Showa Denko K.K. (SDK) and its subsidiary Showa Denko Packaging Co., Ltd. (SPA) have developed next-generation laminate-type heat radiator designed for application to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for use in electric vehicles (EVs) whose market is rapidly expanding.

LIBs used in EVs have large capacity and generate much heat. As a result, they should be able to dissipate heat efficiently.

Currently, square-shaped LIBs for use in EVs are equipped with heat radiators composed of extruded aluminum parts and aluminum boards. In manufacturing process of these radiators, aluminum parts are welded or brazed. These welding or brazing processes require temperature of 600oC or higher.

SDK says that the newly-developed laminate-type heat radiator uses a laminate film, which is composed of aluminum foil and resin films, as a structural material. The “heat sealing method” to manufacture this next-generation radiator can connect laminate films under relatively low temperature of about 200 degrees C. Moreover, the materials that compose these laminate films allow for easy customization. This means that the laminate films can be used in various sizes and are suitable for fine presswork. Therefore, this new radiator for LIB brings car manufacturers to a higher degree of freedom in designing and sizing their LIB-related modules and their surroundings.

The laminate films used as structural materials of this new radiator uses the Showa Denko Group’s technologies to manufacture SPALF, which is aluminum laminate film manufactured and sold by SPA as pouch-type packaging material for LIBs. SPALF’s performance in electrical insulation, plasticity and resistance to corrosion is very high.

SDK and SPA will accelerate development of this next-generation laminate-type heat radiator as heat radiation component for EVs and electricity storage systems (ESSs), and plan to ship samples of these radiators by the end of 2020.

SDK and SPA will introduce this new laminate-type heat radiator at the booth of the Showa Denko Group in the “48th INTERNEPCON JAPAN” event, which will be held at Tokyo Big Sight in Minato Ward, Tokyo from January 16 through 18, 2019.