The new facility represents a major step in Arkema’s ambition to contribute to next-generation battery solutions and the global transition to clean mobility and energy storage.
Arkema has officially opened its Battery Dry Coating Laboratory at the Cerdato Research Center in Normandy (France), in the presence of key customers and partners. The new facility strengthens Arkema’s global R&D network dedicated to the battery industry and underlines the company’s focus on sustainable, high-performance solutions.
The laboratory is entirely focused on developing the dry coating process for battery electrodes, a method that eliminates the need for solvent evaporation. This approach reduces energy consumption, lowers the carbon footprint of battery production, and simplifies manufacturing, offering a more resource-efficient alternative to traditional wet coating techniques.
Equipped with advanced technologies, the laboratory supports versatile and precise electrode fabrication. Direct calendering enables the production of uniform electrode layers with controlled thickness, while electrodeposition allows for advanced material layering and customisation, enhancing design flexibility and performance optimisation.
Arkema’s expertise in powder processing has been pivotal in establishing the laboratory, allowing the company to advance sustainable battery production processes. The company also offers a comprehensive portfolio of materials suitable for dry coating applications, including Kynar® PVDF grades for adhesion and electrochemical performance, Incellion™ acrylic polymers and monomers for flexibility and processability, and polyamides for mechanical strength and thermal stability.
With the shift towards electric mobility and energy storage accelerating, battery technologies are a significant growth area for Arkema. The company supports innovation through a global network of laboratories, coordinated via the Christian Collette Center of Excellence near Lyon, and with R&D sites in China, South Korea, Japan, and the United States.
Since its launch in late 2024, the Battery Dry Coating Laboratory has become a hub for collaborative innovation with major cell manufacturers and automotive companies, helping to accelerate industrial adoption of dry coating technologies.