On September 27, a fire at the National Information Resources Service Daejeon Data Center was identified as originating from a lithium-ion battery, bringing renewed attention to the safety of data centers-core infrastructure in the AI era. The incident confirmed that a fire starting from a single battery can paralyze critical national infrastructure, highlighting the urgent need for fundamental solutions to "battery fire accidents."
Amid these concerns, XCM, a materials-focused subsidiary of the KOSDAQ-listed company Experix, is drawing industry attention with its advanced thermal management material technology designed to prevent battery fires.
With the recent expansion of AI and cloud services, data centers are becoming larger and more densely packed, making the potential damage from fires even greater. As a result, the safety of UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) batteries is regarded as the greatest risk factor. UPS lithium-ion batteries have high energy density, and if ignited, they can quickly lead to thermal runaway and escalate into major disasters.
XCM is targeting the market as a specialist company addressing these fire risks, focusing on two core products: flame-retardant/fire-resistant material (XTBS) and thermal management material (XTIM).
In particular, XTBS (XCM Thermal Barrier Sheet) is applied between battery cells to prevent the spread of fire to adjacent cells, even in the event of ignition. This core technology enhances the safety of all power systems using lithium-ion batteries, including not only data centers but also electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS).
XTBS has already received the highest flame-retardant certification, UL 94-5VA, and has established advantages in both heat resistance and price competitiveness. As a material that does not burn for over 30 minutes even at 1,300 degrees Celsius, XTBS is being used in various projects with domestic and international companies, including MV/HV cables, ESS PCS, secondary batteries for electric vehicles, and home appliances.
Recently, XTBS passed a test withstanding flames at 1,000 degrees Celsius for three hours and has been adopted as a fire-resistant material for MV cables that can supply power even at 830 degrees. It also passed automotive manufacturers' tests for application as a cell-to-cell thermal barrier and as a top/bottom cover for electric vehicle batteries, and is now preparing for mass production.
The global fire-resistant materials market is currently dominated by Chinese mica, but XCM has proven its global competitiveness in material technology by receiving mass production approval from a Chinese electronics manufacturer after more than a year of testing its fire-resistant material.
Additionally, XCM is developing the XTIM (XCM Thermal Interface Material) Series for the low-viscosity, high-performance thermal interface material market, which is dominated by the United States and Japan, using its own carbon-based materials. Performance verification is underway with leading domestic companies. Upon successful validation, XCM plans to enter not only the domestic market but also the Japanese market. XTIM is a thermal management material that dissipates heat generated by servers and high-performance IT equipment during AI computation, maximizing the stability and lifespan of the equipment. As data center performance is directly linked to thermal management capabilities, this is considered an essential solution in the AI era.
A representative from Experix stated, "This recent fire at the national data center has once again underscored the importance of safety in core AI infrastructure," adding, "XCM's advanced thermal management materials will serve as the invisible lifeblood that keeps the AI industry running safely and without interruption."
Currently, XCM is conducting thermal management material development projects with major domestic and international companies and expects to begin generating full-scale mass production sales starting in the fourth quarter. The company plans to expand its technology applications beyond data centers to global markets requiring high safety standards, such as electric vehicles, energy storage systems (ESS), and aerospace, thereby securing long-term growth momentum.
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