[K-Industry, Future Planners] Breaking into the High Value-Added Market with Common PVC... The Power of LG Chem's High Quality

(11) Hyun-Kyu Ha, Head of PVC and Plasticizer Development, LG Chem

Mass Production of Ultra-High Polymerization "HRTP4000"
Achieving 125°C Heat Resistance Beyond Conventional Limits
Entering the Ultra-Fast Charging Cable Market

Editor's NoteThe landscape of Korean industry is undergoing rapid change. Amidst the turbulence of the global market, there are next-generation technology researchers and engineers who quietly plan for tomorrow. These individuals are the lifeblood of the Korean economy and the true protagonists who will sustain Korea’s future. The Asia Business Daily is launching an interview series titled "K-Industry, Future Planners" to spotlight their innovative technological worlds and visions for the future. The eleventh feature highlights Hyun-Kyu Ha, Head of PVC and Plasticizer Development at LG Chem, who has devoted more than 20 years exclusively to PVC, and independently developed the ultra-high polymerization PVC "HRTP4000."

Hyun Kyu Ha, Head of PVC and Plasticizer Development at LG Chem, is explaining the development details on the 8th at the PVC Analysis Laboratory in the Special Pilot Building of LG Chem's Technical Research Institute in Daejeon. LG Chem

PVC is considered one of the most common materials among petrochemical products. It is used so widely—for pipes, flooring, and wire insulation—that it is difficult to find a place where it is not utilized. However, being common also means it is inexpensive. For such a general-purpose material, even a small fluctuation in raw material costs or a slightly cheaper offering from a competitor can cause profit margins to swing dramatically. In recent years, an oversupply from China has compounded the situation, leaving Korea’s petrochemical industry struggling to make any meaningful profit from this ubiquitous material.

Paradoxically, LG Chem’s answer to this crisis was to transform "the most universal material into a high value-added product." In 2023, the company succeeded in developing an ultra-high polymerization PVC that surpassed the limitations of conventional PVC and began mass production in 2024. When interviewed at the LG Chem Technical Research Center in Daejeon on July 8, Hyun-Kyu Ha, Head of PVC and Plasticizer Development at LG Chem, highlighted the significance of this achievement: "This is a case that shows even the most general-purpose material can be turned into a high value-added product." His calm tone nevertheless revealed the conviction of a researcher who has dedicated over 20 years to PVC alone.

After joining LG Chem in 2003, he has spent more than two decades involved in PVC research and development, beginning his career by working to improve the quality stability and productivity of general-purpose PVC. As industries such as wires and cables, automobiles, and construction materials began demanding more differentiated physical properties, he shifted focus from simply improving formulations to fundamentally altering the molecular structure itself—this became the starting point for developing ultra-high polymerization PVC.

From Formulation to Molecular Structure: "Raising Polymerization Degree from 3000 to 4000"

Hyun Kyu Ha, Head of PVC and Plasticizer Development at LG Chem, is giving an interview in the conference room of LG Chem Technology Research Institute in Daejeon on the 8th. LG Chem

PVC products are completed by mixing various raw materials into a compound and then molding them. Until now, the industry has improved heat resistance by blending in better raw materials. However, there were limitations to what could be achieved solely through formulation. Traditional PVC struggled to meet the 105-degree Celsius heat resistance standard required for automotive wires. HRTP4000, however, can withstand temperatures up to 125 degrees Celsius. This marks the first time PVC has been used in areas traditionally reserved for other heat-resistant materials such as XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene).

The key lies in the polymerization degree. PVC is a material consisting of small basic units linked in long chains, and the polymerization degree refers to the number of these units connected. A polymerization degree of 4000 means 4,000 basic units are linked together—over four times longer than general PVC. The longer the chain, the more resistant it is to breakage and heat. However, such long molecules easily entangle with each other, making processing more difficult. LG Chem solved this by creating micro-sized pores within the PVC particles, allowing other raw materials to thoroughly permeate the structure.

While products with a polymerization degree of around 3,000 were previously produced through technology transfer, HRTP4000 is different in that LG Chem developed it entirely in-house from beginning to end, leveraging its accumulated technological expertise. At the end of 2023, the company conducted customer evaluations with prototypes to verify its potential, began mass production in 2024, and commenced sales later that year.

For the First Time with PVC: Entering the Ultra-Fast Charging Cable Market

As electric vehicle charging infrastructure expands, the requirements for cable materials are also becoming more demanding. General and fast-charging cables still use conventional PVC. However, with the growth of ultra-fast charging—which requires carrying high currents in short periods—there is a need for materials that are both heat-resistant, flame-retardant, and flexible. HRTP4000 is the first PVC material to break into this market segment.

Until now, this market was dominated by the material XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene), which consists of molecular chains intertwined like a net. While it is heat-resistant, once it is set, it cannot be remelted and reused, making recycling virtually impossible. In contrast, HRTP4000 does not undergo such cross-linking, so it is recyclable and also feels softer to the touch. Even compared to competing materials, its performance stands out: it withstands temperatures up to 125 degrees Celsius—a step higher than competing materials at 105 degrees—and offers superior flexibility and the highest level of flame resistance.

Ha explained, "If cable insulation burns, fires can spread rapidly, so it is essential that the material is flame-retardant and slows combustion. For harness cables, which are intricately bent, insufficient flexibility increases the risk of cracks and sparks," highlighting the relationship between safety and material properties.

The market highly values flexibility and recyclability. HRTP synthetic leather and chassis gaskets can be recycled without separation processes, drawing attention amid tightening regulations in Europe. While the price is about 40% higher than that of general-purpose PVC, it is 30–40% cheaper than competing materials. LG Chem plans to raise the heat resistance target from the current 125-degree level to 150 degrees.

Regarding competition with China, Ha commented, "Competing on price is not feasible, so we must move into high value-added areas where China cannot easily follow." To this end, 70% of LG Chem’s petrochemical R&D workforce is dedicated to high value-added products.

This attempt to transform PVC—the most common material—into a high value-added product is being recognized as a successful case of breaking away from general-purpose products in Korea’s chemical industry. Ha envisions the chemical industry in ten years as follows: "It will be restructured around customized, eco-friendly, and high-performance materials, and the chemical industry will be redefined as a provider of solutions for energy transition and environmental issues, beyond mere raw material supply."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.