SK Global Chem develops superlight, strong plastic material

[Source: SK Global Chemical Co.]

SK Global Chemical Co., an affiliate of South Korea’s top oil refiner SK Innovation Co., has successfully developed an environmentally-friendly lightweight and super-strong plastic material amid growing demand for high-performance resins to meet tightened environmental regulations.

SK Global Chemical said on Wednesday that it has developed high-performance and energy-efficient high crystalline polypropylene plastic resins that are used widely for automobile interior and exterior parts such as bumpers and dashboards. The material is thinner and lighter than existing ones but stronger and equally effective with just small amount.

The newly developed high crystalline polypropylene plastic is an environmentally-friendly material that reduces plastic usage by about 10 percent. The material reduces the weight of a mid-size sedan by up to 10 kilograms, which improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions. The company projected the new material to improve automobile fuel efficiency by about 2.8 percent, reduce carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide, both main causes of air pollution, by each 4.5 percent and 8.8 percent.

SK Global Chemical launched efforts since late last year to develop a new stronger and shock-absorbing product amid growing demand for high-performance plastic to meet tougher regulation on the use of plastic.

An unnamed official from SK Global Chemical said that the newly developed plastic material that boasts environmental values is a result of the company’s continuous efforts based on differentiated technology to respond to market changes. The company expects high-performance vehicle-use plastic market to expand by 8 percent or more every year.

SK Global Chemical produces 150,000 tons of high crystalline polypropylene plastic material, which accounts for 40 percent of its total polypropylene production. The company, which has been top producer of high crystalline polypropylene plastic for the past decade in Korea and China, shifted growth focus to high-value added chemical business that includes packaging and automotive sectors.

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