KRAIBURG TPE is developing new, thermally conductive TPE which are particularly suitable for battery systems when used in a two-component hard/soft composite.

High stability and long service life when used in batteries

The demand for plastics that can be integrated in existing material combinations to achieve a highly effective thermal management system has increased by leaps and bounds in recent years. The reason for this are batteries and charging systems increasingly in demand on the market, which are predominantly used for a variety of battery-controlled electrical appliances or for the total range of e-mobility. KRAIBURG TPE has launched Thermally Conductive TPEs for these applications, which meet the increasing requirements in terms of quantity and quality of batteries to a large extent.

Waldkraiburg, 31 July 2024 – Along with the requirements for a power density as high as possible with the same installation space size and minimal charging times, durability is one of the quality factors that determine purchases. In this context, an intelligently designed thermal management system, which ensures that high temperatures generated in the battery during the charging process are dissipated quickly and continuously to the outside, is an essential prerequisite for the optimization of durability, because the battery loses its quality when exposed to high heat.

KRAIBURG TPE has recently invested more in the development of distinctly thermally conductive materials to guarantee batteries the longest possible service life. Compared to liquid or paste-like thermal conductors, these new TPEs provide the advantage of significantly higher functional and spatial stability when assembling the module.

“Apart from securing optimal heat transfer, our customers also benefit from the application advantages of thermoplastic injection molding,” adds Annika Alke, member of the Development Team at KRAIBURG TPE. “Especially when large quantities are required, the two-component hard/soft composite components made of TPE and PA can play to their strengths with their high thermal conductivity.”

Another advantage of the newly developed Thermally Conductive TPEs is their special touch quality. Features particularly worth emphasizing are the high-quality, evenly “dry” surface and the absence of PVC or silicones. The heat difference between the ambient and body temperature is usually sufficient to produce a cooling effect on the skin when the user comes into contact with the material.

KRAIBURG TPE has collaborated with LEHVOSS Group, a partner company, to be able to determine the overall performance of the new TPEs in different applications by checking the relevant properties and performance parameters for each case. As part of the jointly conducted tests, the newly developed TPEs were combined with thermal conductive and adhesion-optimized polyamide compounds from LEHVOSS. The aim was to determine the adhesion properties of different material combinations by conducting a variety of tests, while working out the optimal processing parameters to finally launch a highly efficient solution. The results LEHVOSS and KRAIBURG TPE were able to achieve confirm the suitability of the new materials particularly for applications in multicomponent composites to a high degree.