Solvay’s specialty polymers are replacing heavy, expensive metal components for safer, higher-density batteries. In battery packs and modules, Solvay’s lightweighting, high-performance polymers provide design flexibility, cost reduction, corrosion and chemical resistance, electrical insulation and processing ease. Solvay’s cooling agents for battery packs support electrical and chemical safety, cooling efficiency and direct cooling.
Materials for Battery Packs and Immersion Cooling
Solvay’s semi-crystalline polymers for metal replacement include Amodel® polyphthalamide (PPA), Ryton® polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and Ixef® polyarylamide (PARA). These materials combine high mechanical strength, good chemical resistance, flame retardancy, and dimensional stability. Amodel® PPA has a comparative tracking index (CTI) of more than 600 volts (V) for strong electrical insulation, making it particularly well suited for high voltage components needing good flexibility and superior moisture resistance.
Galden® perfluoropolyether (PFPE)
For battery direct immersion cooling, Solvay’s Galden® perfluoropolyether (PFPE) is an inert, fluorinated fluid that provides high thermal stability, a wide range of operating temperatures, good dielectric properties, and excellent chemical inertness. This heat transfer fluid is well suited for liquid coolant for battery packs as it has no flash or fire point. Galden® PFPE is also compatible with standard metals and plastics, maintains stable properties over use and time, and reduces the risk of short circuits, corrosion and cross-contamination.
Investments in Next-generation Products
“Solvay continues to make significant investments in next-generation products, technologies and material solutions that support the increasingly important global battery space,” said Dr. Tao Chuanqi, global business development manager for Alternative Energy at Solvay’s Specialty Polymers global business unit. “Further, Solvay’s comprehensive portfolio of advanced battery solutions are enhancing battery performance and safety and helping to meet new vehicle electrification requirements such as miniaturization, high temperatures and electric pressure.”
Solvay’s technical experts are available for the duration of The Battery Show Europe 2019 (Booth #1158, Hall 1) to answer questions on the company’s extensive portfolio of materials for the battery market and offer additional information about polymer selection, application design, and material processing.