A wire frame of a thermal adhesive dispensing unit, showing the problems related to settling of filler materials in large volumes
As electric vehicles (EVs) become more prominent, quality control problems become more apparent. One critical aspect of EV production is ensuring good thermal management of the battery to prevent thermal runaway. The use of thermally conductive adhesives is necessary to transfer heat away from the sensitive areas.
While thermal adhesives have been commonly used on a small scale, in electronics like phones, their problems are amplified when dispensed at the high volumes that EVs require. The two component, or 2k adhesives, used contain thermally conductive nanoparticles. For optimal heat transfer, these particles must be well distributed across the entire battery, and well dispersed to reduce agglomeration, causing uneven properties. Since these 2k adhesives are dispensed from large drums, problems arise with sedimentation. As the product sits dormant, the particles can agglomerate and begin to sink to the bottom, making the dispensed adhesive ineffective for heat transfer.
An example of thermal mapping being used to indicate uneven filler distribution. The difference in measured thermal conductivity is indicative varying filler concentration.
C-Therm’s Modified Transient Plane Source (MTPS) sensor can be applied for the in-line monitoring of filler distribution in dispensing adhesives. Using thermal conductivity and effusivity data, the MTPS can be applied as a real-time process monitoring solution, able to detect filler settling, air bubbles, and uneven distribution with thermal mapping. To learn more about how the MTPS can be used to ensure quality dispensing, register below.
This webinar aired on December 15, 2022 @ 10:00AM GMT-4.
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