Thermal Conductivity Testing of Batteries for Effective Thermal Management

Battery performance depends on more than electrochemistry. During charging and discharging, heat must move through the cell and into the surrounding thermal management system. The materials along that path—from layered electrodes and pouch cells to thermal interface materials, potting compounds, and coolants—each present a different testing challenge.

Direction matters, too. Heat may travel through a battery cell differently than it travels across its layers. Testing a material under conditions that do not reflect its use can leave an important gap in a thermal model.

The Trident Thermal Conductivity Instrument offers several methods to address these questions. Modified Transient Plane Source (MTPS) enables rapid, single-sided measurements for screening candidate materials and formulations. Transient Plane Source (TPS) supports bulk testing and specialized measurements of thin or directionally conductive samples, including battery cells. For liquid coolants, Transient Hot Wire (THW) provides another testing option.

In this webinar, we’ll look at how to choose a method based on the battery component, its sample format, and the direction of heat flow that matters. We’ll also discuss the measurement conditions and sample information needed to produce useful data. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for selecting thermal conductivity tests that support battery material development and effective thermal management.