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POSCO Chemical to expand its low-expansion anode materials output
2022.02.28
  • (Photo) A bird eye view of the company’s plant under construction in Sejong where anode materials will be produced. A production line devoted to low-expansion anode materials will be set up on the plot at the bottom left of the photo.
- POSCO Chemical will develop an anode material that can increase the battery life and charging speed for electric vehicles, with an annual target capacity of 35,000 tons.
- Low-expansion anode materials coupled with the use of natural graphite-based materials will reduce prices while being more beneficial for the environment.
- This investment has come in response to increasing demand from global customers including Ultium Cells, with a view to greater market leadership and technological edge.
- It plans to complete the firm's production lineup, which consists of natural graphite anode materials, low-expansion anode materials, synthetic graphite anode materials and silicon anode materials.

POSCO Chemical said it will expand investment in low-expansion anode materials that can help increase the lifespan and charging speed of electric vehicle batteries.

The company decided to ramp up its output of low-expansion anode materials to 35,000 tons a year, from 7,000 tons, in a board of directors’ meeting on Feb. 25.

It is set to invest KRW 105.4 billion (about USD 87 million) to convert a natural graphite anode materials plant under construction in Sejong into a production line dedicated to low-expansion anode materials. It also aims to start mass production from the next year.

The low-expansion anode material is a product developed by POSCO Chemical using their own technology, and it is a material that has a lower price but with a major increase in performance for EV batteries, such as for safety, lifespan, charging speed, and more.

Anode materials are divided into natural graphite-based and synthetic graphite-based depending on the raw material. POSCO Chemical uses the former to improve the material structure from plate-shaped to an isotropic structure, lowering the expansion rate by 25% and improving the fast-charging performance by 15% compared to natural graphite-based anode material. Compared to synthetic graphite, they can also lower the manufacturing cost while improving the environmental friendliness by reducing the amount of carbon emissions generated in the process.

This investment has come as an effort to respond to technological trends, such as improving the driving range of electric vehicles and reducing the charging time, as well as increasing orders from global battery and electric vehicle makers.

As the importance of supply chain stability, manufacturing cost, and carbon emission reduction of graphite continues to grow, POSCO Chemical plans to complete the firm’s anode materials production lineup, which includes natural graphite anode materials, low-expansion anode materials, synthetic graphite anode materials, and silicon anode materials, while enhancing its production capacity to exploit business opportunities.

“This investment was made in order to secure a gap in the market by mass-producing differentiated battery materials based on technological prowess,” said Min Kyung-joon, CEO of POSCO Chemical.
“We will produce the best product in order to respond to our customer’s needs and contribute to the growth of the electric vehicle industry.”

As the only company in Korea to produce both anode and cathode materials, POSCO Chemical produces natural graphite anode materials and low-expansion anode materials in Sejong and synthetic graphite anode material in Pohang. It also plans to commercialize the next generation material, silicone anode material.

Cathode materials are produced in Gwangyang, Gumi and China, with a focus on high nickel products intended for high performance electric vehicles.

The company will look to make its global supply chain more stable and consolidate its leadership position in the market by making balanced investment both domestically and globally, together with an agreement with GM to launch a joint venture in North America.
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