Henkel specifically designed the protective coatings Loctite EA 9400 and Loctite FPC 5060 for EV battery safety.
Henkel has recently launched the new protective coatings Loctite EA 9400 and Loctite FPC 5060, two new solutions specifically developed to shield the battery housings of electric vehicles (EV) against heat and fire in the case of a thermal runaway event.
Whether due to mechanical, thermal or electrical incidents, thermal runaway events happen when a battery cell enters into a heating state and ignites a fire that spreads to neighbouring cells. Battery safety solutions help to reduce or slow such events, thereby increasing time for vehicle evacuation – that is becoming subject to stricter regulations.
The protective coatings inhibit and delay the spread of fires, protecting the passengers as they evacuate the vehicle, while their efficient and cost-effective application processes allow the manufacturers to optimise battery production.
“Battery safety is an increasingly important topic for OEMs and battery manufacturers alike. Thermal runaway events are possible in any lithium-ion battery, but the key is to minimise the risks and consequences. At Henkel, we are seeking to minimise the impact of such events through effective and practical solutions that can delay the spread of fire. This is vital to ensure that passengers have sufficient time to evacuate the vehicle,” stated Stephan Hoefer, the Market Strategy Head for E-Mobility at Henkel.
“OEMs and battery manufacturers are challenged to find efficient solutions that support large-scale automated manufacturing and position them well against legal regulations. At Henkel we aim to anticipate our customers’ current and emerging challenges and hence developed purpose-built and tested products specifically to help them meet this demand for fire protection in EV batteries. The launch of two new Loctite coating products for fire protection demonstrate that battery safety is a key focus area for Henkel,” added Uwe Franken, Global Technology and Product Development Leader for E-Mobility at Henkel.
The coatings Loctite EA 9400 and Loctite FPC 5060 can be applied either by spray or flat stream and are compatible with common automated dispensing systems. In addition, the protective solutions help to reduce energy consumption and emissions as they can be cured at room temperature.
- Loctite EA 9400 is a two-component, active flame-retardant, epoxy-based fire protective coating designed to be applied in a thin layer that doesn’t add much weight to the battery. Thanks to its foaming characteristics and formulation for environmental resistance, Loctite EA 9400 can be applied on both the inside and outside of the battery pack housing to provide excellent versatility. As well as providing light-weight thermal protection, it also prevents battery box corrosion.
- Loctite FPC 5060 is a one-component, water-based, inorganic material that does not form any smoke or fumes when exposed to flame. Its inorganic formulation does not include any hazardous chemicals and produces no smoke, no fumes and no carbon during a fire.
“Electrification of transportation is a huge opportunity that also presents numerous overlapping challenges for OEMs such as efficiently scaling up production while ensuring the highest safety standards. This is where innovative materials and processes will be mission- critical. As a long-time trusted partner to the automotive industry, Henkel is helping our customers stay ahead of the curve with state-of-the-art products built on pioneering research. We are also providing our customers with comprehensive support for process implementation and working in collaboration with dispensing equipment suppliers to deliver a coherent, joined up-approach across the entire value chain,” concluded Marvin Romberg, E-Mobility Business Development Manager EIMEA at Henkel.