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The agreement was signed on Monday at Graphy's headquarters in Seoul's Geumcheon District. Under the partnership, the companies will combine Graphy's photocurable materials and digital 3D printing technology with Samyang Innochem's isosorbide technology to develop next-generation dental 3D printing materials.
Under the agreement, Graphy will develop photocurable resins incorporating isosorbide, apply the material to 3D printing processes and commercialize medical device products. Samyang Innochem will supply bio-based isosorbide and provide technical support to optimize the material for dental and medical applications.
The companies plan to develop bio-based dental materials for use in clear aligners and dental prosthetics. The collaboration aims to improve key material properties, including shrinkage, transparency and biocompatibility, by incorporating isosorbide.
Isosorbide is a bio-based material produced from plant-derived starch such as corn. It is considered an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional petrochemical feedstocks and is used in plastics, coatings, electric vehicle motor core adhesives and medical materials because it enhances heat resistance, transparency and biocompatibility. Samyang Innochem manufactures isosorbide in South Korea.
Demand has been growing in the dental device market for materials that offer not only biocompatibility and safety but also environmental sustainability. Through the partnership, the company aims to develop bio-based dental 3D printing materials and strengthen its competitiveness in the global digital dentistry materials market.
"We aim to develop next-generation 3D printing materials by combining Samyang Innochem's bio-based materials technology with Graphy's digital 3D printing expertise," said Ryu Hoon, head of the Business PU at Samyang Innochem. "We hope this partnership will expand the application of isosorbide in the medical device sector."
Shim Woon-seop, chief executive officer of Graphy, said the agreement marks the first step toward developing next-generation dental materials by combining bio-based materials with photocurable materials technology.
"Leveraging the technological strengths of both companies, we will develop high-performance dental materials and enhance our competitiveness in the global digital dentistry market," he said.
