Fluorinated Polymer Battery Component Manufacturing Process
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of secondary battery components such as electrodes and separators using vinylidene fluoride (VDF) polymers often relies on toxic and polluting solvents, posing environmental and safety concerns, necessitating the development of alternative solvent-free processes.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a liquid composition of aliphatic ketones or cycloaliphatic esters as solvents, combined with fluorinated polymers derived from vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene, and acrylic monomers, which allows for the production of homogeneous solutions for manufacturing battery components without the need for toxic organic solvents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If toxic organic solvents are used for dissolving VDF copolymers, then manufacturing processability is improved, but environmental safety and toxicological profile deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the solvent system by replacing toxic organic solvents (NMP, DMF, DMSO) with water as the primary solvent. This parameter change enables the use of environmentally benign solvents while maintaining the ability to dissolve and process VDF copolymers through appropriate formulation adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs water, a cheap and readily available solvent, replacing expensive and hazardous organic solvents. Water serves as an effective medium for polymer dissolution and processing, eliminating the need for costly solvent recovery and disposal systems while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If alternative solvents with favourable toxicological profile are used, then environmental safety is improved, but manufacturing efficiency and processing capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary solvent that mediates between environmental safety requirements and manufacturing efficiency needs. Water serves as a safe solvent medium while enabling effective polymer dissolution, coating formation, and processing through optimized formulation and process parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts physical and chemical parameters including solvent composition, polymer concentration, temperature, and processing conditions to optimize manufacturing efficiency when using water-based systems. These parameter changes ensure that environmental safety improvements do not compromise productivity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If water-based solvents are used instead of organic solvents, then cost and safety concerns are reduced, but polymer solubility and solution homogeneity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops composite water-based solvent systems that combine water with other compatible solvents or additives to achieve effective polymer dissolution. This composite approach maintains solution homogeneity and polymer solubility while utilizing water as the primary environmentally friendly solvent medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies solution parameters including temperature, pH, ionic strength, and polymer concentration to enhance polymer solubility and solution homogeneity in water-based systems. These parameter adjustments ensure that cost and safety benefits are achieved without compromising material stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables the production of battery components with improved safety and environmental sustainability by achieving high solubility and processing efficiency of fluorinated polymers in alternative solvents, reducing the use of hazardous chemicals and associated costs.
Implementation Method 1
preparing a liquid composition comprising: a liquid medium selected from the group consisting of aliphatic ketones, cycloaliphatic ketones, cycloaliphatic esters and mixtures thereof, and at least one fluorinated polymer
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention pertains to a process for manufacturing a component of a secondary battery, said process comprising the following steps: (i) preparing a liquid composition comprising: —a liquid medium selected from the group consisting of aliphatic ketones, cycloaliphatic ketones, cycloaliphatic esters and mixtures thereof, and —at least one fluorinated polymer [polymer (F)] comprising recurring units derived from vinylidene fluoride (VDF), hexafluoropropylene (HFP) and at least one (meth)acrylic monomer (MA) having formula (I), wherein: —R1, R2 and R3, equal to or different from each other, are independently selected from a hydrogen atom and a C1-C3 hydrocarbon group, and —Rx, is a hydrogen atom or a C1-C5 hydrocarbon moiety comprising at least one functional group selected from a hydroxyl, a carboxyl, an epoxide, an ester and an ether group; and (ii) processing said liquid composition to provide a film.