Binders & Specialty Coating Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries
APV has the capability to disperse a diverse range of solvents and high performance binders for customized aqueous slurry materials used in electrode preparation.
Lithium ion batteries are one of the world’s most progressive technologies, powering everything from cell phones to electric cars. To provide a battery that delivers great performance while still maintaining a high level of safety, quality materials and proper processing are crucial.
APV procures battery-grade components and instills processing techniques that produce a binder or slurry that is pure, free of contaminants and moisture, and completely dispersed with uniform particle size distribution. Our processing methods range from high to low shear mixers, all controlled with exceptional filtration systems.
Processing
APV mixers include high-speed reactors, dual-shaft mixers, three-roll mills, horizontal mills and ball mills. Binders and slurries are manufactured under an inert gas blanket to maintain purity levels. The blending process is highly controlled by a technical team that analyzes quality to maintain consistency and eliminate performance issues such as gelling, seeding, poor particle distribution, discoloration, and trapped moisture.
Solvents
APV can provide battery-grade solvents including N-Methyl 2-Pyrrolidone (NMP) for manufacturing electrode binders and slurries. Our procurement of the highest grade materials assures optimal performance and product consistency. Purity levels are tested using a titration method and are maintained through processing under an argon gas.
Performance Materials
APV can disperse a variety of high performance resins, polymers, and elastomers, such as SBR or PVDF. PVDF is a common binder material used in electrode preparation due to its high molecular weight and surface chemistry. These properties help to improve adhesion of the electrodes to the collector as well as affect the level of coverage over the active materials in the lithium ion cell.
Performance Additives
Unlike other suppliers, APV offers the ability to source and incorporate high-performance additives into anode/cathode coating slurries for a ready-to-use/ready-to-coat format. This includes carbon black, single and multi-wall carbon nanotubes, graphene, and graphite. These additives are often utilized to improve cycling efficiency, increase energy storage life cycles, and enhance performance.
Production Orders & Laboratory Research
Batch sizes range from 5 gallons to 3,000 gallons for production-scale requirements. Small batch samples for research laboratories and institutions are available and subject to a small order fee of $350.00 per sample.
Features & Benefits
- Customized dispersions
- Ability to handle and ship toxic and flammable materials
- Multiple processing and mixing capabilities
- Acute quality control
- Options for production batch or sample sizes
- Excellent adhesion
- Electrochemical stability
- Thermal stability
- Consistency in dispersion quality
- Improved energy storage
- Prevents separator degradation
- Improved cycling efficiency
- Improved battery life