ARMOR BATTERY FILMS has outlined the need for dry electrode manufacturers to match carbon-coated current collectors to the specific mechanics of each coating process. The company said solvent-free manufacturing routes differ enough that a single current collector design cannot meet all operating conditions. Dry coating can lower energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, equipment footprint and operating costs by eliminating solvents from electrode production, according to the company.
The label dry coating covers multiple manufacturing methods, including processes based on fibrillating binders, spray deposition, powder-based coating, lamination, extrusion and electrostatic deposition. Each method can impose different requirements for pressure, temperature, electrode composition, physicochemistry, surface energy and mechanical stress. Without the liquid phase used in conventional wet processing, manufacturers must still secure strong and durable adhesion between the electrode and current collector while maintaining competitive process speeds and scrap rates.
Armor said it has developed a portfolio of primer technologies that can be adjusted for individual dry manufacturing routes. Its work with battery manufacturers, material suppliers and equipment developers is intended to identify process-specific interface requirements. The company said tailored coatings can improve adhesion and process robustness.
Arkema dry process expert Clément Paul said the coated current collectors have shown compatibility with Arkema’s Kynar PVDF binders in both calendaring-based and spray deposition processes. Armor also named Blue Solutions, Anaphite, InteCell, Fraunhofer IWS and SFA Nexel among the organizations with which it collaborates in the dry process ecosystem.
The company will sponsor and attend the Dry Coating Forum, organized by Fraunhofer IWS, on September 29–30. The event will focus on dry electrode processing and the role of tailored carbon-coated current collectors in scaling next-generation battery manufacturing.
Source: armorbatteryfilms.com
