The most eye-catching features on a car’s exterior are the high gloss side mirrors and radiator grille. These are not merely functional components, but key design elements that express the brand’s identity and reflect the consumer’s personal taste.

As cars have evolved from mere transportation to a means of self-expression, exterior design has become a key source of competitiveness. In response to this shift, the automotive industry is turning its attention to components that achieve a high-gloss finish without the need for painting. By eliminating the coating process, manufacturers can reduce production costs and carbon emissions, achieving both sustainability and cost efficiency.

In line with this trend, LG Chem’s High Gloss ASA is gaining attention for its excellent gloss and outstanding physical properties. Today, we introduce High Gloss ASA, a next-generation material in the spotlight.

What is High Gloss ASA?

High Gloss ASA is a thermoplastic made by combining ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate) and MMA (Methyl Methacrylate). Traditional ABS required surface coating, as it was prone to discoloration and cracking when exposed to environmental factors such as UV rays and moisture. In contrast, ASA offers superior weather resistance and color retention compared to ABS, making it suitable for outdoor components without the need for painting.

As car exterior designs shift from low gloss to high gloss, ASA is gaining more attention than ever. High gloss materials like PMMA* have drawn interest; however, they are not suitable as eco-friendly exterior materials due to their low impact and corrosion resistance, high cost, and poor recyclability. ASA also had limitations as a non-coated exterior material, as traditional heat-resistant types lost gloss during high-temperature molding and had difficulty achieving a deep black color. LG Chem addressed this issue by developing High Gloss ASA, which combines the weather resistance of ASA with the gloss properties of MMA. This material can achieve a deep and vivid black color without coating, while offering a well-balanced set of properties including weather resistance, chemical resistance, impact resistance, and scratch resistance. Thanks to these qualities, it is well-suited for exterior automotive components such as side mirrors, pillars, and radiator grilles. With greater durability and production efficiency than traditional PMMA, it is emerging as a competitive next-generation material.

*PMMA: A type of thermoplastic resin

Characteristics of High Gloss ASA

High Gloss ASA isn’t just about good looks. To be used in automotive exteriors, a material must offer durability to withstand harsh conditions such as UV rays, heat, moisture, and chemical exposure. High Gloss ASA meets all these requirements, combining both functionality and design.

For example, since exterior components are exposed to sunlight and rain for extended periods, weather resistance is essential. High Gloss ASA has proven its performance by passing the 2,500-hour test under the SAE J2527 standard. It also meets the quality standards of major automotive manufacturers and overcomes common plastic limitations such as discoloration and loss of gloss.

LG Chem has intricately engineered the structure of High Gloss ASA to achieve both gloss and deep black color. The material has been enhanced to maintain its gloss and color stability even after high-temperature molding. As a result, it offers approximately twice the gloss retention of conventional heat-resistant ASA and preserves its rich black color over time.

High Gloss ASA, with its strong resistance to external impact, demonstrated superior safety compared to traditional PMMA by withstanding a multi-axis impact test simulating a side collision. This characteristic is particularly advantageous for automotive components that are vulnerable to external shocks. It also overcomes the limitations of PMMA-blended materials, such as poor impact strength and low heat resistance, while enhancing overall durability.

Cars operate in environments where they can be exposed to various chemical substances such as diesel, engine oil, and tar removers. High Gloss ASA offers excellent resistance to these chemicals and shows fewer cracks compared to PMMA, demonstrating superior chemical resistance. This makes it well-suited for components frequently exposed to contaminants like sand, gravel, and dust.

Scratch resistance is another key advantage. High Gloss ASA is more resistant to scratches than conventional ASA, resulting in fewer visible marks when applied to vehicles.

In this way, High Gloss ASA is a high-performance plastic that offers ultra-black color, high gloss, impact resistance, heat resistance, and chemical resistance. It goes beyond simply replacing PMMA, gaining attention as a next-generation material that meets the demanding requirements of automotive exterior applications.

Applications of High Gloss ASA

The advantages of High Gloss ASA become even more evident in real automotive exterior components. Good examples include radiator grilles and side mirror housings; areas that are heavily exposed to UV rays, heat, rain, and dust, and also serve as key elements of a vehicle’s design. High Gloss ASA maintains its deep black color and gloss without discoloration or damage, even under such harsh conditions, making it ideal for creating a premium exterior. Some global automotive brands are actively adopting non-coated high gloss components in their new vehicle designs, and LG Chem’s High Gloss ASA is already being used in the mass production of these models.

For example, one brand applied high gloss black to its radiator grille to strengthen brand identity, while another reduced production costs by eliminating the coating process in its side mirror components. Recently, demand for High Gloss ASA has been increasing not only in automotive exteriors but also in a variety of sectors, including electronic components, home appliances, and healthcare devices. In products that require both aesthetic appeal and physical performance, it delivers high quality without the need for coating, offering a competitive edge in both cost efficiency and sustainability. At CHINAPLAS 2025, LG Chem showcased actual components made with High Gloss ASA, drawing strong interest from visitors. By exhibiting real parts, the company demonstrated the material’s practical applicability and design quality, capturing the attention of industry professionals.

Key Differentiators of LG Chem’s High Gloss ASA

LG Chem’s High Gloss ASA is a practical material designed not only for real-world use but also to meet the automotive industry’s growing demands for sustainability and cost reduction. Its advantages become even more apparent when compared to the limitations of traditional materials.

Traditional PMMA-based high gloss materials offered excellent appearance but had limitations in impact resistance, chemical resistance, processability, and recyclability. Conventional heat-resistant ASA also posed challenges for use in non-coated components, as it tended to lose gloss during high-temperature molding and struggled to achieve an ultra-black finish. To address these limitations, LG Chem initiated joint development with global automotive brands. By listening directly to customer feedback and incorporating their quality standards and production requirements, LG Chem engineered a new High Gloss ASA. The result is a high-performance material that combines ultra-black color, gloss retention, and superior resistance to impact, heat, chemicals, and scratches. It maintains premium exterior quality without the need for coating, enhancing production efficiency while also helping to reduce carbon emissions.

LG Chem considered not only performance but also mass production. By introducing a Mold Deposit evaluation tool, the company verified various mold structures and analyzed contamination sources to improve the material. This helped extend mold cleaning cycles and enhance production efficiency. High Gloss ASA offers better recyclability than PMMA-based blend materials and complies with global environmental regulations such as the EU ELV directive.

From design to performance, productivity, and sustainability.
LG Chem’s High Gloss ASA is a high-performance material that meets all the essential requirements for automotive exterior components. LG Chem will continue to stay closely aligned with customer needs and enhance its competitiveness in the future automotive market through material innovation that integrates technology, design, and sustainability.