Cosmetics ingredients company NFC(265740) is accelerating commercialization of a next-generation inorganic UV-filter material that improves the long-standing problem of white cast in sunscreens.
NFC said on the 2nd that it developed an inorganic UV-filter material that maintains high UV protection while offering excellent transparency and has begun commercialization tests. It also completed related patent filings and registrations.
The core material is hollow silica in the form of glass beads with empty interiors (hollow type silica). NFC's Materials Research Institute secured "micro colloidosome" technology by synthesizing hollow silica particles through years of research and inducing their self-assembly to form an ordered three-dimensional structure.
A key feature of this technology is precise control of particle size, hollow structure, and colloidosome arrangement at the sub-nanometer level. By applying the photonic crystal principle, which selectively reflects and scatters specific wavelengths of light, it effectively blocks ultraviolet ranges while enhancing transparency in the visible range. The principle is similar to the wings of the Morpho butterfly or opal, which emit color through structure rather than pigments.
In particular, unlike existing inorganic sunscreens, there is no need to break particles down to the nanoscale to reduce white cast, which is another differentiator. NFC expects that implementing the material with a micro-scale colloidosome structure can lower safety and regulatory burdens associated with nanoparticles.
The current sunscreen market is split between inorganic materials such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which have high refractive indices that cause white cast and a rough feel, and organic materials that are transparent but face criticism over environmental harm and photostability. NFC believes this material can address the drawbacks of both categories at the same time.
The market outlook is also positive. The global sun care market continues to grow, and the UV-filter materials market is likewise projected to expand by an annual average of 6% to 8%. As overseas exports of K-beauty sunscreens increase, the commercialization of a domestically developed next-generation UV-filter material is expected to bolster the competitiveness of Korea's sun care industry overall.
NFC is also reviewing potential applications in electronic materials such as displays by leveraging the optical properties of the material in the future. The plan is to expand its business scope beyond cosmetic raw materials to an optical materials platform.