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Improving battery safety with silicones
Potting compounds
Coatings
Composite materials
Development of electric vehicles is moving at an astonishing pace, with the energy density of electric batteries growing with each new product generation. That makes it all the more important to ensure a thermal barrier between the battery and the passenger compartment. WACKER silicones can yield crucial improvements to battery safety and longevity.
The goal: safe, long-lasting EV batteries
These key challenges are the guiding forces behind WACKER’s silicone portfolio for battery safety:
Safe operation
Silicones
Thermal runaway of a cell
Silicones
Thermal propagation
Silicones
Potting compounds for battery cells and batteries
Silicones can prevent thermal runaway and protect adjacent components. This is achieved by potting battery components such as battery cells, cell contact system and battery vents.
Our technical service personnel will be happy to assist you.
Heat-resistant coatings and composite materials
Heat-resistant coatings for battery lids
A thermally insulating battery lid enhances passenger compartment safety in the event of thermal runaway in a battery cell. And that is exactly what a ceramifying coating of ELASTOSIL® CM 145 (sprayable) does: it makes the battery lid more heat resistant.
ELASTOSIL® CM 145 can be applied to a woven fabric, to mica paper or to metal using a fully automated spraying system. Shown here is a standardized gas torch test.
Test parameters:
| No. | Time | Front temperature | Back temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 200 s | 700 °C | 202 °C |
| 2 | 6 s | Particle shooting | |
| 3 | 100 s | 1,200 °C | 298 °C |
The ELASTOSIL® CM 145 coating is still intact after being subjected to high temperatures for five minutes. The thickness of the coating grows from 1.44 mm to nearly 6 mm. Its electrical strength rises slightly. Volume and surface resistance remain virtually unchanged.
| ELASTOSIL® CM 145 | Before torch test | After torch test |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness [mm] | 1.44 | 5.92 |
| Dielectric strength [kV] | 18.1 | 10.1 |
| Volume resistance [Ohm] | 7.65E/+11 | 6.12E/+13 |
| Surface resistance [Ohm] | 5.28E/+13 | 5.19E/+10 |
ELASTOSIL® CM 145 is an innovative silicone coating for use in battery housings.
This product can provide significant protection for vehicle occupants in the event of thermal runaway.
Heat-resistant coating for busbars
Busbar coatings for optimum charging: ELASTOSIL® R 531/60 and ELASTOSIL® LR 3011/50. Extremely high voltages are used for charging batteries, which can overheat neighboring components. The challenge in the winter, by contrast, is extreme cold. A coating of high-performance silicone elastomers optimizes resistance to heat and cold.
Properties of ELASTOSIL® R 531/60 and ELASTOSIL® LR 3011/50:
Other high-performance silicones for batteries
WACKER offers a wide range of specialty silicones for the following applications:
Heat-resistant composite materials (heat shields and battery lids)
Silicone resins are highly flame and heat resistant, exhibit a low fire load, can interact with fillers and fibers and can form a protective ceramic layer. The function of a silicone-resin-bound laminate remains intact, even in the event of a fire. Silicone-resin-based fiber-reinforced composites can be used in battery lids or heat shields, thus protecting the passenger compartment in the event of thermal runaway.
Properties of composite materials made with high-performance resins:
Download: Product guide on e-mobility
32 pages packed with high-performance silicones. Let silicones fuel your innovations. Download our guide now!
WACKER silicones for e-mobility
How can we help move your project forward?
Christoph Popp, Global Segment Manager for E-Mobility
We are a leading silicone manufacturer with four excellence centers focused on e-mobility issues. Our global teams support OEMs and first-tier suppliers, from the initial concept to series production.
Drop us a line!
Our silicone highlights for batteries
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