Biobased epoxides as binders for lithium-ion batteries

 
The present work focuses on the development of epoxy materials with the aim to use them as alternative binder for lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries grow in their importance for the electric mobility field. The constituent parts in such batteries are graphite, lithium metal oxide and carbon black (content 94%). But the polymer which is usually used as binder material is quite expensive, e.g. polyvinylidene fluoride, and need to be solved in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, a toxic solvent. Both ingredients shall be replaced by epoxides- preferred with a high bio-based content. Also the mechanical properties with the new binders shall be improved. The starting materials of this investigation are binders of modified conventional epoxides and also epoxidized plant oils which were tested with hardeners like fatty amines and anhydrides. The bio-content varies from 20 up to 100%. Furthermore, the new epoxy resins and thereof compounded coatings are evaluated in terms of mechanical strength and flexibility, compatibility, processibility and adhesion strength for applications in lithium ion batteries. First results show that biobased epoxides as binders for lithium-ion batteries show good application properties, mechanical performance, thermal and chemical stability.