To support broader adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), SABIC is launching two new grades of Noryl resin that support demand for lighter, thinner and more crash-resistant battery modules and housings. These new innovative materials – Noryl NHP6011 and NHP6012 resins – address key consumer requirements for EVs: improved safety, range and power. They deliver enhanced robust flame retardancy and impact strength to meet stringent industry-related safety standards, as well as thin-wall molding capability to reduce weight and accommodate more cells, helping to extend vehicle range and boost performance. These novel glass fiber-reinforced Noryl resins feature proprietary polyphenylene ether (PPE)-copolymer technology and are the latest additions to SABIC’s growing NHP family of materials for mobility applications.
“Optimization of batteries is crucial to expanding adoption of electric vehicles and realizing the full sustainability benefits of e-mobility,” said Darpan Parikh, global product management leader, Resins & Compounds, SABIC’s Specialties business. “By helping to enhance EV batteries through better safety, higher energy density and lower weight, our new Noryl resins can also help manufacturers increase the consumer appeal of their vehicles.”
Improved Properties Align with Evolving Battery Trends
Several trends are shaping the future of EV batteries. For example, stricter flame retardance requirements are now in force, driven primarily by concern about the safety of lithium-ion batteries. In Europe and Asia, battery module materials must meet the UL 94 V-0 standard. New Noryl NHP6011 and NHP6012 resins provide best-in-class, non-chlorinated/non-brominated flame retardancy that meets UL 94 V-0 requirements at 1.5 mm. In addition, they supply high stiffness and impact strength for crash protection. The two products differ in their glass fiber loadings to accommodate specific customer requirements for stiffness.
Another key trend in EV battery manufacturing is miniaturization. Battery manufacturers are striving to fit more cells in existing or smaller spaces to increase vehicle power and range. The dimensional stability and good flow properties of the Noryl grades enable thin-wall designs for cell frames, retainers and battery pack top covers. These properties help increase energy density while minimizing weight and space. Furthermore, these materials provide excellent dielectric performance with a comparative tracking index (CTI) of 2 to help avoid electrical shorts among tightly packed cells.
In addition to these outstanding mechanical properties, the new Noryl NHP6011 and NHP6012 resins provide excellent resistance to acid vs. polycarbonate (PC), better resistance to moisture compared to polyamide, and a low specific gravity.
“SABIC continues to advance the performance properties of our Noryl materials for e-mobility to keep pace with rapidly changing industry requirements, such as more robust flame retardancy,” said Luc Govaerts, director, Formulation & Application Development, SABIC’s Specialties Business. “By developing these unique and proprietary high-performance PPE copolymer technologies, we are able to expand our formulation design space. This is key for us to offer customers new choices for the next generation of battery designs and enable them to meet stringent requirements.”
