LG Chem's new thermal-runaway-delaying engineering plastics at InterBattery

As electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems (ESS) rapidly expand across everyday life and industrial applications, battery safety has emerged as a critical factor shaping market trust beyond technological performance.

In response to increasingly stringent global OEM regulations on thermal propagation, thermal runaway mitigation has become an essential requirement in modern battery design.

At the exhibition, LG Chem introduces its thermal-runaway-delaying Engineering Plastics (thermoplastics), which form a hard, dense protective barrier when exposed to flames. This transformation effectively slows both flame and pressure propagation, helping to prevent heat from spreading to adjacent cells and modules. The lightweight and highly processable material also enhances design flexibility in battery pack architecture.

Recognized for its differentiated safety performance, the technology received the InterBattery Award in the Reliability, Safety and Sustainability category, reflecting its strong alignment with tightening global thermal propagation standards.

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“As batteries become more deeply embedded in our daily lives, safety and reliability are becoming core competitive advantages,” said Kim Dong-choon, CEO of LG Chem. “LG Chem will continue to strengthen its global market leadership through core materials competitiveness and technology-driven integrated solutions.”

LG Chem also showcases Nexula®, an aerogel-based thermal barrier material. With its superior heat-insulation properties, the aerogel effectively blocks thermal diffusion not only between battery cells but also between modules and within battery packs. By combining thermal-runaway-delaying materials with aerogel insulation, LG Chem has established a dual-layer safety system that both delays and blocks heat propagation.

In addition, the company is presenting a broad range of adhesive solutions, including thermally conductive adhesives that rapidly dissipate heat while securely fixing cells, structural adhesives that firmly bond dissimilar materials such as metals and plastics to enhance overall battery system reliability, and potting resins that protect batteries from external impact, moisture, and ignition risks.

Under the exhibition theme “Beyond EV, Creating Tomorrow,” LG Chem’s booth on the third floor of COEX highlights advanced material solutions extending beyond electric vehicles to future industries such as Humanoid robots and Urban Air Mobility (UAM).

The display also features LG Chem’s comprehensive battery materials portfolio spanning the entire value chain. These include cathode materials such as High-Ni, High-Voltage Mid-Ni, Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP), and Lithium Manganese-Rich (LMR), as well as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), anode binders, and recycled materials. These demonstrate the company’s integrated competitiveness across performance, safety, and sustainability.