Silicon rubber, in 3D printing, is praised for its flexibility and its ability to last long.
Silicon has a high viscosity, and it doesn’t irritate tissues. This biocompatibility makes it an excellent prosthetic 3D flexible material. You can print silicone rubber parts as seals, gaskets, and waterproof enclosures, as these parts require strength, flexibility, and durability.
Advantages of Silicon Rubber in 3D Printing
- Silicon, like an elastomer, returns to its original shape after stretching or compressing
- Can withstand high and low temperatures−60°C to 250°C)
- Retains its properties under sunlight or chemicals
- The shore hardness values of silicon are one of the highest in 3D printing, as many silicon materials with different hardness values are used for the 3D printing process
Disadvantages of Silicon Rubber in 3D Printing
- They are quite viscous, so extrusion during the 3D printing process may be more taxing and may need a special printing technology
- UV curing is necessary, so you’ll spend more time printing on silicon than on other flexible 3D printing materials
- More expensive, as silicon, as well as the technology for the procedure, is expensive
- Silicon is scarcely available.
Sub-groups of Silicon Materials Used in 3D Printing
- Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR)
- Room Temperature Vulcanizing (RTV) Silicone (although this is mostly used in casting, it’s now remodeled for 3D printing)
- High-Consistency Rubber (HCR), which is less common as it needs special equipment for efficient results in 3D printing
3. CLIP Resins
CLIP stands for Continuous Liquid Interface Production. CLIP resins are unique, as they use the Carbon DLS technology for 3D printing. With CLIP resins, you can make different geometries using photopolymerization.
Using flexible CLIP resins for 3D printing provides rubber-like elasticity and strength. Hence, they are ideal for making gaskets, seals, wearable components, and efficient shock absorbers.
Pros of Flexible CLIP Resins for 3D Printing
- Resilient and elastic
- They can be used to make complex shapes of objects compared to other flexible 3D printing materials
- Resistant to wear and tear
- Produce smooth surface
Limitations of Flexible CLIP Resins for 3D Printing
- Expensive and labor-intensive because it needs curing and washing
- Only uses the carbon DLS technology which isn’t readily available, limiting its use
- The quality of these resins degrade faster, and to reduce the rate of degradation, you need special storage conditions for the resins
Sub-types of Flexible CLIP Resins Materials for 3D Printing
- EPU 40 (Elastomeric Polyurethane)
- FPU 50 (Flexible Polyurethane) is known for its resistance to heat, stress, and friction
- SIL (Silicone Urethane Resin) is strong and biocompatible
Major Printing Technologies Used in Flexible 3D Printing
FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)
FDM is a popular 3D technology for printing non-metals. It produces several copies of its base model, and it’s one of the most cost effective 3D printing technology used. Although it serves for 3D printing, flexible materials that use this technology process have rougher finishes and edges.
SLA (Stereolithography)
For 3D printing of smooth surfaces, SLA was the first to achieve that with laser light.
SLA technology produces finished materials with good tolerances, and they are functional as well. Because the finishings are smooth, they are suitable for use in surgical procedures for supporting tissues, and for small tubes.
SLS (Selective Laser Sintering)
SLS uses lasers to melt nylon powder particles and join each particle to others, forming layers of 3D printed materials.
The parts of the 3D printer are made from thermoplastics, and though they have rough 3D surfaces, they are strong and durable, so are used to make materials of the same quality.
DLP (Digital Light Processing)
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