New thermal conductive adhesives accelerate innovation in battery design

Thermal management is vital to ensuring the operating temperature of EV-Battery systems remains between 20°C and 40°C for optimum battery life and performance. Thermal interface materials (TIM) such as TCAs are essential to battery design to ensure a robust thermal connection between the battery/cell environment and the cooling elements. With the trend towards fast charging for e-mobility, the importance of thermal management – and TIMs – is increasing significantly.

The new XPU TCA 202 is a two-component, polyurethane-based adhesive specifically designed for heat dissipation in battery pack assemblies. It perfectly tackles the challenge to balance thermal conductivity with high mechanical strength while maintaining good levels of flexibility thanks to high elongation.

Its low-monomer content allows it to meet the most stringent regulations and enables easy product handling without specific training.

At a practical level it is also fast and easy to process through automatic mixing, dosing, and dispensing equipment. It adheres well to most substrates without using a primer, and cures at room temperature.

The launch follows the recent announcement on 17 May 2023 of the planned acquisition of Polytec PT by Arkema. 

Achim Wiessler, Managing Director of Polytec PT, believes this will be the first in a new series of innovations for battery design: “Polytec PT has proven expertise in TIMs which are key to enable fast charging of the battery and efficient dissipation of the heat. The combined strength and expertise of both companies opens a new chapter for engineers in battery systems’ design.”

Guillaume Desurmont Senior Vice President at Bostik, says the launch of the new TCA is the first outcome of a fruitful collaboration between Bostik and Polytec PT for several months: “With Polytec PT’s expertise in thermal conductive materials and Bostik’s expertise in structural polyurethane adhesives, we strengthen our offer with innovative TIM solutions to our customers in the EV battery market.”

To learn more about battery solutions from Arkema and Bostik, including the new TCA, visit us at the Battery Show 2023 in Stuttgart, 23—25 May 2023 at the Arkema booth (Hall 10, J35) and join our Thermal Management business lunch, 24 May 2023 at 11.30am on the Polytec PT booth (Hall 8, F10).