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New thermal runaway thermoplastic from LG Chem and LX Hausys

November 19, 2023

LG Chem and LX Hausys have jointly developed a material that can delay battery thermal runaway, known as ‘Special Flame Retardant Continuous Fiber Thermoplastic (Special Flame Retardant CFT)’, which can withstand a flame at 1,500℃ for over 20 minutes.

They mentioned its capable of withstanding strong flames and high pressure for more than 14 times longer than existing thermoplastics. In an internal test conducted by LG Chem, the 1.6 mm thin Special Flame-Retardant CFT was subjected to temperatures exceeding 1,500°C + pressure. The material did not melt, run down, or develop any holes even after 20 minutes, demonstrating a high level of flame blocking performance.

The Special Flame-Retardant CFT combines LG Chem’s super flame barrier material technology and LX Hausys’ Continuous Fiber Thermoplastics (CFT) manufacturing technology. The super flame barrier material developed by LG Chem last year could withstand flames at temperatures exceeding 1,000℃ for over 10 minutes. Now LX Hausys enhanced the performance of LG Chem’s material by applying a manufacturing technique of layering thermoplastic in the form of tape to the material.

The Special Flame-Retardant CFT is solid and has low deformation under force (high rigidity), making it suitable for use in the top and bottom covers of large battery packs among electric vehicle battery components. It is anticipated that this material will effectively delay the spread of flames in the event of an electric vehicle fire, providing crucial time for driver evacuation and fire suppression.

Last year, LG Chem completed the development of super flame barrier materials and established a mass production system. These materials, capable of precise molding, are primarily used in battery modules. The Special Flame-Retardant CFT developed this year is intended for the large battery pack cover that encases the module, providing a double barrier against the spread of flames when used in conjunction with the super flame barrier materials.

Tom Shin, Head of Department, Marketing Department, Engineering Materials, stated, “We have been working closely with LX Hausys since we developed and announced a super flame barrier material last year. We are proud to have a total solution lineup for electric vehicle thermal runaway.” He added, “We will continue research and development to make the daily lives of electric vehicle drivers safer while addressing customer pain points.”