Korea’s Dongkuk develops world’s first biodegradable film for steel plates

Dongkuk Coated Metal Co. (Dongkuk CM), the cold-rolled steel unit of South Korean steel conglomerate Dongkuk Holdings Co., on Friday unveiled the world’s first biodegradable film for color-coated steel sheets.

Dongkuk CM said it developed the technology after a joint research with KB Chem Co., a South Korean company specializing in film coating, for about one year.

Microorganisms in the biodegradable film naturally decompose the eco-friendly product at room temperature, Dongkuk CM said.

Users can adjust the decomposition period from a minimum of six months to a maximum of five years to suit the purpose of color-coated steel plates by adjusting microorganism content, according to the company.

Dongkuk CM plans to produce more eco-friendly color-coated steel plates by combining the film technology and the world’s first recycled color-coated steel sheet unveiled last November.

The company is also considering supplying the color-coated steel sheets with the biodegradable films to LG Electronics Inc. for the global home appliance giant’s clothes dryers after production verification testing this month.

Write to Hyeon-woo Oh at ohw@hankyung.com
 
Jongwoo Cheon edited this article.