Korean International Student, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Develops Bio-Composite Wall Panel Using Seaweed as a Biofiller
Park Min-hong (Andy Park), who is majoring in industrial design at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, has developed an innovative building material using seaweed and is drawing attention in New Zealand, according to the New Zealand Embassy in Korea and Education New Zealand.
As part of a product design project in his final undergraduate year, Park developed a bio-composite wall panel that uses seaweed as a biofiller. This eco-friendly board offers fire resistance and moisture-control functions, and has been recognized as an innovative yet affordable material that can help reduce carbon emissions in the construction sector.
Park said, “At present, the construction industry accounts for 20% of New Zealand’s total carbon emissions. The construction sector faces the challenge of building more homes while reducing carbon emissions, and given that plasterboard is used in almost every home, seaweed board could be an eco-friendly alternative that reduces carbon emissions.”
Through repeated testing, Park identified the optimal mixing ratio between seaweed and gypsum, and in early research he also found that seaweed board absorbs moisture better than ordinary plasterboard, helping with home insulation and moisture removal. In particular, in a furnace test, the seaweed board was expected to melt away quickly, but it remained intact even after an hour.
Seaweed was found to contain boron, a natural flame retardant, which reduces the risk of ignition, enhances flame resistance, and promotes fire suppression in the event of a fire. In addition, when seaweed is combined with cement, the strength of the concrete increases, and seaweed and its main component, alginate, have high thermal stability and low thermal conductivity, causing the board to take longer to break down when a fire occurs.
Park said, “Seaweed is also recognized for its ability to absorb and release moisture, and because it contains no non-recyclable elements, it is a more eco-friendly alternative than conventional passive fire-protection materials,” adding, “Seaweed board can also be recycled and used as fertilizer.”
The finished seaweed board product can vary in color—green, red, or brown—depending on the type of seaweed used, and its surface has a marble-like sheen. Although Park’s research, design, and testing are still in their early stages, his work was recognized for having the greatest commercial potential at UC Innovation Jumpstart, which supports students’ innovative research projects at the University of Canterbury, winning a prize of 20,000 dollars.
Seaweed grows rapidly, at about 0.5 m per day, and is known to be capable of sequestering approximately 173 million metric tons (M/T) of carbon annually. As an innovative new building material made from seaweed, Park’s seaweed board is establishing itself as a model example of a carbon-reducing product in New Zealand, a country with strong interest in environmental protection and eco-friendly living.