Thermal Management Materials, Adhesives and Sealants work in Concert to Achieve E-Mobility Ambitions
Henkel announced it will demonstrate how material science is enabling EV battery designers and automotive OEMs to achieve enhanced safety, efficiency and affordability objectives during the virtual Battery Show & EV Tech Digital Days North America & Europe on November 10-12. While developing EV designs that balance safety requirements, ambitious performance metrics and production efficiency is a major challenge, Henkel will reveal how its broad technology portfolio and process expertise has led to various EV design and component assembly successes. Using practical cases, the areas of focus will include:
Thermal Control
Thermal management is fundamental to safe, efficient EV battery function and long operating life. While the primary role of thermal interface materials (TIMs) is heat dissipation to optimize operation and avoid ‘thermal runaway’, additional features such as fast flow rates and lightweighting enable high-throughput production and extended driving range respectively. Henkel will feature two of its latest liquid TIM innovations, specifically silicone-based Bergquist Gap Filler TGF 2200 APS and silicone-free Bergquist Gap Filler TGF 3010 APS (image 1), which address multiple goals: dispensing speeds of up to 80 cc/second and robust thermal conductivity of up to 3 W/mK to tackle safety and functional reliability requirements.
With many factors to consider, most importantly passenger safety, close consultation with a trusted, multi-solution partner will ensure all thermal management and material compatibility objectives are met.
Durable Adhesives
In addition to robust thermal management, battery pack integrity is reliant on adhesive material strength. The ability to withstand the stress of harsh environmental and operational conditions, as well as provide cost-down benefits through high-speed application and fast curing capabilities, are key considerations for adhesive selection. Fast assembly of all elements of the EV battery pack is vital to addressing steadily declining battery costs, which have dropped nearly tenfold over the last decade. Along with other power storage portfolio products, Henkel EV assembly adhesives are supporting customers’ cost efficiency requirements. The company will feature a recent success with battery cell carrier manufacturer Covestro, where Henkel’s Loctite AA 3963 cure-on-demand adhesive (image 2) is enabling five-second cell fixturing for mass production economies of scale.
Battery Show attendees will see how adhesives that perform multiple functions, such as bonding and heat dissipation, can also aid in reducing overall costs. Loctite and Bergquist thermally conductive adhesives, designed for the assembly of cylindrical and pouch cells, deliver this dual-functionality in carefully-balanced formulations that combine effective thermal conductivity and high bonding strength.
Serviceable Sealants
As the battery system represents approximately 50% of the EV cost, shielding the battery pack from contaminants helps protect its value. The ability to easily service and repair a battery lowers the lifetime cost of the EV, as Henkel will demonstrate during the Battery Show. Products like Henkel’s Loctite ESB 5100, a unique safeguarding sealant innovation, offers unprecedented application flexibility. The gasketing material, for example, can secure the battery pack lid to the housing, while it can also be quickly removed and re-applied for battery repair access.
Shared Knowledge
Deep expertise and comprehensive understanding of EV battery pack design, industry trends, and complementary material formulation allow the Henkel team to provide a total solution for automotive battery and OEM customers. At the Battery Show & EV Tech Days, Henkel technical specialists will freely share this knowledge during two seminar events:
Webinar, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 9:30 a.m. (ET): “Optimizing EV Battery Pack Design & Assembly: How Innovative Thermal Interface Materials, Adhesives and Sealants are Driving e-Mobility Forward”, Henkel’s Dr. Pradyumna Goli, BDM Battery Systems and Reid Chesterfield, Director Thermal Product Development
Lightning Talk, Thursday, Nov. 12, 9:30 a.m. (CEST): “Selecting the Right Material for Thermal Management in EV Electronic Component”, Holger Schuh, Global Technology Lead Thermal
Conference participants are also invited to engage directly with the Henkel automotive power storage team members through live chat and visit the virtual booth where more materials will be made available.
henkel-adhesives.com/emobility / www.henkel.com
2020 Virtual Battery Show to Showcase Impact of Material Science on Automotive Battery Design and Assembly
Partnership webinar “Making a Difference with Sustainable Plastics” scheduled on October 29, 2020
Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP) announced “Making a Difference with Sustainable Plastics” webinar presented by Theresa Vanna of Primex Plastics Corporation. SGP is the leading authority in sustainable printing certifications for print manufacturers.
The webinar presents the latest information on sustainable plastics and their pros and cons. In addition, Vanna discusses the lifecycle of sustainable products and how to discuss sustainable products with vendors. The webinar is free and open to the public.
“I look forward to sharing information about sustainable plastics and discuss any misconceptions with the participants,” said Vanna, Primex Plastics product specialist and SGP Partnership board member. “Sharing information on the variety of sustainable plastics can help companies make informed choices about which product to use. During other presentations, audience members were surprised to find out how many different elements can create a sustainable plastic and how one needs to explore the total life cycle of the materials used.”
The SGP monthly webinar series is to help the printing industry, its suppliers and customers succeed in developing winning sustainability strategies and to support the continuous improvement of SGP certified print facilities.
“Primex works to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future,” said Vanna. “Our support of SGP is part of our belief in a collaborative approach to a more sustainable future.” Vanna has been involved in SGP since its inception in 2008 and has served more than 10 years on the SGP Board of Directors.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/making-a-difference-with-sustainable-plastics-tickets-124502938641 / www.sgppartnership.org / www.primexplastics.com
Development of Near-Infrared Sortable Black Masterbatch
New technology enables the sorting of black plastic packaging for recycling
Toyo Ink Europe Specialty Chemicals S.A.S. (TIESC), a member of the Toyo Ink Group, has developed a whole new range of Lioplax black plastic masterbatch for near-infrared (NIR) sorting and subsequent material recovery. The new packaging masterbatch supports the recyclability of black plastic waste that is currently destined for landfill, thus helping our customers in closing the loop on the circular economy.
Presently, plastic waste sorting is based on automatic optical sorting methods with the majority of sorting equipment relying on the reflectance of NIR wavelengths. Standard black masterbatches are typically produced with carbon black pigments. Since carbon black absorbs infrared light, identification by optical sensors is impossible. This results in undetected black or dark-coloured packaging waste being sent to landfill or incineration. Addressing the recycling issue, TIESC developed a new alternative to standard carbon black masterbatch.
“Toyo Ink Europe Specialty Chemicals has successfully brought to market a sustainable alternative enabling your packaging to integrate the recycling loop,” commented Dr. Xavier André, Technical & Research Manager of Toyo Ink Europe Specialty Chemicals. “Packaging using a new Lioplax black masterbatch can be detected by NIR sensors during the sorting stage at material recovery centres. This allows dark-colour packaging to be sorted and integrated back into the value chain as a reusable raw material through recycling. Our NIR black colorants have been certified according to the Cotrep recyclability test protocol and have received positive results at both Pellenc and Tomra testing centers.”
The Lioplax series of NIR-sorting black masterbatches are specially formulated for use in PP trays, PET preforms, films, bottles and other packaging applications. Different grades are available in varying black color shades, grades of resins (polyolefin, PET) and processing compatibility such as injection, extrusion and blow moulding. The advantage for brand owners is that they can keep their black packaging market product codes whilst becoming more sustainable.
https://www.toyoink-europe.com/en/ / https://schd.toyoinkgroup.com/en/
SABIC partners to introduce its polycarbonate based on certified renewable feedstock
SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, announced its partnership with Elkamet Kunststofftechnik GmbH, an industry leader in the plastics processing industry. Elkamet will be using SABIC’s LEXAN polycarbonate (PC) resin based on certified renewable feedstock in several end applications for the lighting industry.
In October 2019, SABIC launched its polycarbonate based on certified renewable feedstock – an engineering thermoplastic resin that is part of the company’s TRUCIRCLE solutions for certified renewable products. The polycarbonate provides them and its direct and ultimate customers with more sustainable solutions and associated benefits. Based on our cradle-to-gate peer-reviewed LCA study, use of its LEXAN polycarbonate resin can potentially result in reductions in carbon footprint of up to 61% and fossil depletion reduction of up to 35%.
“Our polycarbonate (PC) based on certified renewable feedstock solution supports the pursuit of a more circular economy, one that prioritizes resource conservation and environmental sustainability, recycling and recovery technologies, allowing us to capture the greatest value from materials that have traditionally been discarded”, said Mark Vester, Circular Economy Leader at SABIC. “We are delighted to be partnering with Elkamet, part of our ongoing commitment to our customers who are increasingly looking for more sustainable solutions in response to consumer requirements,” Vester continued.
“Elkamet is the first in the lighting industry to offer an alternative for our customers in order to keep up with the trend towards more sustainability in the development of plastic components,” said Lukas Platt, Sales, at Elkamet. “Diffusors/covers are one of the biggest parts of a luminaire that are made of plastic. By producing them using renewable resources, lighting manufacturers can make a huge sustainability impact. We are very happy to partner with SABIC, whose polycarbonate based on certified renewable feedstock ensures that the customer does not have to make a compromise between sustainability and material properties. In addition, a huge benefit of this solution is that design and application requirements for Elkamet profiles made of SABIC’s material remain the same,” concluded Platt.
Elkamet has also been ISCC certified, in order to give SABIC and Elkamet’s common customers a consistent proof of a sustainable supply chain.
“Since the launch of our renewable PC at K2019 trade show in Dusseldorf last year we have had a lot of interest shown in the solution from a broad range of industries. We are delighted to have Elkamet onboard. A further step towards transforming the value chain together – to realize a more responsible value chain, creating positive impact on environmental challenges,” said Lennard Markestein, Director Engineering Thermoplastics at SABIC.
SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE portfolio and services for circular solutions span; design for recyclability, mechanically recycled products, certified circular products from feedstock recycling of used plastics and certified renewables products from bio-based feedstock.
INEOS Styrolution and AmSty Announce Joint Facility for Advanced Recycling of Polystyrene
- Partnership paves the way for closed loop recycling to keep polystyrene out of landfills
Styrolution and AmSty, two of the largest global producers of polystyrene, announce plans to construct a joint 100 ton per day facility in Channahon, Illinois, that will utilize the Agilyx advanced recycling technology to recycle post-use polystyrene products back into virgin-equivalent styrene monomer.
“Discarded single-use items like polystyrene foam cups and yogurt cups can now go right back to the same applications over and over at the same purity and performance with no need to landfill,” said Greg Fordyce, President Americas for INEOS Styrolution. “We are excited to join forces with AmSty on this ambitious project, which we expect will elevate polystyrene as a sustainable material of choice. In particular, this facility will dramatically increase recycling rates in the greater Chicago area.”
In 2018, AmSty and Agilyx formed their Regenyx joint venture to advance the development of a similar facility in Tigard, Oregon, using Agilyx’s breakthrough pyrolysis technology. The Channahon facility will be engineered on a larger scale in cooperation with Agilyx to represent the next generation of advanced recycling technology.
“Polystyrene products can offer sustainability advantages where less material is required (e.g. a polystyrene foam cup is 95% air),” said Tim Barnette, Vice President – Polymers and Sustainability at AmSty. “Polystyrene is particularly advantageous for advanced recycling because it can be “unzipped” back to its original liquid form, styrene monomer. Other plastics can also be converted into useful intermediates, but polystyrene offers a truly circular solution. Polystyrene remains the best option for a range of applications such as food and beverage containers. We view polystyrene waste products as valuable feedstock for circular recycling. Keeping plastics out of the landfills not only makes sense from an environmental standpoint, but it makes economic sense as well.”
“Advanced recycling technologies are key to creating a circular economy for plastics,” said Tim Stedman, CEO of Agilyx. “Agilyx’s technology for converting waste polystyrene is proven at scale, having been operational for several years now in Oregon. This new facility in Illinois will be the largest of its type in the world, and will meet the growing demand from brand owners who want more recycled plastic, allowing them not only the possibility of recycling food grade material back to the same products but also for the upcycling of lower quality non-food grade products to meet food grade usage requirements.”
Agilyx will also source and supply plastic waste feedstock for the facility through its recently formed Cyclyx subsidiary. “In addition to the technology, we have developed a feedstock management system, which is just as important as the technology in developing the supply chain for this new market,” said Joe Vaillancourt, Cyclyx’s President. “The overarching goal of Cyclyx is to dramatically increase the recyclability of post-use plastics with a priority for fully circular pathways, as well as assisting in the development of new supply chains that will aggregate and preprocess larger volumes of post-use plastics than current systems.”
Engineering design for the Channahon facility is under way, with construction and commissioning as the expected next phases.
AmSty, INEOS Styrolution and Trinseo sign joint development agreement (JDA)
- JDA intends to accelerate the introduction of circularity for one of the most recyclable polymers, polystyrene
- JDA targets advancements in all technical aspects to enable scaled investment in advanced commercial recycling solutions
To accelerate driving the circular economy for styrenics forward, three of the world’s leading polystyrene producers, AmSty, INEOS Styrolution and Trinseo signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to jointly explore recycling options for polystyrene.
AmSty, INEOS Styrolution and Trinseo are committed to a circular economy for polystyrene. This JDA represents the first global combined effort to explore advanced recycling technologies, optimize them for commercial use and call for all contributors along the value chain to make circularity of polystyrene a reality. The three companies are aiming at an economy where post-consumer polystyrene waste does not end up in landfills but is recognized as a valuable resource for the development of new materials for future use.
Polystyrene is a unique polymer suitable for multiple advanced recycling solutions like depolymerization. Its properties make it ideal for a circular economy – even enabling food contact compliancy of the recycled material, often considered the holy grail of polymer recycling.
All three companies have done their own independent research and have invested in various projects to further the commercialization of advanced recycling capacity. This new joint effort allows all participants to share best practices and optimize recycling technologies for large-scale commercial use.
Dr. Randy Pogue, President and Chief Executive Officer, AmSty: “I am thrilled to see the industry coming together globally to work on a common goal to realize true circularity for styrenics. This is a true win-win for all participants in this joint effort and finally for our customers, for consumers and for society.”
Alexander Glück, President EMEA, INEOS Styrolution, adds: “Polystyrene has all it takes to make it a star in a circular economy. Enhanced recycling technologies even offer recycled polystyrene at food contact quality. Which other polymer can do that?”
“This marks another milestone in our industry’s commitment towards a circular economy where we can continue to enjoy all the benefits of Polystyrene whilst solving the environmental challenges at the same time. I am looking forward to see other members of the value chain joining us to make our vision become a reality in the very near future,” summarizes Nicolas Joly, Vice President Plastics & Feedstocks, Trinseo.
Berry Global and The AZEK Company Unite to Recycle 30+ Million Pounds of Plastic
Berry Global Group, Inc. announced its signing of a formalized working agreement with The AZEK Company’s Building Products business unit to utilize Berry’s mixed material, post-industrial scrap in the production of high-quality, sustainable building materials such as composite decking. The collaboration will benefit both parties in their efforts to lower the environmental impacts of their products and operations.
Berry will provide a consistent and high-quality material stream which AZEK will recycle and use in the manufacturing of its sustainable residential and commercial building products. “Sustainability is at the core of what we do, and we are incredibly fortunate to be able to expand our recycling program through this partnership with Berry Global, giving plastic a new life in our premium products,” said Jesse Singh, CEO of The AZEK Company. “This agreement strengthens our position, expands our recycling initiatives, and enables us to increase the overall sustainability of our manufacturing operations – so homeowners can feel good about building their outdoor spaces with our products.”
The recycled plastic will come from Berry’s operations across multiple facilities and divisions in North America. The current AZEK Building Products portfolio consists of residential and commercial building products which replace wood and allow homeowners to build beautiful, low-maintenance outdoor living spaces without the hassle of having to sand, stain or paint. “We are excited to collaborate with AZEK as they bring outstanding products that perform better than alternatives and take advantage of plastic recyclability” said Tom Salmon, Chairman and CEO of Berry Global. “Through continued sustainable partnering up and down the plastics supply chain, we are further exhibiting the power of plastics to help move the world toward a circular economy.”
Berry continues to display its commitment to creating a more sustainable future through its products, performance, and partners. The collaboration with AZEK is representative of Berry’s focus on investments in both mechanical and advanced recycling, the innovative use of recycled material in products, and global commitments to address plastic waste in the environment. The Company’s sustainability strategy can be found in its Impact 2025 goals, released last year.