What does fiberglass reinforced LCP bring to the battery housing?
Solvay has added a new heat- and flame-retardant liquid crystal polymer (LCP) to its portfolio to meet critical safety requirements for EV battery components. The new material, model Xydar LCP G-330 HH, is particularly suitable for battery module boards in electric models using high-voltage systems.
The new fiberglass reinforced LCP for injection molding remains electrically insulated for 30 minutes at 400°C. It is an inherently flame-retardant polymer that does not require the use of halogen or bromide additives. In addition, its fluidity makes it easy to process, so in terms of material efficiency and lightweight, thinner parts than conventional battery module insulation such as polycarbonate or aerogel can be achieved. To date, sheets measuring 100 x 150 x 0.5 mm have been successfully tested.
Brian Balerno, Transport Marketing Manager at Solvay Materials, said: "As automakers increase the voltage of next-generation electric vehicles from 400V to 800V, new regulations in Europe, China, the United States and other countries are also increasing the requirements for battery components. These parts must now withstand temperatures of 300°C to 1000°C over a time window of up to 15 minutes. In addition, in the event of thermal runaway, the automaker's protective measures should give the occupants sufficient time to leave the vehicle."
