Hi,
I have a Formlabs Form 4 here at work.
For a customer I have to print a part which has contact with chemicals (strong acids).
Which material can be used?
Customer would like something like PP plastic or HDPE which is very resistant, PVDF is also an option.
I have High Temp Resin V2 here, but I’m not sure if this works. Which curing parameters for High temp?
Rigid 10K is not an option because i’ts very brittle and the powdery surface - clean room environment.
Thank you in advance.
Hi @Chili_Chris, resin data sheet available on Formlabs website comes with table which specifies how a resin reacts with certain chemicals. Percentage weight loss or gain determines if the product swells up after contact with the chemical or does it disintegrate.
I suggest you make a list of the chemicals that the product might come in contact with product and check them against the data sheets available on the Formlabs website. Narrowing that down would then help you make the final decision when you compare chemical resistance properties with mechanical requirements of the product.
Hope this helps 
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Hi Ashwini,
thank you for your reply.
I have seen the compatibility section in datasheet.
I assumed that High Temp is a very tough and resistant material.
We have our printer only for a short time so we have to get the experience, which material and parameters to use for our purpose.
For your information our customer put the printed testsamples in Piranha-solution (acid) and the High temp Resin failed after 10 minutes.
What else can we try? Had Alumina 4N in my mind but very expensive and sinthering afterwards is necessary. Alternatively Medical/Dental Resins - how tough are the against acids or solvents?
Personally I like the fine detailled quality of Formlabs prints.
I have also the option to use Ultimaker printer with PVDF or PP filament, but the quality on fine parts is here not optimal.
Hi, I do’nt think any of Formlabs resins currently have the capability to handle Piranha Solution—a mixture of concentrated sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide (3:1 ratio)— as the materials should be able resist strong oxidizers and very low pH, plus elevated temperature.
There is no data in terms of chemicals compatibility for Dental resins. However, the documentation explicitly warns that exposure to solvents (including strong acids) may compromise the material’s biocompatibility and performance—and notes that these materials have not been tested or certified for scenarios involving strong oxidizing acids.
The Formlabs Flame Retardant Resin data sheet indicates complete disintegration after 24 h exposure to 30% sulfuric acid. High Temp Resin shows good resistance to concentrated HCl and general aggressive solvents but if a part made from this resin also did to last more than 10 minutes then the problem requires a solution using a different manufacturing approach.
Options currently are:
PTFE
PFA
FEP
PVDF
Glass
Quartz
I am curious to know which material and fabrication method you will use.
Useful resource:
Hi, thanks for the information.
I will try PVDF, but have to use finer Nozzle to print.