SK Chemicals has begun developing cars utilizing circular recycling technology with Hyundai and Kia.
SK Chemicals noted that it has applied six types of automotive parts using circular recycling and bio-based materials to the Kia EV3 study model in collaboration with the basic materials research center of Hyundai and Kia's Advanced Vehicle Platform division on Nov. 11.
The EV3 study model is a vehicle that experiments with the possibility of applying eco-friendly materials by recycling discarded resources or using bio-based materials. It was revealed at the Hyundai and Kia study model exhibition held on Oct. 13, and several material and component companies, including SK Chemicals, participated in the project.
SK Chemicals recycled automotive parts made of PET using circular recycling technology. The parts made of recycled circular PET include headliners, seats, crash pads, door panels, and door armrests.
Circular recycling uses SK Chemicals' chemical recycling technology and a depolymerization method that breaks down waste plastics at the molecular level. Depolymerization is a technology that can produce products of quality almost identical to new products made from petroleum. SK Chemicals successfully commercialized it for the first time in the world in 2023.
SK Chemicals' chemical recycling PET materials have been applied to the study model's fiber product line. The company explained that conventional physical recycling PET materials have limitations in producing yarns used in fibers, including color implementation and maintaining durability, making them difficult for automotive applications.
SK Chemicals and Hyundai and Kia collaborated for 14 months to implement conditions that meet the physical properties required for each part using circular recycling technology. The two companies plan to strengthen their collaboration to apply eco-friendly materials to cars in the future.