Henkel boosts electric vehicle batteries with thermally conductive adhesive for simple production

24 May 2023 --- Henkel has extended its electric vehicle (EV) battery systems portfolio with a “first-of-its-kind” injectable thermally conductive adhesive. The new adhesive, branded Loctite TLB 9300 APSi, provides the battery system’s structural bonding and thermal conductivity. Due to its precise application, enhanced design flexibility and improved bond strength, the injectable thermally conductive adhesive offers the benefits of a simplified manufacturing process.

Loctite TLB 9300 APSi is a two-component polyurethane thermally conductive adhesive with a high thermal conductivity of 3 W/mK, moderate viscosity and self-leveling characteristics. It is designed for bonding battery cells to modules or bonding cells directly to cooling systems.

Henkel says the adhesive delivers a “unique” combination of good electrical insulation with high bonding performance to various substrates. As a solvent-free solution that cures at room temperature without additional energy consumption, it helps customers advance their environmental sustainability agenda by reducing emissions and resource use while ensuring safer working environments. 

“Loctite TLB 9300 APSi is a testament to Henkel’s continued efforts to innovate new e-mobility solutions tailored to solve today’s battery manufacturing challenges and enable the next-generation designs of tomorrow. Its immediate adoption by a major battery manufacturer demonstrates our close partnership with key players in the e-mobility industry to help advance change,” says Holger Schuh, global senior manager for Thermal Technologies at Henkel. 

Illustrative image showing the application of Loctite TLB 9300 APSi inside a battery module. Thermal management challenges 
The company says the Loctite TLB 9300 APSi adhesive demonstrates its experience in thermal interface materials for EV battery systems, which are vital for safer and higher-performing EVs. 

“Thermal management in EV batteries is still one of the biggest challenges for electrified mobility. New designs targeting higher energy densities in battery packs require multifunctional thermally conductive adhesives instead of classical thermal gap fillers,” says Stephan Hoefer, global market strategy head for E-Mobility at Henkel. 

“Leveraging our strong innovation capabilities at Henkel, we have started to launch a family of materials varying in thermal conductivity, bonding strength, elasticity and application methods to address those new requirements.” 

Due to its strong innovation teams, global footprint, extended network of dispensing equipment partners and close collaboration with OEMs and battery manufacturers, Henkel is helping solve the industry’s biggest challenges with advanced materials and accelerating the transition to zero-emission mobility. 

Adhesives and batteries
Last week, Henkel opened its Technology Center in Bridgewater, US, presenting its technology portfolio of adhesives, sealants, functional coatings and specialty materials. The center is also said to support collaboration with customers to develop innovative solutions. 

“Innovation is at the core of what we do,” says Michael Todd, vice president of innovation and new business development at Henkel Adhesive Technologies. “The Technology Center Bridgewater is designed to encourage collaboration across the value chain.”

As a result of battery production shortages, Penn State University, US, researchers developed a method to upcycle single-use plastic packaging waste into graphite. The researchers were granted seed funding last year by the university’s Materials Research Institute to explore options for transforming single-use plastic waste into high-quality graphite to prevent a “huge shortfall” of the material.

Edited by Natalie Schwertheim