"Functional materials" are breaking industry boundaries, expanding beyond the electronics sector to various industries such as smart aquaculture, healthcare, and electric vehicle batteries. Major companies like LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics are accelerating the development of new markets by leveraging differentiated material technologies.

On the 16th, LG Electronics announced that it is collaborating with smart aquaculture company 'EcoAquafarm' to apply its antimicrobial functional material, 'Furotec,' in smart fish farms. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 13th at LG Electronics' Gasan R&D campus in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, to strengthen hygiene in land-based aquaculture plant manufacturing using Furotec.

Furotec is an antimicrobial and antifungal functional material. When added to plastics, paints, and rubber, it suppresses the growth of microorganisms, preventing odors, contamination, and discoloration. Its fine particles, about 4μm (micrometers) in size, which are 1/10 the size of flour particles, exhibit high antimicrobial performance, offering excellent cost-effectiveness and versatility. Furotec will be applied in fish farm processing room floors, walls, storage areas, packaging materials, and processing equipment to inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi and help maintain the freshness of salmon.

LG Electronics received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year for Furotec as a Food Contact Substance (FCS), allowing its application in food packaging materials. The company plans to expand its business into various B2B markets, including smart aquaculture, food processing and distribution, healthcare, and construction materials.

Samsung Electronics significantly expanded the use of recycled materials in the 'Galaxy S25 series' launched this January. All exterior components of the Galaxy S25 and S25+ are made from recycled materials, including recycled glass on the front and back of the device, and recycled aluminum on the side keys, volume keys, and SIM tray. Notably, the Galaxy S25 established a circular system to recycle cobalt extracted from its own used batteries. To date, 200 tons of recycled cobalt have been used in Galaxy smartphones. Additionally, in collaboration with Lotte Chemical, Samsung has introduced a circular economy model to recycle discarded semiconductor wafer trays into plastic raw materials, applying recycled polycarbonate to several components of the Galaxy S25.

Chemical and materials companies are actively expanding their functional material technologies. LG Chem developed a thermal runaway suppression material at the end of last year that can fundamentally prevent electric vehicle battery fires. This material is a composite substance whose electrical resistance changes with temperature, acting as a "fuse" to block the electrical flow during the initial stages of rising temperatures. LG Chem has completed safety verification tests for thermal runaway suppression materials in mobile batteries and will continue safety tests to apply it to large-capacity electric vehicle batteries.

Materials specialist Deep Smatec has developed a polymer thin-film deposition technology that can be applied at room temperature, which is being used in the electric vehicle battery sector. This technology helps to enhance the durability of battery separators by coating them with functional polymers, preventing explosions and fires caused by breakage. It also reduces energy consumption compared to traditional high-temperature processes, while improving the stability and lifespan of the batteries.

An industry insider commented, "Functional materials have significant value not only in consumer products but also across various industries. Electronics companies are strengthening their competitiveness in the B2B market through the development of new materials."

ChatGPT를 사용하여 번역한 기사입니다.