From 7 to 9 May, Asahi Kasei and its US subsidiary Celgard presented a wide range of high-performance materials for automotive batteries at the Battery Show Europe 2019 in Stuttgart, Germany.
A highlight at Asahi Kasei’s booth was the model of a lithium-ion battery, containing, among other things, high-performance plastics and separators. With this exhibit, the company demonstrates the range of its products for safe, efficient as well as compact structural parts and components for batteries.
This includes the high-performance plastic m‑PPE (modified polyphenylene ether) as an innovative material solution for structural components of the battery housing. The m‑PPE thermoplastic Xyron is electrically non-conductive and is characterized by its low density and resistance to electrolyte fluids. This makes it a suitable material for lightweight and compact battery housings.
With the m‑PPE particle foam SunForce, Asahi Kasei offers a product that is distinguished by a high flame retardance (UL94 V‑0), high formability and high thermal insulation properties. The engineering plastic thus contributes to the compact design of the battery housings and increases the safety and efficiency of the batteries. At the same time, the material is highly processable: The foam beads are manufactured with steam moulding. In contrast to other materials processed by injection moulding, tooling costs can thus be kept low.
In addition to m‑PPE, the company – as one of only four fully integrated suppliers of polyamide 6.6 worldwide – presents the product grades SN and SG of the Leona PA 6.6 series as materials for battery components that contribute to reducing costs and weight.
Since Dr. Akira Yoshino, research associate at Asahi Kasei, developed the very first functional and safe prototype of a lithium-ion battery in the early 1980s, the company has been a pioneer in the field of lithium-ion battery research. As world market leader in lithium-ion battery separators, the Asahi Kasei Group is today considered as a substantial material supplier for the battery industry.