Momentum Coming to Anode Material Market... Posco Chemical Expands Investment in 'Low-Expansion Anode Materials' with Increased Lifespan and Charging Speed

Developed Proprietary Anode Material for Electric Vehicles
Extending Battery Life and Increasing Charging Speed
Annual Production of 35,000 Tons

Low-Swelling Anode Material Using Natural Graphite Raw Materials
Reducing Material Costs and Enhancing Eco-Friendliness
Growing Orders from Global Clients Including Ultium Cells
Securing Market Leadership and Technological Dominance

Building a Diverse Portfolio Including Natural Graphite, Low-Swelling, Artificial Graphite, and Silicon Anode Materials

The anode material factory that POSCO Chemical is gradually establishing in Sejong. A dedicated low-expansion anode material production line is planned to be constructed on the site at the lower left of the photo. Photo by POSCO Chemical

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] POSCO Chemical is expanding its investment in low-expansion anode materials that extend the lifespan of electric vehicle batteries and increase charging speed.

POSCO Chemical announced on the 27th that it held a board meeting on the 25th and decided to expand the production capacity of low-expansion anode materials from 7,000 tons per year to 35,000 tons per year.

To this end, it plans to invest 105.4 billion KRW to convert the natural graphite anode material production plant under construction in Sejong into a dedicated production line for low-expansion anode materials and start mass production from 2023.

Low-expansion anode material is a product developed independently by POSCO Chemical. It is a material that significantly improves essential performance factors for electric vehicle batteries such as stability, lifespan, and charging speed while lowering costs.

Anode materials can be classified into natural graphite-based and artificial graphite-based depending on the raw materials. The low-expansion anode material developed by POSCO Chemical uses natural graphite as the raw material, improving the material structure from a flake type to an isotropic type, reducing the expansion rate by 25% compared to natural graphite anode materials, and enhancing rapid charging performance by 15%. Compared to artificial graphite, it lowers manufacturing costs while reducing carbon emissions generated during the process, thus increasing eco-friendliness.

This investment is aimed at responding to technological trends such as increased electric vehicle driving range and shortened charging time, as well as growing orders from global battery companies and electric vehicle manufacturers including Ultium Cells.

In particular, amid the increasing importance of supply chain stability for graphite, the raw material for anode materials, as well as reducing manufacturing costs and carbon emissions, POSCO Chemical stated, "We will build a portfolio producing all products including natural graphite, low-expansion, artificial graphite, and silicon anode materials with technologies that respond to these demands, and secure market opportunities through active investment in expanding mass production capacity."

Min Kyung-jun, CEO of POSCO Chemical, said, "This investment is an effort to secure market differentiation by mass-producing differentiated battery materials based on technology," adding, "We will respond seamlessly to customer demand with the best products and contribute to the growth of the electric vehicle industry." POSCO Chemical, the only company in Korea that mass-produces both anode and cathode materials, produces natural graphite and low-expansion anode materials in Sejong, artificial graphite anode materials in Pohang, and is also promoting the commercialization of next-generation silicon anode materials.

For cathode materials, production lines are operated in Gwangyang, Gumi, and China, focusing on high-performance high-nickel products for electric vehicles. Through balanced domestic and overseas investments, including establishing a joint venture with GM in North America, POSCO Chemical plans to maintain a stable global supply chain and further strengthen its market leadership.

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