Xaar, the UK-based inkjet printhead technology company, has announced a partnership with the China-based manufacturer Sokan New Materials Group to produce battery coating fluids.
Xaar claims to be the first to develop inkjet printheads specifically for battery coating, which it said will enable the use of advanced fluids that enhance safety, efficiency, and scalability in electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing.
It said that traditional PET film coatings for battery packs, which are increasingly required to perform at higher voltages and tighter thermal constraints, are not able to meet performance requirements. But high-viscosity, inkjet-printed UV coatings are said to address this issue by having superior dielectric strength, durability and consistent layer uniformity.
The company claims that its printheads can jet fluids with up to 1000 centipoise (cP) at ambient temperature, which it said is approximately 100 cP at jetting temperature.
Chris Ellis, sales and marketing director, Xaar, said: “Our partnership with Sokan underscores Xaar’s commitment to driving innovation in the EV sector by tackling key challenges in battery coatings. As more companies look for flexible, scalable alternatives to traditional processes, we look forward to continuing our work with industry leaders like Sokan as inkjet cements its role in the future of battery manufacturing.”
Brian Ling, chairman & CEO, Sokan, said: “After four years of dedicated efforts, we possess deep technical expertise and feel that the market is poised for explosive growth. Xaar’s inkjet technology offers the reliability and performance essential for jetting our high-viscosity battery coating fluids. This partnership enables us to bring a new generation of coatings to market more efficiently than ever.”
Image: Brian Ling, Chairman and CEO of Sokan New Materials Group (left) with Chris Ellis, Group Sales & Marketing Director at Xaar (right). Credit: Xaar
