Beyond EV to Future Industries: LG Chem’s Battery Materials Innovation at InterBattery 2026
2026. 03. 20
From March 11 to 13, LG Chem participated in InterBattery 2026, held at COEX in Seoul, South Korea, where the company showcased its advanced battery materials technologies and battery safety solutions. InterBattery is Korea’s largest battery industry exhibition, bringing together technologies and market trends across the entire battery value chain—from cells and materials to equipment.
This year’s event featured 667 companies from 14 countries, highlighting how battery technologies are expanding beyond electric vehicles (EVs) into future industries such as energy storage systems (ESS), robotics, and urban air mobility (UAM). In particular, as global OEMs strengthen regulations on thermal propagation, the importance of battery safety technologies and material competitiveness has become more critical than ever.
Under the theme “Beyond EV, Creating Tomorrow,” LG Chem presented a comprehensive portfolio of material solutions that integrate performance, safety, and sustainability—demonstrating its vision as a leader in the battery industry.
LG Chem set up its exhibition space in Hall C at COEX. At the center of the booth stood a highlight zone featuring a large media tower, naturally drawing visitors’ attention. This space was designed to visualize the battery industry’s production and process flow in the form of a conveyor belt—from battery cells to materials, finished vehicles, and future mobility—presenting the entire ecosystem as a connected journey. This intuitive design effectively conveyed that the battery industry is built upon the integration of advanced materials technologies and process innovation.
The exhibition space was divided into key technology zones, including cathode materials, sustainability, adhesives, anode binders, CNT, aerogel, and Super Flame Barrier (SFB), allowing visitors to explore LG Chem’s battery materials portfolio at a glance.
To further enhance understanding, digital interactive elements such as 3D model-based e-Mobility content and AI docent services were also provided. Through tablets and QR codes, visitors could explore where and how materials are applied within EV structures, offering a more intuitive and immersive experience of LG Chem’s technologies.
As the EV and ESS markets continue to grow rapidly, battery safety has emerged as a critical factor shaping industry-wide trust. In response, LG Chem introduced its Battery Safety Solution, centered on advanced materials designed to address thermal runaway.
One of the key technologies showcased was the Super Flame Barrier (SFB). SFB is a thermal-runaway-delaying Engineering Plastics (thermoplastics) that forms 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. Its lightweight and highly processable characteristics also enhance design flexibility in battery pack architecture. This innovation was recognized with the InterBattery Award in the Reliability, Safety and Sustainability category.
LG Chem further strengthened its safety solution by combining SFB with Nexula®, an aerogel-based thermal barrier material. With its superior heat-insulation properties, Nexula® effectively blocks thermal diffusion not only between battery cells but also between modules and within battery packs.
Together, the integration of SFB and Nexula® establishes a dual-layer safety system that both delays and blocks heat propagation, presenting a new direction for next-generation battery safety technologies.
Adhesive materials play a critical role in ensuring the structural integrity and reliability of battery systems. At the exhibition, LG Chem showcased a range of adhesive solutions—including thermal conductive adhesives, structural adhesives, and potting compounds—that perform essential functions within battery packs. EV batteries consist of complex assemblies of materials and components that must operate reliably under vibration, impact, and high-temperature conditions. To meet these demands, LG Chem’s adhesive technologies are designed to deliver comprehensive performance across thermal management, structural stability, electrical insulation, and environmental protection.
Thermal conductive adhesives securely fix battery cells while efficiently dissipating heat and preventing electrical short circuits through insulation. Structural adhesives, leveraging automotive body bonding technologies, enable strong component assembly without bolts or screws, achieving both structural integrity and lightweight design.
Meanwhile, potting compounds encapsulate battery cells and components with resin, protecting them from shock, moisture, and potential ignition sources. Together, these adhesive solutions form a critical foundation for stable battery system operation across diverse environments.
The exhibition also highlighted LG Chem’s cathode materials portfolio, a key factor determining battery performance.
Cathode materials play a crucial role in energy density, output, lifespan, and safety in lithium-ion batteries. LG Chem showcased a wide range of products—including High-Ni, High-Voltage Mid-Ni (HV Mid-Ni), lithium iron phosphate (LFP), and lithium manganese rich (LMR)—demonstrating its ability to meet diverse performance requirements.
A key differentiator is LG Chem’s oriented particle structure technology, which aligns primary particles radially from the core to the surface. This structure enhances lithium-ion mobility while reducing surface resistance, helping to minimize cracking during charge–discharge cycles and improve battery lifespan.
LG Chem also introduced its precursor-free process, LGCF (LG’s Precursor Free). Unlike conventional methods, this process eliminates the need for precursors by utilizing proprietary raw material design, simplifying manufacturing while improving cost competitiveness and development efficiency. At the same time, it reduces energy consumption and wastewater emissions, making it a meaningful advancement from both economic and environmental perspectives.
In addition, technologies such as CNT (carbon nanotubes)—which enhance electrical conductivity—and anode binders—which stabilize electrode structures—were also showcased, highlighting LG Chem’s comprehensive approach to improving battery performance.
At the Sustainability Zone, visitors explored LG Chem’s battery and plastic recycling technologies. As the battery industry grows, the question of how to recover and reuse end-of-life materials has become increasingly important.
LG Chem is advancing the Battery Circular Economy by recovering key raw materials such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium from used EV batteries and reintroducing them into battery material production. This approach reduces dependence on raw materials while improving resource efficiency and strengthening supply chain stability.
Beyond batteries, LG Chem is also expanding its plastic recycling technologies. By chemically breaking down waste plastics into reusable feedstock, the company is building a circular system for plastic materials and continuously strengthening its eco-friendly materials portfolio.
During InterBattery 2026, LG Chem’s booth attracted significant attention from industry professionals and visitors alike. From materials and adhesive solutions to cathode technologies and recycling strategies, the exhibition offered a comprehensive view of LG Chem’s capabilities across the battery value chain.
Looking ahead, LG Chem will continue to prepare for the future of the battery industry by leveraging its core materials competitiveness and technology-driven integrated solutions. As the company advances next-generation battery materials that integrate performance, safety, and sustainability, we invite you to stay tuned for LG Chem’s continued innovation.
There are no comments yet! Be the first to let us know your thoughts!