LG Chem Develops Advanced Plastic Product to Prevent Spread of Flame in EV Batteries

South Korea’s LG Chem has developed a new plastic product for EV battery application that is capable of preventing the spread of flame in batteries, promising to deliver the longest fire-resistance performance in the world. The flame-retardant product is able to prevent the spread of flames, thanks to the company’s proprietary technology and manufacturing methods.

The new advanced flame barrier product created is made from various composites including polyphenylene oxide (PPO) and polyamide (PA) resin.

Thermal runaway is the leading cause of EV battery fires, where various stressors can cause heat to build up within a battery cell.

When a battery cell exceeds its temperature threshold, fire can occur due to a short circuit triggered by factors such as overcharging and over-discharging. 

Commercial production of the new product is on target to begin in 2023 aligned with customers’ demands and schedules. The company is currently in the process of obtaining patents in Korea, the US and selected European markets.

Steven Kim, Senior Vice President of Engineering Materials Division at LG Chem, says: “We are proud to present this new product, a significant milestone for us after more than 10 years of dedicated research to deliver innovation for our customers. LG Chem continues to lead the rapidly evolving e-Mobility market, and we will continue to lead innovations through consistent R&D and investments in manufacturing based on our world-class chemical compounding technology.”

Headquartered in Seoul, Korea, LG Chem manufactures a wide range of products from high value-added petrochemicals to renewable plastics, specialising in cutting-edge electronic and battery materials, as well as drugs and vaccines to deliver differentiated solutions for its customers.