DL E&C Develops Heat-Generating Concrete to Melt Black Ice

DL E&C Develops Heat-Generating Concrete to Overcome Cold Waves with Partners
Pursues R&D Performance Sharing Project with Partners to Strengthen ESG Management

[Asia Economy Reporter Onyu Lim] DL E&C has embarked on developing heating concrete to reduce the danger of black ice, known as the 'assassin on the road.'

DL E&C announced on the 13th that it is researching concrete that generates heat through electricity to enable safe driving even in winter. DL E&C oversees the planning and performance management of the research, while its partner companies J.O and Hyunai jointly develop the project as part of an R&D performance-sharing initiative. Established this year, DL plans to strengthen ESG (Environmental, Social Responsibility, and Governance) management. Accordingly, DL E&C selects joint R&D projects with partner companies to enhance their competitiveness and carries out various technology development and support activities.

The concrete DL E&C is developing can regulate temperature by utilizing carbon nanotubes, an advanced material through which electric current flows. The key to this research is determining how to mix the tube-shaped carbon material, composed of tiny particles, into the concrete to effectively generate heat. Additionally, the goal is to secure economic feasibility with low power consumption. DL E&C has already verified performance capable of heating up to approximately 60 degrees Celsius with power lower than that used for charging a mobile phone. Further research and development will aim to secure quality and constructability suitable for commercialization.

Dongjin Kim, a senior researcher at DL E&C, said, “Once the low-power heating concrete development is completed, it will greatly help prevent traffic accidents in winter,” adding, “There is potential for it to be used as a stable and economical heating system that can even replace airport runways or indoor heating systems in buildings.”

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