Bridge Material 'Gangseon' Registered as International Standard for World's Highest Strength Grade

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[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The specification of the 'world's highest strength PC steel strand,' collaboratively developed under the leadership of Korea's steel industry including POSCO and Koryo Steel, has been registered as an international standard by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

PC steel strand is a steel material used in large bridges and other structures to ensure the safety of buildings.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's National Institute of Technology and Standards announced on the 29th that the specification of the world's highest strength PC steel strand, proposed by the Korea Iron & Steel Association (the steel industry's international standardization response organization), has been incorporated into the ISO international standard.

Having been promoted since 2016, it passed the final ISO vote last month and will be published as an international standard on the 30th. This is the result of over four years of effort.

The world's highest strength PC steel strand has a tensile strength of 2360 MPa, which is more than 25% stronger than the previous highest grade of 1860 MPa. 2360 MPa corresponds to the capacity to withstand a maximum weight of 23 tons (equivalent to 15 mid-sized cars) per 1 cm².

An official from the National Institute of Technology and Standards explained, "The registration as an international standard is the fruit of POSCO's high-purity steel production technology and Koryo Steel's wire manufacturing technology," adding, "It can be regarded as a model case of strategic international standardization cooperation within the industry."

The Korea Iron & Steel Association led the industry's cooperation for this international standard registration. It supported international standardization by drafting the international standard proposal, chairing the international standard working group, coordinating opinions among countries, and facilitating the final adoption.

It is expected that the market channels for the highest strength PC steel strand, required for bridges, domes, power plants, large buildings (such as airports), and other domestic and international construction markets, will expand. The export volume of domestically produced PC steel strands is also expected to continue increasing.

The highest strength PC steel strand products, which will serve as the foundation for more economical and safer structures in the global construction market, are anticipated to steadily generate new demand going forward.

Lee Seung-woo, head of the National Institute of Technology and Standards, said, "The collaboration and mutual growth among the government, associations, material companies, and processing companies to strengthen the global competitiveness of the materials, parts, and equipment industry has resulted in the registration of the world's best steel material as an international standard."

He added, "We will actively support strategic international standardization activities so that our companies' excellent developed products can quickly enter overseas markets."