Partners with Nuri rocket insulation supplier Hi-NAND
Aims to localize satellite MLI materials
'Expanding fiber technology into advanced industries'
Chemical fiber materials company Huvis announced Wednesday that it is moving into the development of high-performance materials for the space and defense industries.
Huvis signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday with Hi-NAND, a specialist in thermal control and insulation technology, and the Korea Textile Smart Process Research Institute (PROI) at the institute's facility in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province. The agreement is aimed at building cooperation in space and defense industry materials solutions. Hi-NAND supplied insulation materials for the Nuri rocket, which successfully launched last month.
The signing ceremony was attended by Lee Min-seong, head of the Huvis research institute; Hwang Seung-sik, CEO of Hi-NAND; and Park Seong-yun, president of PROI.
The agreement is designed to meet growing demand for high-performance materials in the aerospace and defense sectors by creating a collaborative framework spanning materials, components, and manufacturing processes and equipment. The three parties will jointly develop materials needed by industry, including aerospace apparel, extreme-environment insulation materials and strategic defense materials.
Under the arrangement, Huvis will lead the development of fiber materials for space and defense applications, while Hi-NAND will focus on components based on its proprietary insulation and thermal control technologies. PROI will draw on its experience developing metal fiber structures for satellite and radar antennas to handle the processes and equipment needed to turn materials into finished components.
Huvis sees particularly strong synergy potential in multi-layer insulation (MLI) for satellites, a core product of Hi-NAND. MLI is a critical insulation component that protects satellite equipment from the extreme temperatures of space, and its key materials align closely with Huvis's polyester fiber technology. The partnership is also expected to advance the localization of MLI materials, which currently rely heavily on imports.
The three organizations plan to establish a research space tentatively named the Space and Defense Industry Materials Solutions Center within PROI before launching related technology development work.
"This agreement will serve as an opportunity for Huvis to expand the fiber materials technology we have built up into the future growth areas of aerospace and defense," Lee said. "Through collaboration spanning materials, components and processes, we will contribute to the localization of advanced materials and accelerate the discovery of high-value-added new materials."
klee@heraldcorp.com
