In December of last year, in relation to Professor Hee-jun Park of the College of Human Ecology having developed "non-combustible wood," Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) and Samhwa Paint Co., Ltd. on the 10th signed a technology transfer agreement for the production of the flame-retardant resin injected into this wood (patent application No. 10-2011-0081429).

At the ceremony, Nam-ho Lee, Vice-President of Industry-University Cooperation, and Professor Hee-jun Park, the developer of the technology, were joined by Heo Gui-haeng, Research Center Director of Samhwa Paint; Jong-dae Kim, Head of the Marketing Headquarters; and Gil-soo Seong, Head of the Special Sales Business Division.

JBNU had signed a technology transfer agreement last December with wood producer Haengbok Homewoodtech for the production of eco-friendly flame-retardant wood, and has now concluded an agreement with Samhwa Paint, one of the country’s largest paint manufacturers, for the development of flame-retardant resin, thereby establishing a stable foundation for practical commercialization of non-combustible wood.

Specifically, through JBNU's technology transfer, once Samhwa Paint Co., Ltd. produces the flame-retardant resin, the other technology transferee, Haengbok Homewoodtech, will build a linked system to manufacture wood using this resin.

Nam-ho Lee, Vice-President of Industry-University Cooperation, said, "This technology transfer agreement with Samhwa Paint Co., Ltd. has provided the basis for stably producing the flame-retardant resin, which is the core of flame-retardant wood production," and added, "We expect that non-combustible wood will soon be available in everyday life, offering a revolutionary turning point for fire prevention in timber construction and cultural heritage."

Meanwhile, the technology departs from conventional methods of coating wood with flame-retardant paints. It establishes a semi-noncombustible wood manufacturing technology that overcomes the prior drawback of failing to preserve wood's inherent advantages—such as natural aroma, temperature and humidity regulation, color, grain and texture—while achieving excellent dimensional stability against warping, cracking, shrinkage and expansion, and resisting combustion.

In particular, the technology has obtained a patent and received ISO international certifications (KS F ISO 5660-1, KS F 2271), raising expectations for commercialization and even overseas exports.