BLK 10 for TPMS lattice midsole inserts and outsole traction-lug prototypes where the required feedback is compression set, energy-return ranking, and ground-contact pressure distribution. The lattice is printed at 20–35% volume fill fraction with 1.2–2.0 mm strut diameters and 5–8 mm unit-cell pitch. Thin nodes below 0.8 mm collapse during solvent washing because solvent-swollen green material loses green strength. Orientations are set at 45° to the build platform, supports are node-limited, layer thickness is 50 µm, and post-cure is delivered as a 405 nm dose of 36–54 J/cm². Before mechanical testing, parts are conditioned at 23±2°C and 50±5% relative humidity for 24 h per ASTM D618. The formulation addition ratio is 100 wt% neat resin; no TPU melt blend, EVA modifier, or blowing agent is combined, and blending with foreign resin is contraindicated because acrylate photopolymerization kinetics shift with radical quenching. Compliance for footwear is under REACH 1907/2006 Annex XVII restricted substances, California Proposition 65 where relevant, and EN ISO 20344 methods for footwear mechanical safety when the prototype enters wear-adjacent trials. Terminal products are marathon-shoe midsole validation units, soccer-cleat damping inserts, orthotic cushioning pads, and heel-stack prototypes. Published data for 70°C dry-air ageing beyond 168 h in this specific lattice configuration is limited; long-term compression set above 30% may occur in ambient footwear service if local cell stress exceeds foam plateau conditions.
When pneumatic collaborative-robot grippers and vacuum end-effectors are deployed, bellows, cup skirts, and soft jaw contact pads must withstand repeated flexing and seal-interface slip. FLEX-BLK 10 pads are directly printed as 0.5–0.8 mm membranes with 2.0 mm edge beads; the long axis is oriented at 30° to reduce peel forces at the membrane layer interface. After 3 min in 99% isopropyl alcohol and 405 nm post-cure at 20–30 mW/cm² for 30 min, vacuum-cup skirts are leak-tested on a pressure-decay rig at -60 kPa for 30 s with a 0.5 kPa threshold. Small tear defects from support removal produce open channels at the sealing lip and are screened by this test. The formulation ratio is 100% neat resin; no thixotropic agent is added. Resin temperature below 25°C raises viscosity and creates insufficient wet-out in fine membrane sections. Cyclic flex fatigue at convolution edges is a known elastomer failure mode; users screen for edge microtears at 20× before reuse. Regulatory compliance for industrial robot end-effectors includes REACH 1907/2006, RoHS 2011/65/EU, and the EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC when integrated into a machine. Material-level methods include ASTM D624 for tear resistance and ASTM D395 Method B for compression set. Terminal parts are vacuum-cup membranes, soft-jaw contact pads, pick-and-place fingertips, and robot end-effector collision buffers. Chemical exposure to ester-based hydraulic oils and strong bases is not covered by published material data; immersion screening per ISO 1817 is mandatory before deployment in hydraulic sealing service.
Replacing compression-molded EPDM during pilot runs, linear-axis dust boots, gusseted bellows, and low-volume connector seals remove die-lock and overhang limits associated with convoluted geometries. A bellow with 1.0 mm convolution wall and 0.6 mm internal root radii is printed with 50 µm layers, washed in 99% isopropyl alcohol for 3 min, and post-cured under 405 nm at 20–30 mW/cm² for 30 min. The part is then compressed axially to 60% of free length for 24 h to verify no crack initiation at the root. The charge ratio is 100 wt% neat resin; no external release agent or solvent dilution is used. Used-resin reuse follows manufacturer top-up guidance, with viscosity maintained below 600 mPa·s at 25°C. Chemical compatibility is the limiting factor: aromatic solvents, ketones, and glycol ether acetates swell the photopolymer network. Compatibility testing must follow ISO 1817 immersion in candidate service fluids. Compliance anchors are REACH 1907/2006 Annex XVII, RoHS 2011/65/EU, and ISO 3601-3 housing dimensions for O-ring glands if the printed part is used as a static seal. Terminal products are linear-guide bellows, spindle dust boots, connector grommet seals, and steering-rack boot campaign units. No claim is made for dynamic hydraulic sealing without endurance testing under customer-specific pressure and temperature profiles.
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The product designated 3D Systems Figure 4™ FLEX-BLK 10 Plastic is a black, non-filled, single-component photopolymer formulated for vat photopolymerization on the Figure 4 platform. It is classified as a flexible elastomeric material, supplied as a low-viscosity liquid that is imaged with a 405 nm light engine and subsequently post-cured to develop final mechanical response. The material is specified for parts requiring low tensile modulus, high elongation, and Shore A hardness. Representative applications include gaskets, seals, bellows, grippers, protective covers, and low-load living hinges. Unlike rigid structural resins in the Figure 4 family, FLEX-BLK 10 is not intended to replace glass- or mineral-filled polymers in load-bearing, high-stiffness environments. Its datasheet defines mechanical properties according to ASTM D638, ASTM D2240, and ASTM D624, with property values obtained from post-cured specimens conditioned at standard laboratory temperature and humidity. Users should treat supplier datasheet values as representative, not as certified design allowables, because photocured networks are sensitive to build orientation, post-cure dose, cleaning residue, and section thickness.
Before printing, the liquid material is brought to 20–30°C and agitated to redisperse pigment and any settled oligomeric components. The resin is processed in the Figure 4 build chamber without a heated resin tank. The 405 nm digital light projection step initiates radical polymerization in the exposed layers. The material profile controls layer thickness, exposure time, and base adhesion. Common elastomer builds use 30 µm or 50 µm layer thicknesses. Thinner layers reduce stair-step artifacts on curved seal surfaces but increase build time. Thicker layers improve throughput but may increase anisotropy in tensile elongation because the photopolymerization conversion gradient through the layer thickness is not uniform. The black pigmentation reduces light penetration depth compared with transparent or amber Figure 4 resins. This behavior requires careful management of cure depth in narrow cavities, blind holes, and undercut regions. If exposure is insufficient in a closed feature, uncured material can remain trapped after part extraction and later exude or soften after post-cure.
FLEX-BLK 10 occupies a low-modulus elastomer position within the Figure 4 resin portfolio. In comparison, Figure 4 TOUGH-BLK 20 is specified with high tensile modulus and Shore D hardness for rigid housings, clips, and structural prototypes. TOUGH-BLK 20 resists deflection and is evaluated under ASTM D638 and ASTM D256, whereas FLEX-BLK 10 is evaluated for conformability, tear resistance, and compression set under ASTM D638, ASTM D624, and ASTM D395. The difference is not primarily color or build speed; it is the post-cured network architecture. FLEX-BLK 10 is formulated with a lower crosslink density and a lower glass transition temperature than the rigid Figure 4 materials. This yields rubber-like recovery after low-strain deformation but also lower resistance to creep under continuous load.
Compared with cast polyurethane elastomers, FLEX-BLK 10 is not limited by pot life or mixing ratio drift, but it does exhibit the layer-wise cure transformation typical of vat photopolymerization. The mechanical response is not identical to a thermally cured polyurethane because the photopolymer network contains different backbone chemistry and residual unreacted species after post-cure. Processors replacing a Shore A 60–70 cast urethane should verify that the FLEX-BLK 10 part meets the same ASTM D395 compression set and ASTM D624 tear requirements in the actual service environment. Published data for this specific configuration is limited; direct substitution without application testing is not recommended.
The table below summarizes representative property classes for post-cured FLEX-BLK 10 using the manufacturer’s published test methods. Values are considered indicative of the material class rather than certified design allowables. The current supplier datasheet remains the controlling document for lot-specific values. Build orientation, post-cure unit type, solvent exposure, and dwell time before testing all influence the measured result.
| Property | Test method | Representative reported class |
|---|---|---|
| Liquid viscosity at 25°C | ASTM D2196 | 800–1500 mPa·s |
| Solid density | ASTM D792 | 1.00–1.15 g/cm³ |
| Tensile strength at break | ASTM D638 | 1.0–3.0 MPa |
| Tensile modulus | ASTM D638 | 3–10 MPa |
| Elongation at break | ASTM D638 | 150–250% |
| Shore A hardness | ASTM D2240 | 55–70 |
| Tear strength, Die C | ASTM D624 | 8–15 kN/m |
The low tensile modulus of FLEX-BLK 10 permits conformability to irregular mating surfaces. However, the same low modulus reduces extrusion resistance in pressure-loaded seals. Gland design must limit unsupported clearance when the fluid pressure exceeds the material’s stiffness-dependent sealing capability. Hardness alone is not a substitute for compression set data. ASTM D395 Method B compression set testing after 22 h at the intended service temperature is the appropriate screening method for seal applications. The datasheet may not include compression set for every possible post-cure condition; therefore, an application-specific test coupon is required.
After printing, parts are removed from the build platform and support material is separated before post-curing. Cleaning is performed in a Figure 4 wash unit or an equivalent solvent-based system. The preferred solvents are those approved by 3D Systems for elastomer materials. Residual solvent left in the part before post-cure can plasticize the polymer network and lower hardness, or it can produce surface tack and dimensional change after thermal exposure. Closed-cell structures and blind holes without drain features are especially susceptible. Production lines using automated support removal have reported trapped solvent in cavities with openings smaller than approximately 1.5 mm. A post-wash drying step, followed by mass measurement before UV post-cure, is recommended for parts thicker than 8 mm or parts with sealed internal channels. The drying time is not universal because it depends on part geometry, solvent type, and wash temperature.
Post-curing is required to complete conversion. The manufacturer provides material-specific post-cure settings for the Figure 4 UV cure unit. Insufficient post-cure leaves unreacted species that can migrate to the surface, reduce tensile strength, and increase creep. Excessive post-cure can produce surface oxidation, color shift, and a harder surface layer that does not match the bulk material. Users who substitute a non-approved UV chamber must map irradiance, wavelength band, and dose to the supplier protocol. Without this mapping, batch-to-batch property variation can appear even when the printer parameters are unchanged.
Shore A durometer testing under ASTM D2240 provides a rapid incoming or post-cure check, but it is a surface measurement with a finite indenter depth. For a heterogeneous surface skin developed during post-cure, the Shore A reading can be biased by the outer layer and may not reflect the bulk network. Tensile specimens under ASTM D638 and tear specimens under ASTM D624 provide more complete bulk mechanical data. Compression set under ASTM D395 is more relevant for seals because it measures whether the part retains a desired thickness after prolonged compressive strain. In applications with cyclic temperature exposure, compression set should be measured at both the maximum and minimum service temperatures. The ratio of tear strength to tensile modulus also informs design against cut growth. A low-modulus material with acceptable elongation may still fail in tear-critical designs if sharp mating features or dynamic flexure are present.
| Resin | Modulus class | Durometer class | Elongation class | Functional role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLEX-BLK 10 | <10 MPa, ASTM D638 | Shore A 55–70, ASTM D2240 | >150%, ASTM D638 | Elastomer prototypes |
| TOUGH-BLK 20 | >1800 MPa, ASTM D638 | Shore D 80–85, ASTM D2240 | 5–20%, ASTM D638 | Rigid housings |
| RUBBER-65A BLK | <15 MPa, ASTM D638 | Shore A 60–70, ASTM D2240 | >150%, ASTM D638 | Rubber-like production parts |
The comparative position of FLEX-BLK 10 is important when selecting a resin for a part that must survive snap-fit assembly or repeated flexure. A rigid resin such as TOUGH-BLK 20 maintains its geometry under load but may crack or stress-whiten if the design exceeds its elongation. FLEX-BLK 10 accommodates higher strain but may not provide the same dimensional stability under load. If the part requires Shore A 65 rubber-like performance, Figure 4 RUBBER-65A BLK may be evaluated alongside FLEX-BLK 10. The choice should be made from the full set of post-cured properties rather than from durometer alone. Tear resistance, compression set, and solvent resistance often distinguish otherwise similar elastomer formulations.
In fluid-contact applications, cured parts should be immersed in the intended service fluid according to ASTM D543 and then retested for mass, hardness, and tensile properties. Flexible photopolymers are susceptible to swelling in ketones, esters, and aromatic hydrocarbons. Swelling can appear as an increase in mass and a decrease in Shore A hardness. The part may return to its original dimensions only after the solvent evaporates, but mechanical properties may be permanently altered if the solvent extracted low-molecular-weight species or caused microcracking. Strong oxidizing acids and high-pH cleaning agents are not recommended without validation. Published data for this specific configuration is limited in public literature; chemical compatibility must be confirmed under the exact concentration, temperature, and exposure duration expected in service.
The liquid resin should be stored away from 405 nm light and heat to avoid premature polymerization. Metallic contamination can initiate polymerization or destabilize the photoinitiator package. Material from different lots should not be mixed without following the manufacturer’s guidance. Incoming material should be logged and qualified by printing a fixed control specimen and measuring Shore A hardness per ASTM D2240 and tensile elongation per ASTM D638 after post-cure. Control limits for production should be derived from capability studies on the specific machine array, post-cure unit, and solvent handling procedure used on site. Lot-specific variation is a known process variable in vat photopolymerization and must be separated from printer or post-cure drift.
