Hansol HomeDeco, Toray Advanced Materials develop PVC-free interior film

Hansol HomeDeco has teamed up with Toray Advanced Materials to develop a polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-based interior film, addressing a longstanding flexibility drawback of the material to compete in the growing PVC-free interior finishing market.

The two companies announced Monday they had jointly developed the "PET interior film." PET, widely used in food packaging and plastic bottles, is valued for its eco-friendly properties, but its inherent rigidity had limited its use on curved surfaces and right-angle edges.

Through two years of joint research, the companies combined PET with TPEE, a high-performance elastic material, to create a composite. The blend improves flexibility over conventional PET film, and a specially formulated adhesive on the film's reverse side makes on-site installation easier.

The new product is set to be incorporated into the solid line of Hansol HomeDeco's Hansol Story Film range. Developed using the same materials and patterns as the surface of Hansol Story Board — the company's furniture panel — the film delivers a unified color finish between furniture and surrounding wall surfaces.

"We jointly developed next-generation interior finishing materials with Hansol HomeDeco in response to tightening environmental regulations and growing demand for PVC-free products," a Toray Advanced Materials official said.

A Hansol HomeDeco official said the company focused on achieving color consistency with the existing Hansol Story Board line throughout the joint development process.