Adhesive tapes from CMC as key technology for modern battery packs

Functions of adhesive tapes

However, the function of adhesive tapes goes beyond mere mechanical fastening. In fact, they offer a number of advantages that are crucial for the production of high-performance and safe battery packs:

- Electrical insulation

To ensure the electrical safety of a battery pack, insulation is used that is reliably voltage-resistant, even to the entire system voltage. Adhesive tapes made from electrical insulation films have a reliable and reproducible dielectric strength, which contributes significantly to functional and operational safety.

-corrosion protection

Non-conductive adhesive tapes prevent electrochemical corrosion between different metal components in the battery pack (different position in the electrochemical voltage series). Among other things, they also prevent crevice corrosion.

-electromagnetic shielding

Self-adhesive metal foils and EMC fabrics with an electrically conductive adhesive coating are used for Shielding of electromagnetic interference and contribute to improving the electromagnetic compatibility of the battery pack.

-thermal management

Thermally conductive adhesive tapes enable efficient heat dissipation from the cells, while thermally insulating adhesive tapes help to prevent or contain thermal runaway.​

-mechanical fixation

Double-sided, elastic adhesive tapes ensure that the cells are securely and permanently fixed in the battery pack. Their elasticity allows them to adapt to the volume changes of the cells during the charging and discharging process. Double-sided adhesive tapes are also used to connect battery modules to form larger packs.​

-sealing

Adhesive die-cut parts are used to seal housing parts and protect the inside of the battery from moisture and dust. Many adhesive tapes are chemically resistant to liquids such as coolants, water or oils.

-precise positioning

Stamped molded parts made from adhesive tapes enable high-precision and automated positioning of components such as temperature sensors and busbars.

Challenges in battery production and possible solutions

The increasing demand for high-performance battery packs leads to a number of challenges:

- Increasing the power density

The use of larger cell formats reduces the proportion of peripheral components that do not contribute to energy storage (power density per unit volume increases). However, the larger format makes it more difficult to dissipate the heat loss generated during charging and discharging. Powerful thermally conductive adhesive tapes and Gap filler are an efficient solution.

-high voltage technology

High-voltage batteries with 800 VDC and more require careful insulation to minimize the risk of dielectric breakdown. The large clearances required stand in the way of an increasingly compact design. Adhesive tapes made from electrical insulation films can help to resolve this conflict of objectives. High-temperature-resistant adhesive tapes ensure reliable insulation even under extreme conditions and contribute to the safety of the battery pack.

-environmental influences

Temperature changes, moisture and dust can affect the service life of batteries and lead to electrochemical damage. Seals made from double-sided adhesive die-cut parts are effective, quick to fit and can be opened again for servicing.

-security

A thermal runaway (the spontaneous combustion of a single battery cell) can lead to serious damage. Heat-insulating insulations with adhesive coating for easy installation prevent and limit the spread of a thermal runaway of a single cell.

-optimized processing

Adhesive die-cut parts are precisely manufactured products that facilitate the automated and reproducible production of battery packs.

Adhesive tapes: key technology for battery packs

Adhesive tapes are a key technology for the production of modern battery packs. They offer a variety of functions that help to optimize the performance, safety and service life of battery packs. Thanks to their precise and reproducible processing, they are an important way of optimizing production processes.