VisiJet RCL-ENT-D60 Multi-Material Composites (VisiJet CR-CL 200** + VisiJet CE-NT) is a UV-curable digital composite supplied for MultiJet Printing platforms with dual-resin delivery capability, including the ProJet MJP 3600 series when configured for simultaneous rigid and elastomeric resin deposition. The D60 suffix denotes a nominal Shore D durometer of 60 in the cured state when measured according to ASTM D2240-15e1. The product is not a pre-mixed resin; it is produced by co-jetting a rigid transparent photopolymer and an elastomeric natural photopolymer at a fixed volumetric ratio in the printhead array. Because the two phases cure together as a single network, the finished part combines rigidity and compliance without adhesive bonding, overmolding, or secondary casting. Published data for this specific RCL-ENT-D60 configuration is limited; the performance envelope is therefore described from the supplier’s constituent datasheets, processing parameters, and standard photopolymer test methods.

VisiJet CR-CL 200** contributes the rigid continuous phase. Its cured film typically exhibits tensile strength in the 38–52 MPa range, tensile modulus between 1.2 and 1.8 GPa, and elongation at break from 4% to 10% when tested per ASTM D638-14. VisiJet CE-NT contributes the elastomeric phase; supplier data place its tensile strength below 2.5 MPa, elongation at break above 200%, and Shore A hardness in the 27–35 range under ASTM D412-16 and ASTM D2240-15e1. The RCL-ENT-D60 blend shifts hardness into the Shore D 58–62 band and produces an elongation value above the rigid phase but below the unfilled elastomer. The blend ratio is fixed by the equipment configuration; it is not operator-adjustable. Laboratories verifying incoming material should measure Shore D on specimens conditioned at 23 ± 2 °C and 50 ± 5 % relative humidity for 24 h per ASTM D618-21. A hardness deviation of more than 2 points may indicate blend-ratio drift or incomplete acrylate conversion in the CE-NT-rich domains.

The network is formed by UV-initiated free-radical polymerization of acrylate and urethane monomers. Oxygen inhibition at the surface is controlled by build chamber atmosphere and by rapid UV exposure after planarization. The elastomeric phase contains a higher proportion of low-glass-transition segments, while the rigid phase contains aromatic or cycloaliphatic groups that increase modulus. Phase compatibility is sufficient for co-curing but not complete; interphase boundary regions can be observed under scanning electron microscopy after osmium tetroxide staining. This microphase structure is responsible for the intermediate Shore D response. Because the two resins exhibit different polymerization rates, cure monitoring is necessary. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy of the cured surface should show no progressive loss of the 810 cm⁻¹ acrylate absorption after post-cure. In-process UV irradiance, layer thickness, and planarizer speed are the main control variables. If the UV dose per layer is insufficient, the elastomer-rich regions retain a tacky surface and dissolve more rapidly in support-removal solvents; if the dose is excessive, the rigid-rich regions may develop higher crosslink density and crack at thin-wall transitions.

What Material Inputs Define the RCL-ENT-D60 Network?

In MJP systems, dual-resin delivery uses separate heated reservoirs and recirculating feeds to the printhead. The printhead contains piezoelectric jetting elements operating at a controlled frequency; drop mass stability is maintained by meniscus pressure and temperature. For RCL-ENT-D60 production runs, printhead temperature is commonly set between 32 °C and 38 °C, with reservoir temperature 3–5 °C lower to prevent premature polymerization. Periodic drop-watch calibration should be performed before each build because a 5% change in drop mass shifts the blend ratio enough to alter Shore D by 1–2 points. High-resolution mode at 16 µm improves phase registration but increases build time; standard mode at 32 µm is used for larger parts with thicker walls where local hardness gradients are less critical.

The material is assigned in the build preparation software as a multi-material composite; only equipment configured with both CR-CL 200 and CE-NT cartridges can use the D60 grade. The software manages the fixed volumetric blend ratio, layer thickness, and support-material interface, but it does not permit user modification of the D60 ratio. Production-scale observations show that air flow across the build bed, printhead temperature, and chamber temperature must remain within the supplier-defined window. An ambient chamber temperature of 22–28 °C is appropriate for continuous builds. When ambient relative humidity exceeds 60%, closed-cartridge handling is required because moisture uptake in the uncured resin can inhibit radical cure and shift the Shore D reading downward by more than 2 points.

Support removal follows the wax-based sequence used for MJP composites: heating of the support phase to 35–40 °C, ultrasonic cleaning in an approved solvent, and air drying. For thin walls below 1 mm, isopropyl alcohol immersion should be kept below 5 min at 25 °C to limit solvent absorption. A 24 h immersion weight gain above 3% is an indicator of incomplete cure or excessive elastomer phase exposure. Parts should be dried at ambient temperature in a dark enclosure before hardness testing or dimensional inspection.

Build Chamber, Planarization and Cure-Dose Interactions

MultiJet Printing with RCL-ENT-D60 requires stable jetting and planarization. At 32 µm layer thickness, the elastomeric phase has a longer diffusion path for oxygen inhibition and can lag the rigid phase in polymerization; this lag is visible as reduced hardness on downward-facing surfaces and at vertical wall transitions. Field failures observed in pilot production include interlayer delamination near sharp transitions, hardness mottling on the build platform side, and edge swelling after ultrasonic cleaning. Interlayer delamination is typically associated with insufficient UV dose or a contaminated planarizer. Hardness mottling is traceable to blend-ratio drift caused by resin temperature stratification in the printhead. Edge swelling appears when solvent contact time exceeds the limit for thin sections. These failure modes are mitigated by controlling chamber temperature, verifying drop mass, and using a draft-tight enclosure during solvent drying.

After support removal, RCL-ENT-D60 parts receive a UV post-cure. The exact dose is machine-dependent; the criterion is stable FTIR conversion. Post-cure ovens with UV-A output of 320–390 nm are used at a part-surface temperature below 50 °C to avoid thermal distortion. Over-post-curing raises crosslink density in the elastomeric phase and reduces elongation; under-post-curing leaves residual monomer that can cause surface tack and odor. Batch release testing should include Shore D, isopropyl alcohol mass gain, and absence of surface tack after 24 h. The post-cure schedule is not transferable from CR-CL 200 alone because the CE-NT phase has lower UV transmittance and may require longer exposure or multi-directional UV.

RCL-ENT-D60 exhibits different solvent uptake between the rigid and elastomeric phases. The elastomer-rich domains absorb more isopropyl alcohol and mineral-oil support-removal media than the CR-CL 200 domains; this differential absorption can produce edge swelling at the build/support interface if solvent contact is not controlled. Dimensional measurements taken after oven drying at 40 °C for 2 h should be compared with values taken after conditioning per ASTM D618-21. Linear shrinkage on the build platform is governed by resin conversion, layer thickness, and orientation; for parts with wall thickness below 2 mm, fixture-supported cooling during post-cure is recommended to limit bowing. Data for this specific grade is limited; process qualification should include a first-article inspection on a representative test artifact with vertical and horizontal walls.

When a Digital Composite Replaces Two-Shot Injection Molding Prototypes

RCL-ENT-D60 is used for functional prototypes that require a harder Shore D response than CE-NT but more compliance than CR-CL 200. Typical production fixtures include overmolded grips, vibration-damping housings, snap-fit covers with elastomeric seals, and mock-ups of two-shot injection-molded assemblies. Compared with single-material VisiJet CE-NT, RCL-ENT-D60 provides higher Shore hardness, lower elongation, and better resistance to indentation. Compared with VisiJet CR-CL 200, it provides reduced notch sensitivity, increased compliance, and better recovery from low-strain deformation.

The material is not a direct substitute for injection-molded TPU or silicone under continuous dynamic flexing. Before committing to a sealing application, compression set at the intended service temperature should be evaluated according to ASTM D395-18 or ISO 815-1. For parts subjected to cyclic tensile strain above 20%, fatigue life should be validated with ASTM D638 or ISO 527-1 test protocols because the photopolymer network may show earlier crack initiation than thermoplastic elastomers. The product is also not intended to replace high-temperature rigid photopolymers because the elastomeric phase can soften and increase creep when service temperatures approach the heat deflection temperature of the rigid phase.

Dimensional tolerances are influenced by the two-phase nature. In first-article inspection, linear tolerances of ± 0.1 mm per 25 mm are achievable only after accounting for orientation-dependent shrinkage; parts built in the Z-axis may show greater variation because of layer-wise polymerization differences. For high-precision assemblies, process capability studies should be run with a minimum of 5 parts per orientation, and Cpk should be evaluated for critical fits. Minimum wall thickness should follow the equipment-specific guideline for multi-material MJP; for RCL-ENT-D60, walls below 0.5 mm are not recommended if elastomeric compliance is required because support removal can distort the elastomer-rich phase. Sharp interior corners in rigid-to-elastomeric transitions should include a radius of at least 1 mm to reduce stress concentration.

Uncured VisiJet resins require nitrile gloves, sealed waste containers, and local exhaust. The CR-CL 200 and CE-NT components are not food-contact or implantable materials under 21 CFR 177.2600 or ISO 10993-1 unless grade-specific certification is obtained from the supplier. Under REACH and RoHS, the safety data sheet identifies applicable monomer and photoinitiator classifications. Painting or structural bonding of the elastomer-rich zones may require plasma or corona treatment because surface energy can fall below 34 mN/m after solvent drying. Holes and channels with diameters below 1 mm may retain support wax in the elastomeric phase and require extended low-temperature cleaning.