Düsseldorf, January 07, 2020 – From 12-16 January, the Japanese technology company Asahi Kasei and its US-based subsidiary Celgard will present a broad variety of advanced materials for the battery industry at the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference Europe (AABC) in Wiesbaden.
The AABC Europe is a leading conference for the automotive battery industry, showcasing the latest developments in battery technology and giving a comprehensive outlook on future market trends. In 2019, 1,000 experts from automotive OEMs, material suppliers and research institutes participated in the conference.
Since Dr. Akira Yoshino, research associate at Asahi Kasei, developed the very first functional and safe prototype of a lithium-ion battery in the early 1980s, the company has been a pioneer in the field of lithium-ion battery research. With a new-generation electrolyte, market leading separators, as well as thermoplastics and foams, Asahi Kasei today is a provider of advanced battery materials contributing to safety, lifetime and performance of the battery.
Asahi Kasei is currently developing a new electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries. By applying acetonitrile instead of carbonate, this electrolyte features a high ionic conductivity. It shows the same ionic conductivity at 30 degrees below zero as conventional electrolytes at room temperature – which addresses the problem of using the batteries in cold regions. The higher conductivity makes it possible to recharge 80 percent of the lithium-ion battery in six minutes at room temperature. Both features open new doors for the automotive application of lithium-ion batteries. The new electrolyte is also subject of a collaborative research project together with Professor Martin Winter and the MEET (Münster Electrochemical Energy Technology) battery research center at Münster University.
Thermoplastics for structural components of battery housings are also part of the portfolio: The modified polyphenylene ether (mPPE) XYRONTM with its low density and resistance to electrolyte fluids is a suitable material for light and compact battery housings. The mPPE particle foam SunForceTM features a high fire protection class (UL94 V-0), high formability and high thermal insulation properties. The material thus contributes to a compact design of battery housings as well as an increased safety and efficiency of batteries.
Asahi Kasei’s US-based subsidiary Celgard is a global leader in the development and production of high-performance membrane separator technology and can look back on more than 40 years of market-leading research, development, and manufacturing expertise. The separators are used in a broad range of energy storage applications including rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, disposable lithium batteries and specialty energy storage.
The last article about “Asahi Kasei” published at the PIMI News Channel was: Asahi Kasei America Opens New Marketing Base in Novi, Michigan, USA
