Henkel Delivers Comprehensive Adhesion & Sealing Solutions for Advancing E-Mobility Battery Systems

Henkel Adhesives Germany

Overview

Henkel offers a comprehensive suite of solutions for e-mobility, including adhesives, thermal adhesives, and safety potting compounds for EV battery systems. These materials are engineered to enable cost-efficient, rapid cell assembly, optimize thermal management, and provide critical thermal runaway propagation prevention for cylindrical cells. Henkel’s portfolio supports the diversification of battery designs and contributes to reducing production costs, enhancing both performance and safety in electric vehicles.

In Depth

Background

The global imperative for stricter environmental regulations and growing sustainability awareness is rapidly accelerating the automotive industry’s shift towards electric vehicles (EVs). This proliferation of EVs generates new and exceptionally high demands on battery system performance, safety, and durability. Within battery packs, which are composed of multiple cells, advanced adhesion and sealing materials are indispensable for efficient assembly, effective thermal management, and critical safety assurance in the event of an anomaly. These materials are key determinants of the battery’s long-term reliability and the overall vehicle’s performance.

Key Findings / Results

Henkel, a global leader in adhesives and chemical products, offers a comprehensive portfolio of material solutions for EV battery systems, designed to meet the diverse needs of the evolving e-mobility market. This portfolio is primarily structured around three key categories:

• Adhesives for Battery Assembly: These adhesives enable efficient and rapid assembly of battery cells, modules, and packs. Beyond providing high-strength bonding, they achieve fast curing times on production lines, contributing to reduced manufacturing costs and increased production throughput. This category includes structural adhesives capable of bonding diverse substrates, facilitating robust and streamlined assembly processes.
• Thermal Adhesives (including Thermal Interface Materials): Given that EV batteries generate significant heat during operation, efficient thermal management is crucial. Henkel’s thermal adhesives offer excellent thermal conductivity while simultaneously providing structural bonding strength. This dual functionality optimizes heat transfer from heat-generating components to the cooling system, preventing battery system overheating. Products like thermal gap fillers and thermally conductive adhesives contribute to extending battery lifespan and enhancing overall safety.
• Safety Potting Compounds: Especially in battery packs utilizing cylindrical cells, measures to prevent thermal runaway propagation are vital in the unlikely event of such an incident. Henkel’s safety potting compounds, with their superior heat resistance and thermal propagation prevention (fire protection) characteristics, effectively isolate thermal runaway between cells. This significantly enhances the safety of the battery system, contributing to occupant safety and minimizing damage to the vehicle.

These integrated solutions address various battery design requirements and facilitate the optimization of manufacturing processes, leading to improved cost-efficiency in EV production.

Technical Significance & Outlook

Henkel’s adhesion and sealing solutions for e-mobility are indispensable elements that strongly support the evolution of EV battery technology and accelerate the electrification of the automotive industry. These materials provide concrete solutions to key challenges faced by EV manufacturers, including enhancing battery pack performance, ensuring safety, and streamlining manufacturing processes.

Specifically, optimized thermal management technologies directly impact battery life and charging speed, which will further encourage consumer adoption of EVs. Furthermore, the prevention of thermal runaway propagation through safety potting compounds addresses safety concerns related to EVs, promoting broader market acceptance. Henkel’s continuous material development contributes to greater battery design freedom, lightweighting, cost reduction, and ultimately the realization of more environmentally friendly, high-performance EVs. In an increasingly competitive global technological landscape, the supply of such high-performance materials forms a critical foundation for the sustainable growth of the entire e-mobility market.