English
usheenthermal
alibaba
With the booming development of the new energy vehicle industry, battery modules, as the core component, are facing increasingly stringent requirements for energy density, safety, lifespan, and thermal management. Thermally conductive structural adhesives, as advanced materials that combine structural bonding and thermal conductivity, play a vital role in the design and manufacturing of battery modules. This article will delve into the application of thermally conductive structural adhesives in battery modules, analyzing its key factors and application methods, aiming to provide reference for technical personnel in related fields.
Thermally conductive structural adhesive is not a simple adhesive; it plays multiple roles in battery modules, profoundly affecting battery performance and safety. First, it provides high-strength structural bonding and fixation. Battery cells are the basic units of battery modules, and their quantity and arrangement directly affect the energy density of the module. Thermally conductive structural adhesives can firmly bond the battery cells together, forming a stable overall structure, ensuring uniform spacing between the battery cells, and preventing displacement or damage due to vibration and impact. This high-strength structural bonding is the cornerstone of ensuring the safety and reliability of battery modules. Second, it offers efficient thermal management. Battery cells generate heat during charging and discharging. If the heat cannot be dissipated in time, it will lead to an increase in battery cell temperature, accelerated aging, and even the risk of thermal runaway. Thermally conductive structural adhesives can effectively transfer the heat generated by the battery cells to the heat dissipation structure (such as cooling plates, liquid cooling pipes, or module housings), reducing the battery cell temperature and maintaining it within a safe operating range. More importantly, it can optimize the temperature uniformity of the entire battery module, avoiding the generation of local hot spots, thereby extending the battery's service life and improving energy density and charging/discharging efficiency. Third, it offers electrical insulation and environmental protection. High voltage exists inside battery modules, so electrical insulation between battery cells is crucial. Thermally conductive structural adhesives typically have good electrical insulation properties, which can effectively prevent short circuits between battery cells. At the same time, it can prevent moisture, dust, corrosive gases, and other contaminants from entering the battery module, protecting the battery cells from environmental damage and improving the reliability and lifespan of the battery module. Fourth, it offers vibration damping and stress distribution. New energy vehicles experience complex road conditions during driving, and battery modules need to withstand vibrations and impacts from the vehicle. Thermally conductive structural adhesives have a certain degree of elasticity, which can play a role in vibration damping, reducing damage to the battery cells from impact and vibration. In addition, it can distribute the stress on the surface of the battery cells, avoiding stress concentration, thereby improving the fatigue resistance of the battery module.
Choosing the right thermally conductive structural adhesive is a crucial step in ensuring the performance of the battery module. The following key technical indicators need to be considered. One is thermal conductivity, which is an important indicator for measuring the heat dissipation capacity of thermally conductive structural adhesives, with units of W/m·K. The higher the thermal conductivity, the higher the heat transfer efficiency. According to the power density and heat dissipation requirements of the battery module, a thermally conductive structural adhesive with appropriate thermal conductivity should be selected. The thermal conductivity range of thermally conductive structural adhesives currently on the market is wide, ranging from 0.5 W/m·K to 5 W/m·K or even higher. Two is adhesive strength, which reflects the structural support capacity of thermally conductive structural adhesives, usually in MPa. The higher the adhesive strength, the more firmly the battery cells are fixed. A thermally conductive structural adhesive with sufficient adhesive strength should be selected based on the structural design, usage environment, and stress conditions of the battery module. At the same time, attention should also be paid to the mechanical properties of the adhesive, such as shear strength and tensile strength. Three is curing characteristics, which directly affect production efficiency and process control. The shorter the curing time, the higher the production efficiency. If the curing temperature is too high, it may damage the battery cells. Therefore, a thermally conductive structural adhesive with a suitable curing temperature and controllable curing time should be selected. Common curing methods include heat curing, UV curing, and moisture curing. Four is electrical insulation performance (Dielectric Strength, Volume Resistivity). For battery modules that require insulation, electrical insulation performance is crucial. Dielectric strength refers to the maximum electric field strength that a material can withstand before breakdown, and volume resistivity reflects the conductivity of the material. A thermally conductive structural adhesive with high dielectric strength and high volume resistivity should be selected to ensure electrical insulation between battery cells. Five is operating temperature range. Battery modules undergo various temperature changes during operation, and thermally conductive structural adhesives need to maintain stable performance within the operating temperature range. A thermally conductive structural adhesive whose operating temperature range meets the actual operating environment of the battery module should be selected to avoid performance degradation due to temperature changes. Six is thixotropy. Thixotropy refers to the property of a colloid that decreases in viscosity when subjected to shear force and recovers viscosity when shear is stopped. Good thixotropy helps the adhesive flow more easily during coating, filling gaps, and maintain its shape after curing, preventing flow and ensuring coating uniformity and accuracy. Seven is chemical resistance and corrosion resistance. Corrosive gases or liquids may exist inside battery modules, and thermally conductive structural adhesives need to have good chemical resistance and corrosion resistance to ensure their long-term stability. Eight is flame retardancy. With the increasing emphasis on battery safety issues, the flame retardancy of thermally conductive structural adhesives is also receiving increasing attention. Choosing a thermally conductive structural adhesive with flame retardant properties can reduce the risk of thermal runaway in battery modules.
The application method of thermally conductive structural adhesives has an important impact on the performance and reliability of battery modules. Common application methods include: dispensing, using precision dispensing equipment to accurately coat the battery cell surface or between battery cells with thermally conductive structural adhesive. Dispensing has the advantages of precise control of coating amount and reduced waste, and is suitable for automated production lines. Coating, using scraping, roll coating, or spraying equipment to evenly coat the battery cell surface with thermally conductive structural adhesive. Coating has the advantage of high efficiency and is suitable for large-area coating. Potting, injecting thermally conductive structural adhesive into the housing of the battery module to fill the gaps between battery cells and improve the overall heat dissipation performance and structural strength of the module. Potting is suitable for battery modules with complex structures. In order to obtain the best application effect, the coating, curing, and other processes need to be optimized. First, surface treatment. Before coating the thermally conductive structural adhesive, the surface of the battery cell needs to be cleaned and treated to improve the adhesive strength of the adhesive. Second, coating amount control. If the coating amount is too small, it will lead to poor heat dissipation, and if the coating amount is too large, it will increase the cost and weight. The coating amount needs to be controlled according to the actual situation. Third, curing process control. Strictly control the curing temperature, time, and pressure to ensure that the thermally conductive structural adhesive is fully cured and obtains the best performance. Finally, automated production. Using automated coating and curing equipment can improve production efficiency and product quality.
With the continuous development of new energy vehicle technology, higher requirements are put forward for the performance of thermally conductive structural adhesives. The future development trend is mainly focused on the following aspects. One is high thermal conductivity. With the continuous increase in battery energy density, the heat generated by battery cells is increasing, and higher requirements are put forward for the thermal conductivity of thermally conductive structural adhesives. Future thermally conductive structural adhesives will adopt new thermal conductive fillers (such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, etc.) and advanced formulation designs to achieve higher thermal conductivity. Two is multi-functional integration. Future thermally conductive structural adhesives will not only have thermal conductivity and adhesive functions but also have multiple functions such as flame retardancy, insulation, shock absorption, and corrosion prevention to achieve multi-functional integration and simplify the design and manufacture of battery modules. Three is intelligent thermal conductivity. Research and develop thermally conductive structural adhesives with intelligent thermal conductivity functions that can automatically adjust thermal conductivity according to temperature changes to achieve more precise thermal management. Four is environmentally friendly. Develop more environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and recyclable thermally conductive structural adhesives to meet the requirements of sustainable development.
In summary, thermally conductive structural adhesives play a vital role in battery modules, and their performance and application methods have a profound impact on battery performance, safety, and lifespan. With the continuous development of new energy vehicle technology, higher requirements are put forward for thermally conductive structural adhesives. Only by continuously carrying out technological innovation and process optimization can we meet the needs of future battery module development.
+86 13728278261
+86 13728278261
