The Stratasys Rigur Rigid Opaque PolyJet 3D Printing Polymer Combination is a multi-material build configuration rather than a single-component photopolymer. The primary resin is VEROWHITEPLUS™ RGD835, a rigid opaque white material with Shore D hardness values in the 83–86 range. The secondary resin is either TANGOBLACKPLUS™ FLX980, a black elastomeric photopolymer with Shore A hardness in the 26–28 range, or TANGOPLUS™ FLX930, a translucent elastomeric photopolymer with Shore A hardness in the 26–30 range. The Rigur designation refers to the digital material produced when the printer co-jets the rigid and elastomeric phases at controlled voxel-level ratios. Because the final material is generated in situ, mechanical behavior is not defined by a single neat-resin datasheet; it is instead a function of build mode, part orientation, layer thickness, and the specific secondary cartridge loaded into the PolyJet platform. Machine compatibility is governed by the current Stratasys material configurator and requires systems capable of simultaneous rigid and flexible material jetting, including appropriate Connex and J-series platforms with licensed material packages.

What Test Methods Define the Component Envelope That Rigur Combines?

Published component datasheets for VEROWHITEPLUS™ RGD835 list tensile strength values in the 50–65 MPa range when tested in accordance with ASTM D638. Elongation at break is reported between 10% and 25%. By contrast, TANGOBLACKPLUS™ FLX980 and TANGOPLUS™ FLX930 are elastomeric materials with tensile strength values below 3 MPa and elongation at break in the 45–55% range. Table 1 provides the component-level envelope from which Rigur is constructed. The rigid RGD835 phase supplies modulus, surface hardness, and opacity; the secondary FLX980 or FLX930 phase contributes energy absorption and reduced brittle failure. In comparative testing, ASTM D256 notched Izod impact energy and ASTM D638 tensile elongation are the primary discriminating methods when Rigur is evaluated against neat RGD835. Because the digital material is generated at the print head, specimens must be produced in the same orientation, layer thickness, and blend ratio as the intended production part. Published data for this specific combination is limited; lot-specific material certificates and printed part validation remain the only reliable acceptance path for performance-critical use.

Thermal performance is also bounded by the primary rigid phase. VEROWHITEPLUS™ RGD835 datasheets generally place heat deflection temperature at 0.45 MPa in the 45–50 °C band under ASTM D648. FLX980 and FLX930 are elastomeric materials and are not intended to carry structural load at elevated temperature. Rigur should therefore be treated as a low-to-moderate thermal resistance material. At 1.82 MPa, the deflection temperature may fall below the 0.45 MPa value. Applications with service temperatures above 45 °C should be validated on printed specimens or shifted to a high-temperature PolyJet material rather than assuming acceptable performance from component datasheets alone.

On production-scale PolyJet lines, build-tray conditions directly affect the quality of Rigur parts. Jetting stability for RGD835 and the FLX materials is sensitive to ambient humidity and print-head cleanliness. The manufacturer-recommended operating window of 18–25 °C and 30–70% relative humidity should be maintained; excursions outside this band can increase resin viscosity and produce missing jets at the interface between rigid and elastomeric voxels. Layer thickness modes of 16 µm and 30 µm are common across Connex and J-series platforms, though values vary by printer model. In high-speed modes above 30 µm, the elastomeric phase may coalesce less completely, reducing measured Izod impact energy while shortening build time. For functional snap-fit prototypes, the finer layer mode is often preferred because it reduces interlayer delamination at the rigid-elastomer boundary. Z-axis tensile strength in PolyJet rigid materials is commonly lower than in-plane XY values by 15–35%; Rigur can show additional scatter because the secondary phase is anisotropic. Acceptance testing should use a minimum of five specimens per orientation in accordance with ASTM D638 specimen geometry and the same post-processing sequence used for production parts.

Support removal requires attention to the softer FLX phase. Pressurized water jets set above 40 MPa can erode the elastomeric surface and create matte spots or shallow pits. Lower pressure with longer dwell time is preferable for recessed features and thin walls. Alkaline support removal baths may swell or soften the FLX phase if exposure exceeds the resin-specific time and temperature limits. Avoid extended contact with strong amines or ketone-based solvents, which can attack the photopolymer matrix and produce surface tack, microcracking, or dimensional drift.

If the application demands higher impact resistance than neat RGD835 but cannot tolerate the low stiffness of FLX980 or FLX930, Rigur occupies a defined intermediate position.

The practical difference between Rigur and neat VEROWHITEPLUS™ RGD835 is primarily a change in crack propagation behavior rather than a change in base chemistry. Under load, the RGD835 matrix carries stress until cavitation initiates in the elastomeric domains. This cavitation promotes shear yielding and more stable crack growth instead of brittle fracture. The result is improved elongation at break and notched Izod energy relative to neat RGD835, while Shore D hardness remains much closer to the rigid phase than to the flexible secondary phase. Tensile modulus and creep resistance, however, decline. Neat RGD835 remains the stronger choice for stiff mechanical mounts and optical datum surfaces where impact loading is limited. Pure FLX980 or FLX930 remains the better choice for gasket-like or compression-dominated parts. Rigur is selected for components that must survive snap-fit insertion, flexural fatigue, or drop impact while retaining enough rigidity to hold self-weight and assembly tolerances.

Compared with Digital ABS materials, Rigur does not provide equivalent elevated-temperature performance. Digital ABS is a separate PolyJet material family formulated for higher heat deflection and toughness; manufacturer literature places its HDT above that of neat VeroWhitePlus. Rigur should not be substituted into Digital ABS applications where thermal load is the controlling factor. Conversely, Rigur may be more suitable where lower modulus and higher elongation are desired. The choice between Rigur and a polypropylene-like PolyJet material such as DurusWhite or Endur depends on the specific mechanical property profile required. No single datasheet value separates these materials, and printed part validation under the actual load case is required for a reliable selection.

Tooling and inspection fixture applications impose additional constraints. Rigur can be machined after printing, but the FLX phase may smear under high spindle speeds. Low-helix carbide end mills, compressed air cooling, and shallow depth of cut prevent local heating above the phase transition of the elastomeric domains. In optical inspection fixtures, the white RGD835-dominant surface provides uniform reflectance for structured light scanning; however, FLX-rich zones have lower reflectance and should not be used as datum targets unless the blend ratio has been characterized. For assembly fixtures, inserts and threaded fasteners should not exceed the clamping pressure limits of the primary rigid phase. Local compressive stress under bolt heads can embed into the softer elastomeric domains and produce stepwise creep over repeated use.

Dimensional Control and Thermal Stability Boundaries

Dimensional accuracy of Rigur parts is governed primarily by the RGD835 phase, but the presence of FLX domains can reduce repeatability in long unsupported spans and thin wall sections because the elastomer phase can relax after support removal. Published PolyJet accuracy statements are material-dependent and typically expressed as a function of print size; for well-controlled geometries, values in the range of ±0.1–0.3 mm are commonly cited by the equipment manufacturer. No specific Rigur accuracy certificate should be assumed for critical fits. Post-print conditioning at 20–25 °C for 24–48 h stabilizes moisture uptake and allows viscoelastic relaxation before metrology. Moisture absorption is not as high as in nylon-based materials, but the FLX phase can still exhibit slight dimensional migration if the part is stored above 70% relative humidity.

Thermal cycling between 10 °C and 40 °C can generate microcracks at phase boundaries where the elastomeric domains expand more than the rigid matrix. This behavior is known in multi-material PolyJet parts and becomes more visible as the FLX volume fraction increases. If the part is intended for fluctuating temperature environments, thermal cycling validation should be performed before release. Uncontrolled UV exposure can embrittle the RGD835 phase; parts should be stored away from direct sunlight. Uncontrolled thermal aging above 40 °C may shift elongation and color and should be avoided unless the part has been validated for that environment.

For injection-molded polypropylene homopolymers, published ISO 527-2 data commonly show tensile modulus in the 1300–1800 MPa range and yield stress in the 30–40 MPa range, with high elongation beyond yield. Rigur is not a direct substitute for polypropylene because PolyJet photopolymers lack the semicrystalline morphology that gives polypropylene its fatigue and living-hinge behavior. The Rigur combination can approach the flexural and tensile stiffness range of unfilled polypropylene under certain digital-material ratios, but yield, creep, and fatigue behavior remain different. Users should compare printed specimens against production polypropylene under the actual service load; published data for this specific comparison is limited. Rigur is therefore positioned as a functional prototyping aid rather than a replacement for molded polypropylene in end-use production. The component resins also carry the usual constraints of PolyJet photopolymers: they are not intended for applications requiring long-term UV resistance, high chemical resistance, or sustained load at elevated temperature. Rigur is not supplied with a general food-contact or medical certification; applications in regulated sectors require explicit supplier documentation and material-specific compliance review. Regulatory status should be verified against EU REACH Regulation EC 1907/2006 and RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU for the specific cartridge formulation; no generic statement replaces the safety data sheet.