Hanwha Ocean announced on the 10th that it has completed internal performance evaluation of a high durability paint for naval vessels developed in collaboration with a domestic paint company.

The expected effect when Hanwha Ocean applies heat-insulating paint to KDDX. /Courtesy of Hanwha Ocean

High durability heat-insulating paint refers to a coating that helps vessels achieve top performance even in extreme climates and ocean conditions such as ultraviolet rays, wind, heat, and cold during operations.

Major advanced countries have adopted high durability heat-insulating paint, which reduces infrared signals emitted from the hull, as the standard to improve the stealth performance of operational vessels.

The heat-insulating paint developed by Hanwha Ocean is characterized by reflecting over 80% of near-infrared rays, a major factor in temperature rise. Hanwha Ocean explained that this is up to 60% superior compared to the industry average near-infrared reflectance.

Additionally, it is expected to reduce internal temperature increases by up to 40%, effectively suppressing temperature rises in the vessel's hull and interior, thus lowering the operating rate of air conditioning units and improving the vessel's energy efficiency by up to 14%.

The temperature reduction effect of the new paint is expected to significantly contribute to enhancing the vessel's stealth capability. Lowering the hull temperature reduces infrared signals emitted externally, decreasing the likelihood of detection by enemy vessels.

The new paint utilizes polysiloxane, a high-performance polymer resin resistant to heat, salt, and acidity, ensuring higher durability than the coatings currently applied to naval vessel exteriors.

A representative from Hanwha Ocean noted, "The paint developed this time is a core element of next-generation vessels as a new technology to be fully applied, marking an evolutionary design," and added, "Based on this, Hanwha Ocean will continuously enhance its order competitiveness in the naval vessel sector."