Mechanical and viscoelastic properties of a temperature-responsive photocurable resin for 3D printed orthodontic clear aligners

Abstract This study investigates the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of TC-85, a biocompatible material specifically designed for orthodontic applications, with a focus on how temperature variations influence its mechanical and viscoelastic properties and their relevance to clinical outcomes....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jin Young Choi, Hoon Kim, Seong Hun Kim, Su Jung Kim, Jung-Yul Cha, Se Yeon Lee, Jiho Lee, Jinhong Min, Sunho Jang, Tanveer Ahmed Khan, Hyun-Joong Kim, Ki Beom Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93026-0
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849768842680598528
author Jin Young Choi
Hoon Kim
Seong Hun Kim
Su Jung Kim
Jung-Yul Cha
Se Yeon Lee
Jiho Lee
Jinhong Min
Sunho Jang
Tanveer Ahmed Khan
Hyun-Joong Kim
Ki Beom Kim
author_facet Jin Young Choi
Hoon Kim
Seong Hun Kim
Su Jung Kim
Jung-Yul Cha
Se Yeon Lee
Jiho Lee
Jinhong Min
Sunho Jang
Tanveer Ahmed Khan
Hyun-Joong Kim
Ki Beom Kim
author_sort Jin Young Choi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study investigates the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of TC-85, a biocompatible material specifically designed for orthodontic applications, with a focus on how temperature variations influence its mechanical and viscoelastic properties and their relevance to clinical outcomes. Using a Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printer, the photosensitive resin TC-85 is printed, and extensive thermo-mechanical testing is conducted, which includes evaluations of tensile modulus, stress relaxation, and creep behavior. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) is conducted at temperatures varying from 30 to 45 °C to assess the material’s adaptive response to thermal fluctuations. TC-85 is distinguished by its unique mechanical properties, which include a temperature-sensitive stiffness, stress relaxation capability, and shape memory feature. The results demonstrate that TC-85 maintains an enhanced level of residual force and a faster recovery of strain through numerous cycles of loading and unloading. At 40 °C, TC-85 displays a substantial reduction in its storage modulus, while maintaining consistent strain recovery and volumetric constancy. The study highlights TC-85’s potential in orthodontic treatments, providing adaptable mechanical and viscoelastic properties that enable the exertion of consistent and regulated forces on teeth. Its resistance to force decay, stable volume at raised temperatures, and shape memory properties enhance hygienic maintenance and patient comfort, positioning TC-85 as a pioneering material for the next generation of clear aligners.
format Article
id doaj-art-c6d4bbc20a3848fa83f1e754b1e52af2
institution DOAJ
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-c6d4bbc20a3848fa83f1e754b1e52af22025-08-20T03:03:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-93026-0Mechanical and viscoelastic properties of a temperature-responsive photocurable resin for 3D printed orthodontic clear alignersJin Young Choi0Hoon Kim1Seong Hun Kim2Su Jung Kim3Jung-Yul Cha4Se Yeon Lee5Jiho Lee6Jinhong Min7Sunho Jang8Tanveer Ahmed Khan9Hyun-Joong Kim10Ki Beom Kim11Department of Orthodontics, Graduate School, Kyung Hee UniversityCollege of Agriculture and Life, Sciences, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National UniversityDepartment of Orthodontics, Graduate School, Kyung Hee UniversityDepartment of Orthodontics, Graduate School, Kyung Hee UniversityDepartment of Orthodontics, Institute of Craniofacial Deformity, College of Dentistry, Yonsei UniversityDepartment of Orthodontics, Institute of Craniofacial Deformity, College of Dentistry, Yonsei UniversityGraphy, Inc.Graphy, Inc.Graphy, Inc.Graphy, Inc.College of Agriculture and Life, Sciences, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National UniversityDepartment of Orthodontics, Saint Louis UniversityAbstract This study investigates the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of TC-85, a biocompatible material specifically designed for orthodontic applications, with a focus on how temperature variations influence its mechanical and viscoelastic properties and their relevance to clinical outcomes. Using a Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printer, the photosensitive resin TC-85 is printed, and extensive thermo-mechanical testing is conducted, which includes evaluations of tensile modulus, stress relaxation, and creep behavior. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) is conducted at temperatures varying from 30 to 45 °C to assess the material’s adaptive response to thermal fluctuations. TC-85 is distinguished by its unique mechanical properties, which include a temperature-sensitive stiffness, stress relaxation capability, and shape memory feature. The results demonstrate that TC-85 maintains an enhanced level of residual force and a faster recovery of strain through numerous cycles of loading and unloading. At 40 °C, TC-85 displays a substantial reduction in its storage modulus, while maintaining consistent strain recovery and volumetric constancy. The study highlights TC-85’s potential in orthodontic treatments, providing adaptable mechanical and viscoelastic properties that enable the exertion of consistent and regulated forces on teeth. Its resistance to force decay, stable volume at raised temperatures, and shape memory properties enhance hygienic maintenance and patient comfort, positioning TC-85 as a pioneering material for the next generation of clear aligners.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93026-0
spellingShingle Jin Young Choi
Hoon Kim
Seong Hun Kim
Su Jung Kim
Jung-Yul Cha
Se Yeon Lee
Jiho Lee
Jinhong Min
Sunho Jang
Tanveer Ahmed Khan
Hyun-Joong Kim
Ki Beom Kim
Mechanical and viscoelastic properties of a temperature-responsive photocurable resin for 3D printed orthodontic clear aligners
Scientific Reports
title Mechanical and viscoelastic properties of a temperature-responsive photocurable resin for 3D printed orthodontic clear aligners
title_full Mechanical and viscoelastic properties of a temperature-responsive photocurable resin for 3D printed orthodontic clear aligners
title_fullStr Mechanical and viscoelastic properties of a temperature-responsive photocurable resin for 3D printed orthodontic clear aligners
title_full_unstemmed Mechanical and viscoelastic properties of a temperature-responsive photocurable resin for 3D printed orthodontic clear aligners
title_short Mechanical and viscoelastic properties of a temperature-responsive photocurable resin for 3D printed orthodontic clear aligners
title_sort mechanical and viscoelastic properties of a temperature responsive photocurable resin for 3d printed orthodontic clear aligners
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93026-0
work_keys_str_mv AT jinyoungchoi mechanicalandviscoelasticpropertiesofatemperatureresponsivephotocurableresinfor3dprintedorthodonticclearaligners
AT hoonkim mechanicalandviscoelasticpropertiesofatemperatureresponsivephotocurableresinfor3dprintedorthodonticclearaligners
AT seonghunkim mechanicalandviscoelasticpropertiesofatemperatureresponsivephotocurableresinfor3dprintedorthodonticclearaligners
AT sujungkim mechanicalandviscoelasticpropertiesofatemperatureresponsivephotocurableresinfor3dprintedorthodonticclearaligners
AT jungyulcha mechanicalandviscoelasticpropertiesofatemperatureresponsivephotocurableresinfor3dprintedorthodonticclearaligners
AT seyeonlee mechanicalandviscoelasticpropertiesofatemperatureresponsivephotocurableresinfor3dprintedorthodonticclearaligners
AT jiholee mechanicalandviscoelasticpropertiesofatemperatureresponsivephotocurableresinfor3dprintedorthodonticclearaligners
AT jinhongmin mechanicalandviscoelasticpropertiesofatemperatureresponsivephotocurableresinfor3dprintedorthodonticclearaligners
AT sunhojang mechanicalandviscoelasticpropertiesofatemperatureresponsivephotocurableresinfor3dprintedorthodonticclearaligners
AT tanveerahmedkhan mechanicalandviscoelasticpropertiesofatemperatureresponsivephotocurableresinfor3dprintedorthodonticclearaligners
AT hyunjoongkim mechanicalandviscoelasticpropertiesofatemperatureresponsivephotocurableresinfor3dprintedorthodonticclearaligners
AT kibeomkim mechanicalandviscoelasticpropertiesofatemperatureresponsivephotocurableresinfor3dprintedorthodonticclearaligners