Battery Materials
Thought Leaders for Battery Materials
Asahi Kasei is a pioneer in the field of modern battery technology. Our foundation was established by Asahi Kasei researcher Dr. Akira Yoshino and his development of the first working prototype of the lithium-ion battery in 1983. Today, the company is a market-leading supplier of lithium-ion battery separators, as well as engineering plastics and foams. These materials significantly contribute to the safety, performance, and size of the battery pack for electric vehicles.
Cell
Celgard®
dry-process lithium-ion battery separators deliver unique advantages for safety and optimal combinations of energy and power performance in a wide variety of electric vehicle (EV) battery cell designs. Celgard offers a range of separator solutions that balance competing performance demands including safety, chemical and dimensional stability, and cycle life.
HIPORE™
HIPORE™ is a high-performance microporous polyolefin flat membrane. With its broad thickness spectrum and very uniform and microscopically small pores, it is used as a separator in lithium-ion batteries. This we-process manufactured separator is found in both automobiles as well as in consumer electronics such as smartphones and portable music players. Its high porosity provides an excellent liquid absorption capacity, while its high puncture resistance contributes to increased battery safety and reliability.
High Ionic Conductive Electrolyte for Lithium-ion Batteries (LIB)
The unique electrolyte composition formulation technology developed by Asahi Kasei has enabled acetonitrile as an electrolyte for LIBs, which industry experts previously thought was impossible. This electrolyte, which demonstrates lithium-ion conductivity superior to conventional electrolytes, achieves both improved low-temperature performance and high-temperature durability. It also contributes to downsizing by increasing capacity through thicker electrode films and reducing the number of required components.
Module & Pack
SunForce™
m-PPE foamed beads optimize the weight, size, safety, and efficiency of lithium-ion battery packs. SunForce is a particle foam based on the engineering plastic m-PPE (modified polyphenylene ether). SunForce BE is a self-extinguishing flame-retardant product certified to UL94 V-0 standards. Compared to standard foams made of polystyrene or polyolefin, the use of m-PPE equips this foamed material with unique properties, opening new doors for applications in thermal management and fire protection.
LASTAN™ for EV battery
made from flame retardant fibers maintains excellent flame resistance among organic fabrics. Lastan EV grade not only have a high LOI (limiting oxygen index) and excellent processability derived from organic fibers, but also withstand flames and particle blasts up to 1300℃ and have high performance in preventing heat transfer.
XYRON™
the brand name of Asahi Kasei’s modified-Polyphenylene Ether (m-PPE), is an engineering plastic with unique properties created by blending resins such as polystyrene (PS), polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or other polymers. Thanks to its low density – the lowest among engineering plastics – m-PPE is suitable for a wide range of lightweight components. XYRON can be found in applications in the battery materials segment, such as inter-cell spacers for LIB, bus bar cover junction box and power distribution modules.