| HS Code | 361779 |
| Material Name | 3D Systems VisiJet SL Black |
| Material Type | SLA photopolymer resin |
| Color | Black |
| Density | 1.13 g/cm³ |
| Viscosity | 200 cps at 30°C |
| Tensile Strength | 52 MPa |
| Tensile Modulus | 2,400 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | 9% |
| Flexural Strength | 80 MPa |
| Flexural Modulus | 2,400 MPa |
| Hardness | 80 Shore D |
| Notched Izod Impact Strength | 23 J/m |
| Heat Deflection Temperature At 0 45 Mpa | 60°C |
| Heat Deflection Temperature At 1 82 Mpa | 50°C |
| Water Absorption | 0.35% |
As an accredited 3D Systems VisiJet SL Black factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | |
| Shipping | |
| Storage |
In silicone RTV tooling for short-run polyurethane castings, the pattern surface must remain inert toward platinum-catalyzed addition-cure systems while retaining micro-texture. VisiJet SL Black requires a complete UV post-cure after solvent washing because residual acrylate or epoxy groups can inhibit platinum catalyst activity, leading to a tacky mold cavity wall and tearing at demold. The recommended post-cure is at least 60 min under 365 nm UV lamps followed by 24 h conditioning at 25°C ± 2°C and 50% RH. Master patterns are lightly sanded from 600-grit to 1200-grit in curved areas where the 50 µm layer plane creates visible stair-stepping; sanding is performed wet to reduce dust embedding. Surface roughness values for this class of SLA master patterns commonly fall between 0.1 µm and 0.5 µm Ra after finishing, although the exact as-built value depends on build orientation and post-cure temperature. The finished pattern is fixed to a mold box base and coated with a semi-permanent release agent before degassed RTV silicone is poured. Vacuum degassing of mixed silicone at −0.9 bar for 10–15 min minimizes bubble entrapment near fine ribs and snap features; the pattern itself must not be exposed to prolonged vacuum below −0.95 bar because microporosity in the SLA surface can expand and leave pinholes in the silicone cavity. When casting polyurethane parts in the resultant tool, the RTV mold is preheated to 70°C and filled under 0.1–0.3 bar vacuum on a commercial vacuum casting machine. Silicone tools are typically poured at Shore A 20–40 for complex snap features, and mold text bubbling is avoided by the same vacuum schedule. Dimensional reference features on the black master allow post-mold inspection, but the exotherm of a thick RTV pour can exceed 40°C and introduce 0.1–0.2 mm deviation across a 100 mm length. Masters intended for repeated use beyond 20 mold pours should be checked for edge wear against the original CAD data, because silicone demolding gradually rounds scribe lines and sharp text. Published data for this specific configuration is limited for long run counts; users should log cavity dimensions after every fifth cast to detect progressive pattern wear.
Because the pigmentation of VisiJet SL Black removes the need for post-build painting, automotive interior switch modules and bezel prototypes are produced as functional black parts for tactile and dimensional evaluation. Build orientation is driven by snap-fit beam thickness; beams are orientated 10–20° off-axis to avoid brittle fracture along layer planes during insertion. On a ProX 800 at 50 µm layers, thin snap arms below 0.8 mm are reinforced with gussets, since the notched Izod impact value measured per ASTM D256 is lower than that of injection-molded polycarbonate/ABS blends. After two 15 min isopropyl alcohol washes, parts are post-cured for 60 min at 40°C; extended IPA contact beyond 20 min can etch texturing on the visible surface. Heat deflection temperature measured per ASTM D648 at 0.45 MPa defines the upper service boundary. If cockpit thermal cycling exceeds 50–60°C for more than 2 h, snap tabs and mounting bosses are at risk of creep. Mounting clearances of 1.5 mm are maintained to adjacent panels to account for thermal expansion and humidity-driven dimensional movement. The black surface provides sufficient contrast for optical go/no-go inspection of lettering and haptic ridges, but the material is not UV-stable for long-term cabin exposure and requires a clear coat if outdoor weathering or high-intensity interior sunlight is anticipated. OEM-specific thermal cycling from −40°C to 85°C is used in bench validation, but published data for this specific configuration is limited, so the tested HDT boundary must be verified against the target peak temperature before committing a prototype build. Support removal on visible bezel surfaces follows the same sequence as structural prototypes, with flush cutters and 600-grit finishing to reduce tensile stress concentrators around mounting tabs.
Consumer electronics housing prototypes demand simultaneous control of mating surface flatness, boss thread geometry, and surface finish across multiple build orientations. VisiJet SL Black is processed at 25 µm or 50 µm layer thickness on the ProJet 7000 HD; the 25 µm setting is applied only to vertical walls containing snap recesses and fine mesh features, while 50 µm is used on large planar surfaces to reduce z-axis shrink variation. Threaded inserts are not heat-staked into SLA epoxy with the same parameters as polycarbonate. Heat-stake temperatures above 120°C can disintegrate the resin around the boss; brass inserts of M1.6–M3.0 are instead installed with cyanoacrylate adhesive after drilling and tapping. Flatness of a 120 mm × 60 mm housing half is measured on a granite surface plate with a dial indicator, and deviations beyond 0.2 mm typically originate from incomplete support removal or a short post-cure cycle. Supports are placed on non-cosmetic internal surfaces and removed before the final IPA wash to avoid visible break-off scars. The black surface is used for gloss and fingerprint visibility evaluation, but the resin is not classified as scratch-resistant. Abrasion testing under ASTM D4060 with CS-17 wheels at 100 g load is recommended if cosmetic prototypes are handled repeatedly. Hardness is verified against the current manufacturer datasheet using ISO 868; values below 80 Shore D indicate insufficient post-curing. Build chamber temperature is held at 28–30°C to stabilize polymerization depth and z-axis shrinkage, which can otherwise vary by 0.05–0.1 mm across a 100 mm build height. For wearables, boss thread pull-out strength is evaluated by following ISO 527-2 tensile testing on printed coupons in the same orientation as the final part, because anisotropic resin properties make cross-plane thread strength lower than in-plane values.
| Property / process check | Standard / method | Application boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile properties | ASTM D638-14 / ISO 527-2:2012 | Snap-fit and structural prototype verification |
| Flexural properties | ASTM D790-17 / ISO 178:2019 | Housing rib and boss deflection analysis |
| Heat deflection temperature | ASTM D648-18 / ISO 75-2:2013 | Upper service temperature for clips and mounting tabs |
| Notched Izod impact | ASTM D256-10 | Thin snap-arm failure risk assessment |
| Hardness | ISO 868:2003 | Post-cure verification |
| Abrasion resistance | ASTM D4060-19 | Cosmetic prototype handling durability |
| Chemical resistance | ASTM D543-20 | Ethylene oxide sterilization compatibility check |
| Ash content | Modified ASTM D482 / supplier TDS | Investment casting shell inclusion boundary |
| Environmental compliance | REACH 1907/2006, RoHS 2011/65/EU | Downstream EU market documentation |
Bench-top evaluation of medical handpiece housings applies a different set of constraints because VisiJet SL Black carries no supplier claim for long-term skin contact or implant use. Fabrication at 50 µm layers on a ProX 800 is followed by two IPA washes of 15 min each and a 60 min UV post-cure. Prototypes are conditioned per ISO 291 at 23°C and 50% RH for 48 h before dimensional inspection. Under ISO 13485 design control, housing prototypes used for form-fit testing are labeled as non-sterile and non-biocompatible. Ethylene oxide sterilization compatibility is not assumed; the material’s chemical resistance under ASTM D543 would require supplier-specific exposure data, and published data for this specific configuration is limited. Cleaning with 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes is acceptable for short-duration benchtop handling, but repeated wiping cycles can dull surface texture and remove fine lettering. For ultrasonic welded joint trials, energy director geometries are machined into the SLA part rather than molded, because the crosslinked epoxy network does not flow like a thermoplastic during welding. Mechanical comparison against injection-molded polycarbonate references follows ISO 527-2 for tensile modulus and ISO 178 for flexural modulus, with test coupons printed at the same orientation as the final part. Snap arms are oriented so that layer planes do not align with primary bending stress. The material is unsuitable for autoclave sterilization at 121°C and for dry heat sterilization above 60°C. Downstream users must verify REACH SVHC communication duties under Article 33 of REACH 1907/2006 if the resin contains substances above 0.1 wt%, and must confirm RoHS status under 2011/65/EU before placing finished devices on the market.
Wind tunnel models fabricated from VisiJet SL Black are treated as aerodynamic surfaces rather than visual mock-ups, because the black pigmentation eliminates paint thickness variability on critical contours. Models are printed at 50 µm layer thickness on a ProX 800, then sanded from 600-grit to 1200-grit along spanwise joints and support scars. Laminar flow testing in low-speed tunnels typically requires surface roughness below 0.5 µm Ra; this boundary is not achieved directly off the build platform and demands manual blending of curved regions. Pressure taps are installed by drilling 0.8 mm holes and bonding stainless steel tubes with epoxy adhesive after the model is fully cured. Dimensional inspection is performed on a coordinate measuring machine with a reference sphere; the matte black surface is compatible with structured light scanners and reduces laser speckle compared with translucent SLA resins. For smoke visualization tests, contrast is improved without white base coats. Mounting inserts are embedded in pre-cured pockets rather than screwed directly into the SLA material, because thread pull-out strength is lower than that of machined ABS. The operational boundary for tunnel duration is defined by the heat deflection temperature under 0.45 MPa load; tunnel temperatures above 50°C can cause creep at wing tip edges. Cyclic aerodynamic loading data for this specific resin is limited, so fatigue tests should follow ISO 527 with accelerated conditioning in a thermal chamber before high-speed runs. Clear-coating is applied only where local surface waviness exceeds the test tolerance, because coating thickness adds a measurable boundary-layer perturbation on laminar sections.
Competitive 3D Systems VisiJet SL Black prices that fit your budget—flexible terms and customized quotes for every order.
For samples, pricing, or more information, please contact us at +8618136850665 or mail to admin@ascent-chem.com.
We will respond to you as soon as possible.
Tel: +8618136850665
Email: admin@ascent-chem.com
Flexible payment, competitive price, premium service - Inquire now!
3D Systems VisiJet SL Black is an opaque black, epoxy-based stereolithography photopolymer formulated for the ProJet 6000 and ProJet 7000 platforms using a 355 nm solid-state laser. The material is supplied as a low-viscosity liquid and polymerizes by cationic ring-opening of epoxy functional groups upon exposure to scanning UV radiation. Because the cured network is crosslinked rather than thermoplastic, processed parts do not exhibit melt behaviour; however, their mechanical response is frequently compared to unfilled ABS for fit-form-function prototyping. The grade is specified for appearance models, electronic enclosures, snap-fit assemblies, and master patterns where an opaque dark surface and dimensional clarity are required.
Before printing, the resin requires conditioning within the machine reservoir at the temperature defined in the material build file. Typical build temperatures for VisiJet SL resins are maintained between 28 °C and 32 °C to stabilise viscosity and recoat behaviour. The material should be stored away from UV and visible light in the sealed HDPE container supplied by the manufacturer; exposure to ambient oxygen and moisture can increase viscosity and reduce cure consistency. Dilution with solvent or mixing with other VisiJet SL grades without documented qualification is not permitted.
In clear or lightly pigmented stereolithography resins, UV laser penetration is controlled primarily by photoinitiator concentration and molar absorptivity. The dispersed black pigment in VisiJet SL Black acts as an optical absorber that shortens penetration depth and lowers working exposure latitude. The consequence on ProJet 6000 and ProJet 7000 systems is that exposure parameters are not interchangeable with VisiJet SL Clear or VisiJet SL Tough. The material-specific build file supplied by 3D Systems or the machine distributor adjusts laser power, scan speed, hatch spacing, and overcure depth for the black formulation. Operators should not substitute a clear-resin parameter file when running black parts.
The reduced optical penetration affects sidewall quality and support tip geometry. Because laser energy is deposited in a thinner optical layer, overcure into the preceding layer is lower for equal exposure. This can reduce interlayer adhesion if the build file is not compensated, and it changes the minimum support contact diameter needed to anchor overhanging features. On a 0.050 mm layer thickness, unsupported regions with shallow downward-facing slopes may show underlayer delamination if recoat blade speed or resin temperature falls outside the specified range. At 0.100 mm layer thickness, the wider exposure band increases throughput but reduces fine-feature resolution and may require larger drain holes for hollow parts.
The pigmented resin also influences recoat behaviour. Black pigments can build a weak thixotropic network at rest; the counter-rotating roller or blade must disrupt that network before the next scan. If the resin temperature is too low, the recoat surface can show flow marks, entrained bubbles, or incomplete layer wetting. The ProJet 6000 and ProJet 7000 control algorithms specify recoat delay and blade speed; these values are not operator-adjustable for production builds, but users can reduce failures by ensuring the resin level remains within the manufacturer’s indicated range and by allowing fresh resin in the vat to equilibrate for at least 2 h before starting a build. Published data for this specific configuration is limited for edge values of humidity and resin age; production trials should include a small validation part before committing to a full platform.
The property data reproduced below are the published typical figures for VisiJet SL Black. These values are not batch certification limits and should not be used as design allowables without internal validation. Mechanical testing was performed on post-cured parts conditioned at 23 °C and 50% RH according to the cited ASTM methods.
| Property | Test Method | Published Typical Value |
|---|---|---|
| Liquid density, 25 °C | ASTM D792-13 | 1.12 g/cm³ |
| Solid density, 25 °C | ASTM D792-13 | 1.16 g/cm³ |
| Viscosity, 30 °C | ASTM D2196-20 | 230 mPa·s |
| Tensile strength at break | ASTM D638-14 | 42 MPa |
| Tensile modulus | ASTM D638-14 | 2,100 MPa |
| Elongation at break | ASTM D638-14 | 11% |
| Flexural strength | ASTM D790-17 | 55 MPa |
| Flexural modulus | ASTM D790-17 | 1,900 MPa |
| Notched Izod impact | ASTM D256-10 | 40 J/m |
| Heat deflection temperature, 0.455 MPa | ASTM D648-16 | 52 °C |
| Hardness | ASTM D2240-15 | 80 Shore D |
| Water absorption, 24 h | ASTM D570-98 | 0.4% |
In comparison to unfilled engineering thermoplastics, the tensile modulus of 2,100 MPa places the cured material near the lower end of ABS grades; however, the elongation at break of 11% is lower than many injection-moulding ABS formulations. The notched Izod impact of 40 J/m indicates brittle behaviour relative to polycarbonate. The heat deflection temperature at 52 °C under 0.455 MPa restricts the material to ambient-temperature applications; parts should not be used in under-hood environments or in contact with hot water. The black surface can reduce the need for surface painting in appearance models, but the material is not formulated for extended outdoor UV exposure without a protective coating.
Because stereolithography parts are built layer-by-layer, tensile properties depend on orientation. Specimens loaded parallel to the build plane often show higher strength than those loaded across the Z-axis because interlayer adhesion can be the weak zone. The table values are typical for the manufacturer’s specified orientation; Z-oriented specimens may show lower elongation at break. This is relevant for snap-fit components with tensile loads acting across layer interfaces. The reduced optical penetration of the black formulation may slightly alter the interlayer adhesion profile; validation should include both XY and Z-oriented coupons.
In direct comparison with other VisiJet SL grades, VisiJet SL Black occupies a rigid, opaque appearance position within the portfolio. VisiJet SL Clear provides optical transparency for flow visualization and light-pipe prototyping, but it transmits UV more deeply and can require different support parameters. VisiJet SL Tough is formulated for higher elongation and impact absorption in snap-fit or clip applications, whereas the black grade is selected when a dark, non-transparent surface is required and moderate impact loading is acceptable. VisiJet SL Flex is an elastomeric material with significantly lower modulus and greater recovery; it is not interchangeable with VisiJet SL Black for rigid structural parts. VisiJet SL HiTemp targets elevated-temperature use cases where the heat deflection temperature must remain above the 52 °C ceiling of the black grade. In mixed-material assemblies, the rigidity differences create stress concentrations at bonded interfaces; adhesive selection should be based on modulus rather than colour match.
The black opaque surface reduces specular reflection during structured-light scanning and improves edge detection in vision systems compared to translucent or clear parts. However, glossy surfaces may still require anti-reflection spray or scanning powder if the scanner uses high-angle illumination. Dimensional verification should be performed after conditioning the part at 23 °C and 50% RH for at least 24 h because post-cure shrinkage can continue for a short period after the part leaves the UV chamber.
Green parts produced from VisiJet SL Black contain uncured resin on the surface and within internal cavities. The standard cleaning sequence uses a two-stage solvent rinse, typically isopropanol or a manufacturer-approved solvent, followed by air drying and UV post-cure. Prolonged immersion in solvent can plasticise the surface and produce microcracks or dimensional drift; therefore, solvent contact should be reduced to the minimum required to remove residual liquid resin. The maximum solvent immersion time is specified in the material handling documentation and varies with wall thickness and feature size.
Post-curing is required to achieve the tabulated mechanical properties. Typical post-cure uses UV-A or UV-B equipment with continuous rotation to avoid shadowed regions. Incomplete post-cure lowers tensile strength and glass transition and can cause delayed cure shrinkage after assembly. Thermal post-cure above the heat deflection temperature should be avoided because unsupported thin sections may distort under their own weight. After post-cure, parts should be cooled to room temperature before support removal; manual support removal with flush cutters minimises surface chipping on thin walls.
For hollow components, trapped uncured resin can continue to crosslink slowly under ambient light or heat, causing internal pressure and cracking. Drain holes should be placed at the lowest point of each cavity, and internal channels should be flushed with solvent and air until the solvent draining from the part is clear. The use of pressurised air above 2 bar may damage thin uncured walls; low-pressure air and repeated inverted draining is preferred. If ambient relative humidity exceeds 60% during green-part handling, moisture uptake before post-cure can increase surface tack and reduce dimensional stability.
Support structures generated by the build preparation software are typically attached to downward-facing surfaces. With the black material, sanding of support nibs can create lighter grey scratches on the black surface because the abrasive disrupts the pigmented surface layer. A light application of a compatible plastic polish or texture coating may restore visual uniformity. Machining of cured parts is possible; sharp carbide tools should be used at low feed rates to avoid chipping. The material does not produce continuous chips like thermoplastics; it fractures as a brittle network.
Epoxy photopolymers are sensitive to ageing in the machine vat. Exposure to ambient light, oxygen, and repeated thermal cycling can increase viscosity and reduce cure response. The resin should be topped up with fresh material rather than allowing the vat level to fall below the manufacturer’s minimum, because low volume accelerates ageing. If the vat has been idle for more than 72 h, a full-vat stirring cycle and a small test part are recommended before production. Do not return used resin from the build platform into the original bottle without filtration through a 100 µm or finer sieve to remove support debris and cured chips.
On production-scale ProJet 7000 systems with a full build platform, the black material may show batch-to-batch variation in low-shear viscosity that alters recoat time. Operators should record resin temperature, ambient humidity, and recoat time per build to isolate deviations. Because the pigment package settles over long idle periods, the resin vat should be stirred or recirculated according to the manufacturer’s equipment manual before production. If left unstirred, the first build after a weekend shutdown may exhibit lower opacity or variable cure depth in the first several layers. Published data on long-term pigment dispersion stability in VisiJet SL Black is limited; internal validation with a standard test part is recommended after any resin batch change.
The grade is not supplied as a USP Class VI or implantable material; applications requiring ISO 10993-5 cytotoxicity data should be qualified with the specific post-curing and cleaning protocol used in production. The user is responsible for verifying REACH and RoHS compliance in the final article because additives or post-processing residues may change compliance status.
