LG Chem signs deal to share patent for battery technology

LG Chem, the nation’s largest chemical company, said yesterday it signed a patent license agreement with Japan’s Ube Maxell for separator film technology the Korean company owns.

Under the agreement, Ube Maxell, a joint venture between Ube Industries and Hitachi Maxell, acquires patent use rights from LG Chem for the ceramic coating on separator substrates, which are a key component in lithium-ion batteries. The value of the license deal of the license agreement has not been disclosed.

Ube Maxell manufactures and sells high-performance coated separator films for lithium-ion batteries used in hybrid and electric vehicles.

The patent granted to Ube Maxell is for LG Chem’s Safety Reinforced Separator technology, which puts a ceramic coating on separator substrates to enhance the separator’s thermal deformation resistance and mechanical strength. This prevents the lithium-ion batteries from short-circuiting and makes them safer.

BY JOO KYUNG-DON[kjoo@joongang.co.kr]