CREDIT: BASF
BASF will present its range of electromobility technologies at The Battery Show Europe 2025 from June 3 to 5 in Stuttgart, Germany. The event for the battery and electric vehicle (EV) sectors will gather industry professionals to discuss advancements and applications. At booth 10-E110, BASF will feature product innovations designed to enhance the performance of various electrified powertrain concepts as well as Catena-X based solutions to support sustainable automotive mobility. Beyond that, experts from BASF will share their expertise by contributing presentations.
BASF battery materials and recycling solutions
Chemistry is making a major contribution to the electrified vehicle market. Batteries are the heart of electric vehicles, significantly influencing their real driving range, charging time, and life span. Tailor-made cathode active materials (CAM) by BASF play a key role in providing high performance on efficiency, reliability, costs, durability, and the size of the battery. BASF supplies the world’s largest cell manufacturers and leading OEM platforms with high-performance CAM solutions tailored to their needs, including key technologies such as NCA (nickel-cobalt-aluminum-oxide), NCM (nickel-cobalt-manganese-oxide), and LCO (lithium-cobalt-oxide). In addition, BASF’s portfolio includes battery recycling solutions as well as precursors and base metals sourcing and management.
BASF offerings cover all steps along the battery recycling value chain, from collecting end-of-life batteries and production scrap, discharging and dismantling, as well as black mass production and refining - leveraging a strong and reliable partner network in addition to BASF’s own black mass production facility in Schwarzheide, Germany.
Products for high voltage connectors
BASF offers an extensive range of engineering plastics for the e-mobility market with its Ultramid DC grades (Durable Color), including flame-retardant options. High technical demands necessitate innovative solutions based on PA6, PA66, and PPA. For the already established Ultradur (PBT) products, color stability is predominantly ensured, particularly for the orange (RAL 2003) used in the industry. Additionally, the solutions have been specifically optimized for laser marking, providing high contrast values and enhancing options for marking and customizing high voltage connectors.
Ultramid Expand in use for cylindrical cell holders
The foamed polyamide in cylindrical cell holders provides a simple one-step process, making it easy and cost-effective to manufacture. Ultramid Expand offers high stiffness and strength along with excellent resistance to high temperatures.
By utilizing these advanced thermoplastics, manufacturers can significantly reduce the weight of battery packs, enhancing their energy density and overall performance.
Flame retardant engineering plastics for electrical safety components
BASF’s flame retardant engineering plastics product portfolio is designed specifically for applications such as plugs, busbars, battery disconnect units, and battery management systems. These thermoplastics feature exceptional mechanical properties, ensuring durability and reliability in demanding environments. The flame retardant materials offer excellent thermal and electrical insulation, as well as outstanding dimensional stability. This combination of features makes them ideal for providing fixed mounting brackets for electrical compartment components, enhancing safety and performance in various applications.
Polyurethane adhesive solutions for next-generation batteries
BASF offers its adhesive solutions tailored for next-generation batteries, featuring the innovative Debonding on Demand concept. This solution facilitates the repair, reuse, and recycling of batteries, promoting sustainability within the industry.
Additionally, BASF will showcase an array of advanced polyurethane (PU) applications, including the latest battery adhesives, fire protective coatings, and battery potting systems. These products are specifically designed to enhance the performance and safety of EV battery packs.
Long-lasting protection, performance with the right surface treatment and coatings
For optimal protection and enhanced performance across a wide range of platform designs and battery systems, BASF offers a range of coating solutions. These solutions span from pretreatment to e-coat (CathoGuard) and include dielectric coatings. The eco-friendly Oxsilan thin film technology is delivered through the Surface Treatment global business unit of BASF’s Coatings division, operating under the Chemetall brand. This technology applies a uniform and protective layer on metal surfaces, enhancing durability, corrosion resistance, and adhesion properties.
Additionally, Chemetall is developing non-chrome surface treatment solutions for copper foil. These sustainable processes contribute to improving the adhesion of the battery active material to the electrode, as well as protecting the foil against oxidation during transport and storage. BASF Coatings has also recently started an R&D project to support battery production in Europe and to simplify and enhance the sustainability of recycling processes. The objective is to create an innovative binder for the cathode coating of lithium-ion batteries as an alternative to PFAS-containing materials.
Smoother processing with the right additives
High-performance processing additives empower battery cell manufacturers to overcome challenges in all aspects of battery cell manufacturing, such as conductive and cathode slurry preparation and improvement of ceramic coatings for insulation as separator foils. They allow improved performance and enable enhanced runability on the coating lines.
Overcoming the limits of lithium-ion batteries
Despite improvements over recent years, lithium-ion batteries still offer room for technical improvement, particularly in terms of charge capacity. Licity binders have been designed to overcome the current limits of the technology. The waterborne binders possess high colloidal stability, making them highly compatible with cobinders like CMC. In addition, they exhibit exceptional processability and superior coating behavior, as well as excellent mechanics and electrochemical performance.
Novel cathode binder for solid-state batteries (SSB)
The solid-state battery (SSB) is an advanced technology for electromobility with an expected breakthrough within the next decade. However, it requires powerful partners to elevate its performance and efficiency. Using OPPANO as a cathode binder significantly reduces the risk of electrochemical disturbances. Its chemical inertness ensures it does not react with the electrolyte or other battery components. This prevents the formation of unwanted by-products or harmful reactions that could affect performance. Additionally, high-molecular-weight OPPANOL exhibits superior elasticity and elongation. It can effectively accommodate mechanical expansion and contraction during battery operation, thereby reducing the risk of physical damage or premature failure.
Digital product passport ecosystem
BASF will also unveil Path.Era, a scalable ecosystem for digital battery passports, based on Catena-X. Co-founded by BASF alongside leading industry partners, Path.Era is built to enable full traceability and circularity across the battery value chain and is now available on Cofinity-X. The Path.Era battery passport addresses key challenges in managing battery data across the value chain. It simplifies onboarding for supply chain partners, ensures secure and standardized data exchange, and reduces manual processes while meeting legal requirements.
Presentations
At the event’s conference, BASF’s experts will contribute two presentations:
- "Unlocking Battery Transparency – a Practical Case Study on the Path.Era Battery Passport" – Uwe Wolf, managing director & CBO, Data Space Solutions GmbH
- "Debonding on Demand: Adhesive Solutions Paving the Way for Next-Generation Batteries" – Dr. Anna Cristadoro, principal scientist, BASF