Industrial Automation Magazine India

LANXESS High performance plastics grade for production of battery housings

Published on : Saturday 18-09-2021

Excellent insulation and flame-resistance minimises fire risk lower weight of battery module assembly.

Cologne, September 17, 2021 – Specialty chemicals company LANXESS and Korean auto parts specialist INFAC have together developed a battery module housing for electric vehicles (EVs).

The battery housing uses Durethan BKV30FN04 from LANXESS to satisfy stringent mechanical and chemical property requirements for latest EV components. The halogen-free, flame-retardant and glass-fiber-reinforced polyamide 6 (PA6) is characterized by its excellent flame-retardant and electrical properties. The material is highly processable and enables the integration of complex functions required for housing components, resulting in a smaller number of parts and a simplified assembly process as well as lighter weight.

The new battery housing part has been adopted to series production of EV models launched by a Korean OEM this year. “Success in mass production of battery housing demonstrates LANXESS Durethan’s excellence in EV batteries, in which technology and safety are of utmost importance. Our high performance plastics will make a significant contribution to the EV and battery markets,” Milan Vignjevic, head of LANXESS’ High Performance Materials (HPM) business unit in Asia-Pacific, says.

For the battery module housing shock absorption and thermal management are critical in order to protect the battery from external shock. Durethan BKV30FN04 is not only mechanically robust, but also boasts high-voltage insulation, resistant to up to 800 V and effectively blocking high-voltage current. With strong flame-retardant properties, it prevents or delays flames from spreading in case of a fire. Glass-fibre reinforced Durethan BKV30FN04’s durability to mechanical loads is superior to unfilled PA6.

Furthermore, it maintains excellent strength and stiffness when in contact with electrolyte or cooling media, and has chemical resistance to suppress chemically-induced damage.