South Korean companies develop tire using chemically recycled PET

To reduce carbon emissions, three South Korea-based companies have developed and commercialized the country’s first tire using chemically recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

SK Chemicals, Hyosung Advanced Materials Co. Ltd. and Hankook Tire & Technology Co. Ltd. say they have successfully developed the electric vehicle- (EV-) exclusive tire, dubbed iON, by applying circular recycled PET (rPET) fiber tire cords. Circular recycling is an exclusive chemical recycling technology of SK that breaks down scrap plastics through chemical reactions into molecular units and then uses those raw materials to produce recycled plastics.

The three companies collaborated to develop the iON tire over a period of about two years. SK has supplied its SKYPET CR recycled PET, and Hyosung Advanced Materials developed the high-strength rPET-based tire cords using SKYPET CR as a raw material. The cords were applied to Hankook Tire’s premium EV tire brand, iON. The tire, with 45 percent sustainable material content, has recently passed reliability verification by a European automotive manufacturer, securing final approval for use and being mounted as tires for new vehicles.

“Hankook Tire is continuously conducting R&D (research and development) to use 100 percent-sustainable materials in all tires by 2050,” says Bonhee Ku, executive vice president and chief technology officer at Hankook Tire. “We plan to lead the global tire industry’s sustainable management by expanding the application of eco-friendly materials centered around the electric vehicle-exclusive tire, iON.”

The partners say the tire cords are fiber reinforcement materials that help maintain the shape of the tire and withstand the load and impact applied during driving, enhancing the tire’s durability, driving performance and ride comfort. In particular, EVs require lightweight and durable tire cord materials with high strength to support the weight of their batteries.

SK says its SKYPET CR has the advantage of maintaining high-quality properties and safety—even after infinite recycling—compared to the physical recycling method of washing plastic scrap or cutting it into flakes for reuse and can achieve properties equivalent to petrochemical-based materials.

In a news release, the companies say this tire development is significant in the industry in that it represents a collaborative effort focused on sustainability between the chemical supplier providing raw materials, the material company processing such materials into fibers and the manufacturer producing the finished product.

“This joint development is significant because it represents the achievement of collaboration towards building a circular economy connecting material producers, intermediate goods manufacturers and final product production, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring the sustainability of materials and products,” says Hyunsuk Kim, head of the Business Development Division at SK Chemicals. “We will continue to expand the use of recycled materials and strengthen cooperation with brand owners and various industries to ensure that such cases continue to emerge across different industries.”

Hyosung Advanced Materials says it reflects the needs of the finished vehicle industry by actively pursuing the expansion of recycled material applications. In 2022, the company says it became the first in the tire cord industry to acquire an International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC Plus) for its rPET tire cord production process.

The iON model developed by Hankook Tire incorporates 45 percent sustainable materials, including bio-based, circular and bio-circular polymers, bio-based silica along with Hyosung Advanced Materials’ tire cords, and the model is the first tire to bear the ISCC Plus certification logo, the companies say.

"With the recent increase in social awareness regarding sustainability, domestic and international automotive companies are increasing their application of sustainable materials, and tire companies are also experiencing an increase in demand for eco-friendly products, acquiring ISCC Plus certification," says Taejung Lee, vice president and sales director of Tire Reinforcement Materials PU at Hyosung Advanced Materials. "We plan to lead the eco-friendly product market through collaboration with domestic and international clients.”