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I'm looking to put a UV-blocking clear coating on some of my resin 3D prints.

I've tried krylon UV-Resistant Clear Coating but it seemed to react with my print making it softer and easy to break. I'm trying to coat a thin Lithophane so I would rather not make it any softer.

Are there any better options for a UV-blocking clear coat for resin 3D prints?

Printer used: AnyCube Photon (dlp)
Resin used for Print: ELEGOO ABS-Like 3D Printer Rapid Resin
Lithophane maker: lithophanemaker

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  • $\begingroup$ try clear nail polish, maybe UV curing polish at that. $\endgroup$
    – dandavis
    Commented Dec 3, 2020 at 7:03
  • $\begingroup$ nail polish seems like a good option for clear coating but is it UV blocking? I feel like UV curing polish would not necessarily mean be UV blocking. $\endgroup$
    – Jeff
    Commented Dec 6, 2020 at 3:58

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I'd go for the easy option of using a composite setup: Acrylic lacquers themselves are very low reactive and can serve as a foundation before the UV clear coating is applied. The acrylic lacquer itself doesn't change coloration if exposed to sunlight, but the light can still pass and discolor the lithophane.

Your Krylon clearcoat technically is an acrylic paint, but to be used from a rattlecan, other chemicals are added - a whole lot as the MSDS tells us. The list of chemicals besides the paint in that can are Acetone, n-Butyl Acetate, Propane, Butane, Xylene, Ethyl 3-Ethoxypropionate, Cyclohexane, Ethylbenzene, Bis(pentamethyl-4-piperidyl)sebacate. Three simple chemicals I put in italics - they are very good solvents that easily react with the resin print. Propane and Butane create the pressure in the rattle can, the other four chemicals make up the actual lacquer. I have observed the mix of Acetone, Cyclohexane, and Ethylbentene (with possibly others) softening PLA, so it is totally possible that they react unfavorably with your resin print. As a result, I suggest using a brush or roller to apply acrylic paint from a can (not spraycan!)

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