Separator Film Testing for Electric Vehicle Batteries

Tensile testing ensures that separator film can withstand all tensile forces applied during manufacturing and throughout the service life of the battery. There are several standards suitable for tensile testing polymer separators, including ASTM D882 and ISO 527-3. Ensuring proper specimen alignment, insertion, and grip operation are necessary for best repeatability and throughput, as well as to avoid possible damage to a specimen before testing. Instron offers a variety of solutions for tensile testing battery separator films, with both affordable and premium tiers of products designed to provide superior accuracy and throughput for labs requiring them. Testing these materials in accordance to ASTM D882 can be very beneficial for quality control checks as well as during R&D when trying to determine the optimal separator film solution. Additionally, as is the case for many other thin film materials, separator film is anisotropic and so is recommended to be tested in multiple different cutting/testing directions.

Separator film must be strong enough to withstand punctures from dendrites that form with extensive battery use. This is critical for ensuring the safety and longevity of each cell throughout the lifespan of the battery. Ensuring proper specimen tautness and alignment of the upper probe are critical for this application. ASTM F1306 outlines the puncture testing of flexible barrier films to characterize the material response when a 3.2 mm diameter probe is driven into a clamped specimen. EN 14477 is another standard that characterizes the puncture resistance of thin film materials, however, it uses a smaller probe (0.8 mm) compared to ASTM F1306. High-speed puncture resistance testing to ASTM D3763 can be determined by use of Instron's 9450 Series drop tower.

Tight winding creates mechanical loads between the separator film and the electrode coating, and understanding the coefficient of friction can ensure that proper winding processes occur in production. It is common to use ISO 8295 and ASTM D1894-14 as guidance for this testing.

Automation systems from Instron introduce a new level of productivity for battery testing. As battery production volumes continue to increase, throughput and efficiency are critical to keep up with demand. Utilizing an automation system with the recommended equipment for each application can free up operators and maximize throughput, while maintaining optimal results.