Lighter, lighter… The future food of the chemical industry,’lightweight materials’

Input 2021.02.03 11:00

LG Chem (051910)Recently announced’e-Mobility materials’ as one of the four key new businesses to be developed in the future. It is a strategy to expand the production of lightweight engineering plastics and display materials for automobiles that can be applied to vehicle bodies, as light weight of automobiles will become more important in the era of electric and hydrogen vehicles.

As the wind of weight reduction is blowing in the electric vehicle market, chemical, material, and parts companies are focusing their efforts on developing lightweight materials. Currently, electric vehicles are about 20 to 30 percent heavier than the same class of internal combustion locomotives because of the weight of the battery, which is a key component. In order to increase the mileage of electric vehicles and improve fuel economy, the automobile industry is focusing on reducing the weight of vehicles by reducing the weight of interior and exterior materials in addition to batteries.

Lotte Chemical (011170)Decided to reinforce the high value-added materials business on the occasion of the merger with Lotte Advanced Materials last year. One of them is automotive lightweight materials. Lotte Chemical is already producing high value-added synthetic resin (ABS) and polycarbonate (PC) materials that reduce the weight of automobile interior and exterior materials such as automobile doors, sunroofs, and wheel covers. These materials have physical properties that replace the functions and appearance of vehicle parts to which existing metal materials are applied. It is characterized by high strength, excellent chemical and heat resistance. For example, Lotte Chemical’s LFT (Long Fiber Composite), which is used for door parts of major car models of Hyundai and Kia, is about 20 to 30% lighter in weight than conventional metals, and does not change due to changes in temperature and humidity, the company explained.

Previously, Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin and Eui-sun Eui Hyundai Motor Company (005380)The chairman is known to have met at Lotte Chemical’s Uiwang plant in November last year to discuss cooperation plans for lightweight materials that are considered the core of future car technology, and related projects are also expected to rise rapidly. Lotte Chemical said, “We will actively foster the mobility business by accelerating cooperation with global automakers including Hyundai Motor Company in the advanced materials sector.”

SK innovation (096770)SK Global Chemical, a subsidiary of SK Chemicals, also announced that it will expand its business with lightweight materials for automobiles as one of its next-generation flagship businesses. In 2018, SK Global Chemical developed high crystalline plastic (HCPP) used in automobile interior and exterior materials such as automobile bumpers, dashboards, and console boxes, and is expanding sales in the Chinese market. An official from SK Global Chemical said, “If you use this material, you can reduce the weight of one medium-sized vehicle by up to 10kg.” SK Global Chemical plans to focus on developing eco-friendly lightweight materials with higher strength and less weight.

In line with the trend of lightening electric vehicles, the market for plastic materials used to make auto parts is also growing rapidly. According to Research & Market, a market research firm, the global plastics market for electric vehicles is expected to grow from $ 796.90 million in 2020 to $ 2.62 billion in 2025 (about KRW 3.1 trillion).

LS Cable & System began making aluminum wires for electric vehicles in September last year. Aluminum conductor wires are more than 40% lighter than conventional copper wires. The weight of a copper wire in an electric vehicle reaches 25kg, but if you switch to an aluminum wire, the weight can be reduced to about 15kg. A company official said, “With the competition for weight reduction in the electric vehicle industry, lightweight aluminum will become a key material for vehicles,” he said. “It is expected that the ratio of aluminum wires, which is currently less than 5%, will increase to 30% by 2025.”

Hydrogen cars also need lighter weight. Hyosung is growing a carbon fiber business developed with its own technology in 2011. Carbon fiber weighs about a quarter of that of steel, but its strength is more than 10 times, so it is evaluated as suitable as a material for hydrogen fuel tanks that must withstand high pressure and maintain light weight. The hydrogen fuel tank is a key component of a hydrogen vehicle that contains fuel cells. Hyosung is catching up with Japan’s Toray, which is currently unrivaled in the carbon fiber market, and is speeding up capacity expansion in preparation for future increasing demand.

An official from Hyundai Motors said, “If the weight of an internal combustion locomotive is reduced, it has improved fuel efficiency and reduced air pollutant emissions, so we have been focusing on lightening weight, but electric vehicles have battery weight, so reducing the weight of the vehicle has become more important.