Busbar with improved flame resistance and battery pack including same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bus bar that includes a metal plate and a plurality of insulating members provided on the outer surface of the metal plate, at least some of the plurality of insulating members forming a chemical bond with the metal plate, thereby ensuring insulation even in the event of a fire, and improving safety.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0114234, filed on September 8, 2022, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0118950, filed on September 7, 2023, and all contents disclosed in the Korean patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a busbar having improved fire resistance for connecting battery modules, and more particularly to a busbar having improved fire resistance by providing a metal plate made of an electrically conductive metal material with a plurality of insulating members to protect the metal plate from the outside, and a battery pack including the busbar. [Background technology]

[0003] Recently, the demand for secondary batteries that can store electrical energy produced by the development of alternative energy sources due to air pollution caused by the use of fossil fuels and energy depletion is increasing. Rechargeable secondary batteries are closely used in daily life, such as in mobile devices, electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles.

[0004] Lithium secondary batteries are used as an energy source for various electronic devices that are essential in modern society, and the required capacity is increasing due to the increased use and complication of mobile devices and the development of electric vehicles, etc. To meet user demand, many battery cells are arranged in small devices, while automobiles and the like use battery modules that electrically connect many battery cells or battery packs equipped with many such battery modules.

[0005] As the types of devices using lithium secondary batteries as their energy sources become more diverse, the application of lithium secondary batteries is expanding to devices requiring high capacity and high output.

[0006] In response to this trend, there has been an increase in the manufacture and use of battery modules in which a number of battery cells are electrically connected, and battery packs in which the battery modules are connected in series and / or parallel.

[0007] Meanwhile, bus bars are widely used as an electrical connection means for the battery modules, and are useful as a means for passing large current because the bus bars are relatively thinner than cables but can stably pass large current.

[0008] Generally, the bus bar is provided in the form of a metal bar such as copper or aluminum having good electrical conductivity, and for safety, the remaining part of the metal bar except for both ends connected to the terminals is covered with a tube or extrusion.

[0009] Specifically, the bus bar may be formed by disposing a metal plate containing copper or aluminum having excellent electrical conductivity inside, and covering the outer surface of the metal plate with a tube or extrusion except for both ends that are joined to ensure electrical insulation.

[0010] In this regard, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional busbar before and after it has been damaged by fire.

[0011] Busbars are used for electrical connection between battery modules. Figure 1 shows the structure of a busbar and the state of the busbar damaged by fire.

[0012] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional busbar includes a metal plate 110 made of an electrically conductive material, an insulating tape 120 surrounding the remaining portion of the outer surface of the metal plate 110 except for both ends, and a silicone tube 130 provided on the outer surface of the insulating tape 120.

[0013] Since the insulating tape 120 and the silicon tube 130 are made of an electrically insulating material, insulation can be ensured from components other than the devices connected to both ends of the bus bar.

[0014] If a battery cell inside the battery pack catches fire or explodes, the thermal energy of the battery cell is transferred to the surrounding battery cells, causing a fire. If the silicone tube 130 of the bus bar connecting the battery modules is damaged by a fire in the battery cell, the insulating tape 120 may spread, exposing the metal plate 110 inside.

[0015] If such exposed metal plates come into contact with electrically conductive battery pack structures, a short circuit may occur. Such an internal short circuit may form an electrical closed circuit inside the battery pack, which may accelerate a thermal runaway phenomenon inside the battery pack.

[0016] In this regard, Patent Document 1 discloses a bus bar including a metal bar made of a metal material, an insulating tube covering the remaining portion of the metal bar except for both ends, a fire tape surrounding the metal bar inside the insulating tube, and a bandage member made of a fire-resistant material and interposed between the insulating tube and the fire tape, surrounding the fire tape and fixing it to the metal bar.

[0017] In Patent Document 1, even if the insulating tube is lost due to a fire, the bandage member can firmly fix the fireproof tape, so that the metal bar does not come into direct contact with surrounding metal objects, thereby preventing short circuits.

[0018] Patent document 2 discloses a bus bar including a metal bar formed of a metal material, a bandage member surrounding the remaining portion of the metal bar except for both ends, and an insulating tube surrounding both the metal bar and the bandage member.

[0019] In Patent Document 2, the bandage material on the surface of the metal bar remains attached to the surface of the metal bar even in the event of a fire, so that the metal bar does not come into direct contact with surrounding metal objects, thereby preventing short circuits.

[0020] However, since the busbars of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 further include a bandage member, the thickness and weight of the busbar may increase.

[0021] If a fire occurs inside the battery pack, the tube or projectile surrounding the metal bar may dissipate, causing the metal bar to be exposed to the outside. If the exposed metal bar comes into contact with a nearby metal object, a short circuit may occur.

[0022] In addition, the reality is that there is no way to actively deal with flames using only bus bars equipped with fire-resistant heat-resistant insulation.

[0023] Therefore, there is a need for a technology for a busbar that can prevent the internal metal bar or metal plate from being exposed even if the insulating material provided on the outer surface of the busbar is lost due to fire, and can prevent flame propagation between battery modules in the event of a fire. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0024] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0050983 [Patent Document 2] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0141095 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0025] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a busbar having improved flame resistance by providing a plurality of insulating members on an outer surface to protect a metal plate made of an electrically conductive metal material from the outside, and a battery pack including the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0026] The bus bar according to the present invention includes a metal plate and a plurality of insulating members provided on an outer surface of the metal plate, at least some of the insulating members being capable of forming a chemical bond with the metal plate.

[0027] The plurality of insulating members may include a first insulating member provided on the metal plate and a second insulating member provided to surround an outer surface of the first insulating member, and the first insulating member may be inorganic.

[0028] The inorganic material may be an inorganic metal oxide.

[0029] The inorganic metal oxide may be one or more selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide (Al2O3), aluminum nitride (AlN), zirconium oxide (ZrO2), titanium dioxide (TiO2), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), silicon dioxide (SiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), and cerium oxide (CeO2).

[0030] The first insulating member may be in the form of a nano-inorganic oxide dispersion.

[0031] The second insulating member is capable of being cerammed at high temperatures.

[0032] The second insulating member may be one or more selected from the group consisting of boron-based, phosphorus-based, and silicon-based flame retardant coating agents.

[0033] The second insulating member may include one or more components selected from the group consisting of magnesium hydroxide (MDH), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), and aluminum trihydrate (ATH).

[0034] The second insulating member may include one or more selected from the group consisting of fire-resistant silicone, fire-resistant plastic, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, polyphthalamide, polyamide, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyetherimide, acrylic fiber, and polybenzimidazole.

[0035] The metal plate may be composed of electrically conductive materials including copper, aluminum, nickel, gold, silver, or combinations thereof.

[0036] The insulating members may be in the form of an adhesive tape, a coatable foam, a slurry having an insulating material dispersed therein, a heat-shrinkable tube, insert molding, or a form in which an upper case and a lower case are joined to each other with a hinge structure or a fastening structure.

[0037] The present invention also provides a battery pack in which a plurality of battery modules are electrically connected via the bus bar.

[0038] In the battery pack, the plurality of battery modules are accommodated in a battery pack housing, a lattice-shaped partition is provided inside the battery pack housing, one battery module is located in one lattice space, and the bus bar is arranged to cross an upper portion of the partition to electrically connect the plurality of battery modules.

[0039] Furthermore, the present invention can also be provided in the form of a combination of various means for solving the above problems. Effect of the Invention

[0040] As described above, the bus bar according to the present invention can ensure insulation even if the bus bar comes into contact with nearby electrically conductive objects in the event of a fire.

[0041] In addition, the aluminum oxide, which is the first insulating member, is firmly bonded to the metal plate made of Cu by chemically bonding at high temperatures, thereby providing an effect of physically protecting the bus bar.

[0042] In addition, a portion of the second insulating member swells and turns into ceramic, thereby maintaining the insulating and airtight properties. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0043] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional busbar before and after it has been damaged by fire; FIG. [Diagram 2] 1A and 1B are plan and vertical cross-sectional views of a busbar according to the present invention; [Diagram 3] 1A-1C are vertical cross-sectional views of a busbar according to the present invention before and after it has been damaged by fire. [Figure 4] 13A and 13B are a perspective view and a vertical sectional view showing a state in which a bus bar connecting two battery modules is arranged to pass through a partition wall. [Diagram 5] 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack in which a plurality of battery modules are accommodated in a battery pack housing partitioned by partitions. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0044] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily carry out the present invention. However, when describing the operation principle of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in detail, detailed description of related well-known functions or configurations will be omitted if it is determined that such detailed description may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention.

[0045] In addition, the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings for parts having similar functions and actions. Throughout the specification, when a part is said to be connected to another part, this includes not only the case where the part is directly connected to another part, but also the case where the part is indirectly connected via another element between the two parts. In addition, unless otherwise specified, the term "including a certain component" does not mean to exclude other components, but means that the part may further include other components.

[0046] Furthermore, descriptions that specify or limit components are applicable to all inventions and are not limited to a particular invention unless otherwise specified.

[0047] Furthermore, throughout the description of the present invention and the claims, the singular includes the plural unless otherwise stated.

[0048] In addition, throughout the description of the present invention and the claims, unless otherwise stated, "or" includes "and." Therefore, "including A or B" means three cases: including A, including B, or including both A and B.

[0049] The invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings and in conjunction with detailed embodiments.

[0050] The busbar according to the present invention is a type of busbar used as an electrical connection means, and the term "inter-module busbar" as used in this specification refers to a busbar used as a means for connecting battery modules arranged in a battery pack, and the term "busbar" can be understood to include the "inter-module busbar".

[0051] In one specific example, the length of the busbar can be determined taking into consideration the distance between the battery modules to be connected, and the width and thickness of the busbar can be determined taking into consideration the amount of current to be passed and the resistance.

[0052] In addition, the shape of the bus bar can be manufactured taking into consideration the position of the connector of the battery module. The shape can be bent upward or downward parallel to the entire width of the bus bar, bent at 90 degrees on a flat surface to form an L-shape, bent at 90 degrees from both ends on a flat surface to form a U-shape, or

[0053]

number

[0054] Generally, both ends of a bus bar are used as connectors for connecting to an external device, and therefore each end has a structure for connection, such as a fastening hole for fastening with a bolt.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a plan view and a vertical cross section of a busbar according to the present invention, with the cross section taken along line AA of the plan view at the top of FIG. 2 being shown as the vertical cross section at the bottom of FIG.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 2, the bus bar 200 includes a metal plate 210 for electrical connection and a plurality of insulating members provided on the outer surface of the metal plate 210.

[0057] The multiple insulating members include a first insulating member 220 that surrounds at least a portion of the metal plate 210 and chemically bonds with the metal that constitutes the metal plate 210 in a high-temperature environment such as flame generation, and a second insulating member 230 that surrounds the outer surface of the first insulating member 220 and ceramicizes at high temperatures.

[0058] The bus bar may include connection structures at both ends to connect the battery modules, and may include a metal plate having a metal bar shape made of an electrically conductive metal material, and a plurality of insulating members provided on the metal plate excluding both ends, and the plurality of insulating members may be configured in a layered structure.

[0059] The metal constituting the metal plate may be copper, aluminum, nickel, gold, silver, or a combination thereof, and the insulating members may be any one or more of plastic, inorganic oxide, and non-conductive metal.

[0060] At both ends of the metal plate 210, the first insulating member 220 and the second insulating member 230 are not provided on the surface, and the metal plate 210 is exposed to form an electrical connection portion 240.

[0061] The electrical connection part 240 has one or more connection openings 241 formed therein.

[0062] One of the electrical connection parts 240 formed on both ends of the bus bar 200 may be connected to the positive electrode connector of the first battery module, and the other may be connected to the negative electrode connector of the second battery module. Specifically, when a bolting operation using bolts and nuts is performed to connect to the connectors of the battery modules, the bus bar 200 may be connected to the first battery module and the second battery module by inserting a bolt into the opening 241 and then fixing it with a nut.

[0063] The temperature at which the first insulating member forms a chemical bond with the metal plate may be 800° C. to 1,500° C. In general, the ignition temperature when the battery pack is in an abnormal state is 1,000° C. or higher, so when the battery pack is in an abnormal state, a chemical bond 221 may be formed between the metal constituting the metal plate, particularly copper, and the material constituting the first insulating member, particularly aluminum oxide (Al2O3).

[0064] A substance formed by a chemical reaction between Cu, which is the material of the metal plate, and aluminum oxide, which is the material of the first insulating member, may include at least one compound of CuAlO2 and CuAl2O.

[0065] That is, a chemical bond between Cu-Al2O3 occurs to form CuAlO2 and / or CuAl2O, and such material formed at the interface between the metal plate and the material of the first insulating member forms a strong bond similar to that formed at a welded interface between the metal plate and the material of the first insulating member. Additionally, the CuAlO2 and / or CuAl2O physically protects the metal plate from surrounding components, thereby eliminating the occurrence of additional abnormal conditions such as short circuits.

[0066] The first insulating member is an inorganic material, and the inorganic material may be an inorganic metal oxide.

[0067] The inorganic metal oxide may be at least one selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide (Al2O3), aluminum nitride (AlN), zirconium oxide (ZrO2), titanium dioxide (TiO2), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), silicon dioxide (SiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), and cerium oxide (CeO2).

[0068] The first insulating member may be a nano-inorganic oxide dispersion applied to the outer surface of the metal plate.

[0069] Such nano inorganic oxide dispersions may include one or more selected from the group consisting of chlorinated alkyds, brominated epoxy resins, aluminum hydroxide, chlorinated paraffins, and antimony oxides.

[0070] The nano-inorganic oxide dispersion may be in the form of one or more additives selected from the group consisting of halogens, phosphorus, nitrogen, minerals, and oxides, or in the form of an expandable nano-chargeable material.

[0071] The second insulating member 230 constitutes the outermost surface that comes into direct contact with flames in the event of a fire, and may include one or more materials selected from the group consisting of fire-resistant silicone, fire-resistant plastic, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, polyphthalamide, polyamide, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyetherimide, acrylic fiber, and polybenzimidazole.

[0072] In particular, the second insulating member 230 may be a refractory silicone that ceramizes when exposed to flame and hot gases.

[0073] The refractory silicone exhibits the properties of a normal silicone resin at room temperature, but at high temperatures it is converted into a ceramicized structure and has ceramic properties. This phenomenon of the refractory silicone is referred to as "ceramization" in this specification. The refractory silicone maintains its shape at high temperatures without being deformed. In addition, since it has high flame resistance, flames cannot pass through the refractory silicone.

[0074] The second insulating member 230 may be a material that has a property of being ceramicized at high temperatures. For example, if a battery cell in a battery module ignites or explodes and heat is transferred to a bus bar coupled to the battery module, the second insulating member will be ceramicized by the gas or flame emitted from the battery cell but will be able to maintain its shape.

[0075] Therefore, it is possible to prevent the problem that, when a silicon tube is attached to the outer surface of a metal plate, the silicon tube disappears and the metal plate is exposed.

[0076] Meanwhile, the second insulating member may include an expandable flame-retardant silicone having the property of expanding at high temperatures.

[0077] In other words, if a fire occurs and the environment becomes high temperature, the second insulating member has the property of expanding as it ceramicizes from the outside, so that when the bus bar arranged to penetrate the opening expands, it can close the gap of the opening, thereby preventing flames and sparks from propagating through the gap of the opening.

[0078] Therefore, in the portion of the bus bar which includes the first insulating member and the second insulating member, the metal plate is not exposed to the outside, and the first insulating member and the second insulating member have high heat resistance characteristics, so that the bus bar can ensure its heat resistance and insulation properties.

[0079] Depending on the type of material that constitutes the first insulating member or the second insulating member, the first insulating member and the second insulating member may be applied in one of the following forms, and the application method of the first insulating member and the second insulating member may differ from each other. For example, the first insulating member and the second insulating member may be in the form of a tape that can be attached with an adhesive surface on the inner surface, in the form of a coatable foam, by applying a slurry in which an insulating material is dispersed, by applying a heat-shrinkable tube, by insert molding, or by connecting an upper case and a lower case to each other with a hinge structure or a fastening structure.

[0080] FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a busbar according to the present invention before and after it has been damaged by fire.

[0081] Figure 3 shows the process of fire damage to a busbar in two stages, with the progression over time from top to bottom.

[0082] Referring to FIG. 3, the upper drawing is a vertical cross-sectional view of the busbar 200 in a normal state where no fire has occurred, in which the outer surface of the innermost metal plate 210 is surrounded in turn by a first insulating member 220, which is an inorganic metal oxide having insulating properties, and a second insulating member 230, which is ceramicized at high temperatures.

[0083] Referring to the lower diagram of FIG. 3, when a fire occurs in the battery cell, flames and hot gases are transmitted to the busbar, which may result in the formation of a chemical bond 221 between the metal plate made of metal, particularly copper, and the first insulating member which is an inorganic metal oxide.

[0084] The second insulating member may have an expansion characteristic that swells as it is ceramicized. Therefore, when the bus bar is disposed to pass through an opening, the expansion characteristic of the second insulating member can close the opening. In this way, when there is a gap in the opening, the gap through which flames or sparks inside the battery module in the event of a fire escapes is filled by the expanded second insulating member, so that the flames or sparks can be prevented from propagating through the gap to an adjacent battery module.

[0085] The second insulating member may be at least one selected from the group consisting of boron-based, phosphorus-based, and silicon-based flame retardant coating agents.

[0086] The second insulating member may include at least one of magnesium hydroxide (MDH), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), and aluminum trihydrate (ATH).

[0087] The insulating performance of the second insulating member can be improved by the above-mentioned components.

[0088] In this way, the first insulating member 220 prevents a short circuit of the metal plate by chemically bonding 221 with the metal plate, and the second insulating member 230 can ensure high insulation by being ceramicized at high temperatures. Therefore, even in a high temperature environment caused by a fire, the first insulating member 220 and the second insulating member 230 provided on the outside of the metal plate can maintain a state of surrounding the metal plate, so that the metal plate inside the bus bar is not exposed.

[0089] The first insulating member may be made of aluminum oxide (Al2O3). If a fire occurs due to an abnormal state of the battery module, the first insulating member will not burn up like organic materials such as plastics that are used as conventional insulating members, and can maintain the insulating properties of the busbar.

[0090] When the battery modules are in a normal state, electrical and physical connections are made between the battery modules via the busbar, which includes a metal plate made of copper (Cu), and insulation from surrounding electrical components is ensured by multiple insulating members provided on the busbar.

[0091] When the battery module is in an ignition state, the internal temperature is 1,000°C or higher, so the metal plate made of copper and the first insulating member made of aluminum oxide can chemically bond to each other.

[0092] As a result of the chemical bond between Cu-Al2O3, the metal plate and the first insulating member are bonded in a state similar to welding. In this manner, the first insulating member firmly bonded to the outer surface of the metal plate can physically protect the metal plate from surrounding electrical components and can eliminate the occurrence of additional abnormal conditions such as short circuits.

[0093] The second insulating member may be made of fire-resistant silicone. If a fire occurs due to an abnormal state of the battery module, the second insulating member will not burn up like organic materials such as plastics that are used as conventional insulating members, and can maintain the insulating properties of the busbar.

[0094] In the normal state of the battery module, the second insulating member surrounds the metal plate made of copper and the first insulating member. The second insulating member has elastic properties in the normal state, and therefore not only protects the brittle first insulating member (ceramic), but also forms an additional insulating layer on the first insulating member to reinforce the insulating function.

[0095] In the event of a battery module ignition, the second insulating member containing fire-resistant silicone will undergo a ceramicization phenomenon from the exposed portion. However, depending on the material of the second insulating member, expansion characteristics may appear along with the ceramicization phenomenon.

[0096] In other words, while conventional bus bar insulating members are simply covering a metal plate made of Cu, the insulating member of the present invention has a structure in which a first insulating member is added to surround the periphery of a metal plate made of Cu, and a second insulating member containing a refractory silicone material surrounds the outermost edge of the bus bar to support the metal plate.

[0097] FIG. 4 is a perspective view and a vertical sectional view of a state in which a bus bar connecting two battery modules is arranged to pass through a partition wall.

[0098] 4, a partition wall 330 for preventing fire is formed between two battery modules 301, and a through hole 302 is formed in the partition wall so that the bus bar 200 passes through the through hole 302. The bus bar 200 is disposed through the through hole 302 to electrically connect the two battery modules 301.

[0099] If the second insulating member of the busbar 200 contains expandable flame-retardant silicone, when a fire breaks out and the temperature of the busbar increases, the second insulating member can expand to block the through hole 302, thereby preventing flames and sparks from spreading to adjacent battery modules.

[0100] Alternatively, the position and size of the partition wall can be set so as to guide the direction of spread of flames and sparks generated in the battery module.

[0101] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a battery pack in which a plurality of battery modules are accommodated in a battery pack housing 310 that is partitioned by partitions.

[0102] 5, a battery pack 300 is configured such that a plurality of battery modules 301 are electrically connected via a bus bar 200 according to the present invention. Although a battery pack including nine battery modules is shown in FIG. 5, this is merely an example for the purpose of explanation, and the arrangement and number of the battery modules constituting the battery pack, and the coupling position and shape of the bus bar used to connect the battery modules are not limited thereto.

[0103] In the battery pack 300 according to the present invention, the plurality of battery modules are accommodated in a battery pack housing 310, a lattice-shaped partition is provided inside the battery pack housing 310, one battery module is located in one lattice space, and the bus bar is arranged across an upper surface 311 of the partition 330 to electrically connect the plurality of battery modules.

[0104] The lattice-shaped partition wall can function as a flame prevention wall, so that even if a fire breaks out in one battery module, the flame or sparks can be prevented from spreading to adjacent battery modules.

[0105] In addition, when the bus bar is arranged to cross upper surface 311 of partition 330, upper surface 311 of partition 330 forms a battery pack, and even if a component made of an electrically conductive metal material comes into contact with the bus bar, when a fire breaks out inside the battery module, the first insulating member and the second insulating member prevent the metal plate from being exposed to the outside, so that an insulating state can be maintained between the bus bar and the component made of the electrically conductive metal material.

[0106] In this way, in the present invention, in the event of a fire, the first and second insulating members provided on the metal plate are not lost and remain on the outer surface of the metal plate, so that the metal plate is not exposed to the outside, and therefore, the insulation state can be maintained even if the bus bar is in contact with the adjacent metal parts.

[0107] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various applications and modifications within the scope of the present invention will be possible based on the above content. [Explanation of symbols]

[0108] 110, 210 Metal plate 120 Electrical Tape 130 Silicone tube 200 Busbar 220 First insulating member 221 Chemical Bonds 230 Second insulating member 240 Electrical Connection 241 Aperture 300 Battery Pack 301 Battery Module 302 Through hole 310 Battery pack housing 311 Top of bulkhead 320 Battery Pack Housing 330 Bulkhead

Claims

1. A metal plate; A plurality of insulating members provided on an outer surface of the metal plate; Including, At least some of the insulating members form a chemical bond with the metal plate.

2. The plurality of insulating members include a first insulating member provided on the metal plate, and a second insulating member provided to surround an outer surface of the first insulating member, The busbar of claim 1 , wherein the first insulating member is inorganic.

3. The busbar of claim 2 , wherein the inorganic material is an inorganic metal oxide.

4. The inorganic metal oxide is aluminum oxide (Al ２ O ３ ), aluminum nitride (AlN), zirconium oxide (ZrO ２ ), titanium dioxide (TiO ２ ), calcium carbonate (CaCO ３ ), silicon dioxide (SiO ２ ), zinc oxide (ZnO), and cerium oxide (CeO ２ The bus bar according to claim 3, wherein the metal oxide is one or more selected from the group consisting of:

5. The bus bar of claim 2 , wherein the first insulating member is configured in the form of a nano-inorganic oxide dispersion.

6. The busbar of claim 2 , wherein the second insulating member ceramizes at high temperatures.

7. The bus bar according to claim 6 , wherein the second insulating member is at least one selected from the group consisting of boron-based, phosphorus-based, and silicon-based flame retardant coating agents.

8. 3. The busbar of claim 2, wherein the second insulating member includes one or more components selected from the group consisting of magnesium hydroxide (MDH), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), and aluminum trihydrate (ATH).

9. 3. The busbar of claim 2, wherein the second insulating member comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of fire-resistant silicone, fire-resistant plastic, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, polyphthalamide, polyamide, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyetherimide, acrylic fiber, and polybenzimidazole.

10. The busbar of claim 1 , wherein the metal plate is constructed from an electrically conductive material including copper, aluminum, nickel, gold, silver, or a combination thereof.

11. 2. The bus bar of claim 1, wherein the insulating members are formed in any one of the following forms: an adhesive tape form, a coatable foam form, a form in which a slurry having an insulating material dispersed therein is applied, a heat shrinkable tube is applied, insert molding is applied, or a form in which an upper case and a lower case are coupled to each other with a hinge structure or a fastening structure.

12. A battery pack comprising a plurality of battery modules electrically connected via the bus bar according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The plurality of battery modules are housed in a battery pack housing; A lattice-shaped partition is provided inside the battery pack housing, One battery module is located within one lattice space, The battery pack of claim 12 , wherein the bus bar is disposed across an upper portion of the partition wall to electrically connect the plurality of battery modules.

Images