WILMINGTON, Del.—Helping batteries last longer and charge faster is what DuPont Co. does. And the latest Kevlar product offering from the Wilmington-based company follows suit as it's designed to help electric vehicles optimize performance.
Kevlar MicroCore is a non-flammable, super-fine fiber material targeted for use in battery separators, and addresses the need for safer, higher-performing lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles. The material has shown that it will not shrink, even as temperatures reach 300°C, DuPont said.
The material also has demonstrated better lithium ion transfer abilities in battery separators, which ultimately supports faster charging for higher power EVs.
"When used in battery separators, Kevlar MicroCore can help prevent the biggest safety issue for EV batteries—thermal runaway," Carlo Fiorella, global market manager for DuPont Automotive, said in a statement. "Testing has shown that it may also enable EV batteries to charge faster and deliver higher acceleration power, addressing two key performance concerns for both consumers and EV manufacturers."
To bring Kevlar MicroCore to the market, DuPont has collaborated with Nippon Kodoshi Corp. (NKK), a Kochi, Japan-based manufacturer of separators for energy devices including lithium ion batteries. NKK's TopNove products will be made with the DuPont's Kevlar MicroCore technology, DuPont said, noting that the NKK's ability to make "thin and uniform paper made them an ideal collaboration partner for this specific project."
Firoella believes that the Kevlar MicroCore product has great potential to propel battery technology forward, not just in the EV space, but in any sector where longer-lasting, fast-charging batteries are at the heart of products and devices.
"With its unique combination of properties, we believe Kevlar MicroCore is a real game changer that will take EV batteries to the next level of safety and performance," said Fiorella. "What's more, similar improvements can be achieved for advanced technology battery systems in use across other industries, such as aerospace, defense, medical, industrial, transportation, utilities or other critical commercial applications."
