ITRI Materials and Chemical Engineering Research Labs Advance Low-Carbon Innovation Recycling Steel Byproducts into High-Strength Green Building Materials

As the world moves toward net-zero carbon emissions, the construction and materials industries face the critical challenge of balancing resource recycling with low-carbon development. At the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Dr. Hsueh Chien-hua and his team at the Materials and Chemical Engineering Research Laboratories (MCEL) are pioneering technologies to convert steelmaking byproducts into high-performance, eco-friendly building materials.

Taiwan’s steel industry generates large volumes of byproducts annually. Effective reuse can not only ease landfill pressures but also advance sustainability goals. ITRI’s proprietary AI Low-Carbon Inorganic Polymer Concrete technology has successfully transformed these byproducts into durable, high-strength materials. Applications such as wave-dissipating blocks, retaining walls, and landscape steps have passed CNS standards, achieving compressive strength exceeding 4,000 psi—on par with conventional cement. These green building materials also provide acid and alkali resistance along with outstanding durability, making them particularly suited for hydraulic structures and projects exposed to harsh weather.