The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted US Patent 12583988B2 to LG Chem, Ltd. for a novel crosslinked polyolefin separator and its manufacturing method. The patent specifically describes separators with gels having a longer side length of 50 μm or more, a number ranging from 0 to 3 per 1 m², and a standard deviation of absorbance ratio between the center and side of the separator ranging from 0.01 to 0.5. The manufacturing method involves applying a coating solution containing an initiator and alkoxy group-containing vinylsilane onto a polyolefin porous membrane to ensure uniform silane crosslinking within the pores.

This patent grant signifies a new technological development in battery component manufacturing. While it does not impose direct compliance obligations on other entities, it establishes intellectual property rights for LG Chem. Companies operating in the battery manufacturing sector, particularly those involved in separator technology, should be aware of this patent to avoid potential infringement and to inform their own research and development strategies. The filing date was June 13, 2023, and the grant date is March 24, 2026.