The 3D Systems VisiJet RCL-EBK-A80 Multi-Material Composite set is identified by the supplier as a two-component digital composite comprising VisiJet CR-CL 200** and VisiJet CE-BK. The product designation embeds a nominal hardness target of 80 Shore A under ASTM D2240-15e1, distinguishing the cured material from rigid clear MultiJet Printing resins and from low-durometer elastomeric black resins. The set is intended for MultiJet Printing processes in which the two photopolymer components are jetted according to a predetermined ratio, creating a black, semi-rigid elastomeric phase that can be combined with rigid clear regions in a single build without insert molding, adhesive bonding, or manual gasket placement. Component-level mechanical certification should be based on supplier certificates and, where required, on ASTM D638-14 for rigid-dominant sections, ASTM D412-16 for elastomer-dominant sections, and ISO 7619-1:2010 for hardness. Published data for the exact multi-material transition zone of this configuration is limited; design verification should therefore include printed test coupons from the targeted machine rather than relying only on single-material datasheets. Procurement documents should retain the complete RCL-EBK-A80 code and both base resin designations; partial ordering data can lead to substitution of an incompatible rigid or elastomer cartridge.

What Does the A80 Suffix Indicate When Read Against ASTM D2240?

The A80 suffix is a Shore A durometer designation rather than a tensile or flexural strength claim. Shore A values in the 75–85 range define a semi-rigid elastomeric response: the cured composite is significantly harder than a 25–30 Shore A jetable elastomer such as the neat CE-BK component when measured with ASTM D2240-15e1, but remains below the Shore D range associated with rigid acrylic-like photopolymers. The test is performed on a flat, void-free coupon at a thickness sufficient to prevent substrate interference; ISO 7619-1:2010 specifies conditioning not less than 1 h at standard laboratory temperature. Because the material is a digital composite, the measured value depends on the actual ratio of CR-CL 200** to CE-BK and the local jetting pattern. A documented hardness of 80 Shore A should therefore be treated as a nominal target, not a universal value for every pixel in the part. For production validation, measurements should be collected from multiple part locations and reported with mean, minimum, and maximum values.

Material pairing and part number structure. The set is defined by two base resins. VisiJet CR-CL 200** is the rigid clear component; VisiJet CE-BK is the black elastomeric component. In multi-material jetting, the two resins are not pre-blended in the cartridge but are selectively deposited by adjacent printhead channels. This permits the printer to generate a spatial distribution containing discrete rigid regions, discrete elastomeric regions, and transition zones in which the cured network contains both components. The double-asterisk in CR-CL 200** is retained in supplier documentation and should not be omitted from procurement records because it may denote a package or grade variant. Storage conditions for both components follow reactive photopolymer requirements: avoid sustained exposure to UV-rich lighting, keep containers tightly sealed, and follow the supplier’s recommended temperature range. Any deviation from the storage specification can shift viscosity and jetting stability before the material reaches the printhead. Batch-to-batch viscosity variation is controlled by supplier release testing, but production facilities should retain incoming lot numbers for traceability when printhead behavior changes. The product code RCL-EBK-A80 does not specify the ratio of the two components; the ratio is controlled by the build preparation software and the selected material profile.

Material Pairing, Support Strategy, and Build Preparation

Build preparation for the RCL-EBK-A80 set requires the same support-wax logic used with other MultiJet Printing materials. Because the composite is jetted onto a sacrificial support material, the design must allow access for support removal from internal channels, undercuts, and soft regions. In MJP systems, the support material is typically a wax-based phase that is removed with heat and/or oil; the selected support removal profile must not exceed the thermal deflection limit of the lower-temperature component. Heat exposure is particularly relevant for elastomer-rich regions, where dimensional recovery after compression can mask permanent deformation if the part is removed too hot. The equipment type is not specified by the RCL-EBK-A80 code alone; the material set should be used on the platform for which the cartridge is qualified. Production environments should monitor nozzle drop-out, because the presence of a higher-viscosity elastomer alongside a lower-viscosity rigid resin can create local pressure differences across the printhead if the printhead is not maintained according to the supplier’s purge and idle cycles. Where a piezoelectric printhead array is used, the difference in viscosity between the rigid and elastomer components can produce a visible transition if the jetting frequency is not stabilized; printhead temperature, purge routines, and idle jetting profiles should follow the supplier’s validated settings for this material set.

Where the composite is typically specified. The primary engineering use is consolidation of a rigid load-bearing substrate and a soft, high-friction, impact-absorbing elastomeric cover in a single additive build. Examples include handheld instrument housings, gripper fingers, sealing faces, button arrays, and protective shrouds where a 60–65 Shore A material may be too soft and a rigid clear photopolymer may be too stiff. Because the product target is 80 Shore A, the resulting surface retains enough compliance to conform to small mating irregularities but does not provide large-strain rubber elasticity. Designers should consult ISO 527-2:2012 or ASTM D638-14 for rigid region properties, ASTM D412-16 or ISO 37:2017 for elastomer region tensile and elongation, and ASTM D624-00(2012) for tear resistance if the component is a membrane or flexure. Published data for the specific RCL-EBK-A80 transition zone is limited; suppliers often recommend printing of standardized coupons on the target machine for ASTM D256-10(2018) impact, ASTM D648-18 heat deflection, and ASTM D570-98(2018) water absorption comparisons. Because photopolymers are build-orientation dependent, tensile, impact, and flexural specimens should be printed in XY and Z orientations; the difference between XY and Z data is not captured by single-material datasheets.

When a Multi-Material Build Replaces a Molded Overmold or Bonded Assembly

The RCL-EBK-A80 set is relevant where a design currently uses a rigid core with a separately molded or cast elastomer overmold, or where a gasket is die-cut and manually bonded. The MJP process eliminates the core/cavity tooling for the overmold and the manual placement step, but it introduces different failure modes. Delamination can occur at the rigid-elastomer interface if the printing strategy does not create sufficient interpenetration between the cured components. Unlike insert overmolding, in which a melt bond or adhesive tie layer may be formed, the jetting process creates an interface by depositing the two resins in adjacent or interleaved voxels before curing. The mechanical strength of that interface is not automatically equivalent to the bulk strength of either component; it should be characterized with a tensile pull-off or peel test adapted from ASTM D429-14 or ISO 813:2016. For sealing applications, the compression set behavior of the elastomer-rich phase should be measured according to ISO 815-1:2014, because Shore A 80 alone does not predict long-term sealing force retention. If the component functions as a living hinge or dynamic flexure, cyclic fatigue data under the intended strain range is required; published data for this specific composite configuration is limited.

Why the RCL-EBK-A80 Composite Is Not a Uniform Blend of Two Base Resins

Compared with a single-material build using only VisiJet CR-CL 200**, the RCL-EBK-A80 set adds an elastomer-rich phase that reduces local stiffness and shifts performance in instrumented impact tests; verification should follow ASTM D256-10(2018) or ISO 180:2019. However, the presence of the elastomer phase generally lowers modulus and may increase water absorption relative to the rigid clear resin. Compared with a single-material build using only VisiJet CE-BK, the composite increases hardness to the nominal 80 Shore A target, reduces elongation at break, and provides higher resistance to indentation. The multi-material approach also permits selective placement: rigid clear regions can be assigned where dimensional stability under load is required, while black elastomer regions can be assigned where grip, sealing, or impact tolerance is required. The result is not a homogeneous blend, and design rules based on uniform material properties do not transfer directly from either base resin. Procurement must specify the RCL-EBK-A80 set as a paired material system, because the two base resins are certified and released for combined use; substituting a different rigid clear or elastomer cartridge invalidates the nominal hardness target and may produce cure incompatibilities.

Compatibility and boundary conditions should be verified before specifying the composite in service environments. The material is a photopolymer and should not be assumed to resist strong solvents, concentrated acids, or continuous steam without supplier data. If the part is used for skin-contact devices, ISO 10993-1:2018 and 21 CFR 58 good laboratory practice considerations apply, but published biocompatibility data for this specific composite should be obtained from the supplier. Prolonged exposure to UV light or outdoor weathering may cause color shift and surface embrittlement; ASTM G154-16 or ISO 4892-3:2016 can be used for accelerated screening, but correlation to end-use service life is not supplied by the product designation. Where the part will be exposed to elevated temperature, the lower of the two component HDT values controls the initial dimensional stability limit; elastomer-rich regions may creep before rigid regions show measurable deformation. For load-bearing assemblies, finite element simulations should not use a single isotropic modulus unless the build is confirmed to be predominantly one phase; tensile testing according to ISO 527-2:2012 or ASTM D638-14 should be performed at multiple print orientations and on multiple build locations.