[K BIZ] Better-drained Pavement Blocks

A rainy spell in summer has started in Korea.

Regional torrential rainfalls which result in tens of millimeters of precipitation often flood downtowns.

A South Korean research team has developed a new type of pavement block which has a much higher water penetration rate. The capacity is about 30 times higher than that of existing precast pavers, according to the team.

This test shows the comparison between the new pavement blocks and existing products. It verifies that there is a clear difference in their water drainage capacity.

The newly developed block is a mixture made from rocks and waste PET bottles.

A total of 27, 1.5-liter PET bottles are used to produce one block.

The production process is also eco-friendly because it does not require any heating which could create toxins.

The research team has confirmed that the new blocks installed for a sidewalk sustained their water penetration capacity for over one year.

[Ryu Byung-Hyun, Ph.D. researcher, KICT]
“Taking into account that the recycled blocks made with the PET material are more water resistant than those made with cement, we have found that the volume of dust or dirt particles blocking the crevices (of the newly developed blocks) is much lower, boosting the new block’s water penetration capacity.”

The "better-drained" pavement blocks have a variety of color types according to the waste PET bottles used to produce them, and their prices are only 60 percent of those of existing pavers.

The team plans to further develop and commercialize new blocks with higher water penetration capacity, which can also be used for roadways, as early as next year.