Hanil Cement and Hanil Industry have jointly developed a cold-weather concrete technology capable of achieving the required strength at subzero temperatures without the use of separate heating equipment. The technology has received a Technology Performance Certification from the Korea Institute of Building Construction.

Concrete hardens through a chemical reaction between water and cement. As temperatures fall, however, the reaction slows significantly. In particular, at subzero temperatures, moisture inside the concrete can freeze, potentially reducing its early-age strength. To prevent concrete from freezing, construction sites have traditionally relied on heated curing methods, such as installing temporary enclosures and operating hot-air heaters. These methods involve additional costs, including heating expenses, and have also raised safety concerns due to the risk of fires and asphyxiation accidents.

The newly developed cold-weather concrete combines Hanil Cement’s high-early-strength cement with a winter-use admixture developed by Hanil Industry. By accelerating the initial reaction, the concrete can achieve strength levels that meet safety standards without separate heating equipment, requiring only plastic sheeting or thermal insulation covers during curing.

The technology maintains stable performance even at temperatures as low as -10°C. Eliminating the heating process helps reduce both construction costs and the risk of safety accidents. Hanil Cement has also completed performance verification by applying the technology at an actual office building construction site.

Meanwhile, Hanil Cement and Hanil Industry previously received a Technology Performance Certification from the Korea Institute of Building Construction in June for their “Extended-Slump-Retention Concrete” technology, which is designed to maintain concrete fluidity for an extended period.