A rendered image of next-generation naval vessels built with POSCO's advanced structural materials / Courtesy of POSCO
POSCO has set a new milestone in Korea’s defense industry with the development of advanced structural materials for naval vessels.
The company said Thursday it successfully developed the nation’s first high-ductility hull structural steel and ballistic-resistant steel for naval use, both of which received classification certification in January from the Korean Register, a domestic ship classification society.
Classification societies are organizations that evaluate and certify the safety and quality of materials, design and manufacturing processes used in ships and offshore structures. These institutions set standards and regulations that all such materials must meet.
According to the steelmaker, the certification followed a comprehensive process that included material development, weldability verification and evaluation of protective performance for warships.
High-ductility steel refers to steel with greater elongation and toughness than conventional grades, allowing it to stretch or deform under impact without fracturing.
POSCO’s newly developed material improves elongation by more than 35 percent compared with existing shipbuilding plates. In simulated collision tests, its energy absorption rate increased by about 58 percent.
This improvement minimizes structural damage in collisions with other vessels or floating objects, significantly boosting the survivability of naval ships.
To further enhance the safety, agility and operational efficiency of warships, POSCO also developed ballistic-resistant steel that is about 30 percent thinner than conventional plates.
The new material can be applied to key upper structures such as bridges, radar systems and advanced weapon zones, providing strong protection against external threats. The weight reduction also improves resistance to rolling and enhances ship stability and recovery performance.
Source: Korea Times News
