Coloray announced on September 24 that its self-developed mica-based composite material has surpassed 3,000 hours in a recent salt spray test. This figure exceeds the European Union (EU) standard requirement of 1,000 hours by more than three times, drawing attention in application fields that require high-durability materials, such as the humanoid robot industry.
The company explained that this achievement comes at a time when global companies are accelerating mass production of humanoid robots and industrial demand for high-performance materials is rapidly increasing. In fact, Tesla has achieved improvements in the Optimus Gen2 by reducing weight and increasing walking speed through material lightening, while companies such as Unitree Robotics are also strengthening related technology development.
Since the exterior and joint parts of robots are exposed to complex environments such as high temperature, high humidity, and salinity, excellent corrosion resistance has emerged as a core requirement. Traditional metal materials such as magnesium alloys have only managed to maintain performance for up to 1,000 hours in salt spray environments. However, Coloray's mica-based composite material has demonstrated corrosion resistance exceeding 3,000 hours at the laboratory level.
According to the company, this material is designed to effectively block the penetration of corrosive agents by applying a diffusion barrier mechanism of mica particles, a high-strength interfacial bonding structure, and compounding technology with functional fillers. The overall environmental resistance and durability have also been enhanced by applying micro-arc oxidation pretreatment technology and epoxy composite coating technology using conductive mica powder.
Coloray sees potential for this material to be used in the following areas: exteriors and structural components of humanoid robots, joint and drive system parts, protective cases for electronic equipment, and electric vehicle battery protection and drive system components. While the company is currently targeting the robotics industry, it notes that there is room for broader application across a wider range of industries.
The composite material is currently undergoing pilot operation on a smart production line. The company stated that it plans to conduct additional verification and production stabilization processes before full-scale mass production of the material.
This achievement has also raised attention to the possibility that Coloray may diversify its materials business into advanced fields such as AI infrastructure and the robotics industry, in addition to its existing focus on cosmetic materials. Some analysts suggest that the company could shift its image from a cosmetic material supplier to a provider of high-value-added industrial materials.
A Coloray representative stated, "As the industrialization of humanoid robots accelerates, if this material proves its performance in real-world environments and secures applications, we will be able to secure market competitiveness. Coloray will continue to develop high-durability new materials and expand cooperation with related industries."
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