Our Product

Separator

The latest technological solutions used in separators manufactured by SK hi-tech battery materials Poland guarantee high product quality, which translates into significant improvement of battery parameters in which they are used. Separators manufactured in our plant are used mainly in the automotive industry.

Separator

A cell consists of 4 main components

Separator, a key component in Lithium-ion batteries, is a microporous film placed between the anode and cathode to prevent short-circuiting inside a battery during charging and discharging processes. It also provides channels for ions to move between the electrodes, thereby determining the electrochemical performance and safety.

Separator structure

A Li-on separator mainly consist a Base Film that plays a significant role in safety and performance, and a Coating Layer that contains inorganic materials to ensure the thermal stability of separator.

*PP: Polipropylene / *PE: Polyethylene

Separator types

Separators are generally classified into the
Wet process or the Dry process,
depending on the process principles.

Process principle

Thermally induced
phase separation

Wet process
Dry process

Crystal transformation

Main products

Single layer PE film,
Multi layer film (PE/PP)

PP (single layer film),
PE (single layer film),
Double layer film,
Multi layer film

Manufacturing process

Simultaneous biaxial stretching,
Sequential biaxial stretching

Unidirectional stretching

*PP: Polipropylene / *PE: Polyethylene

Technological solutions
for separators' challenges

Challenges
  • Ineffective use of electrode capacity
  • Increased electrolyte resistance
Wettability
  • Demand for large format cells (e.g. EV, power grid applications) Increased
  • Great potential for thermal events in larger batteries
Thermal Shrinkage
  • Demands more active electrode materials as batteries possess higher power and energy densities continue to develop
Thickness
Solutions
  • Hydrophilic Monomer Coating: Improves compatibility
  • Process for PP Membrance: Treating the PP membrane with the corona discharge, and increasing the porosity level of the PP membrane
  • Coating on membrane
  • Surface of membrane modification
  • Ceramic Coating: Provides high temperature performance for the battery separator thorugh the ceramic material
  • Utilize stronger materials for thinner separators such as high crystallinity PP and UHMWPE, containing higher modules and strength values

*PP: Polipropylene / *UHMWPE: Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene

Pros & Cons
of each processing method

Wet processing method
Pros
  • Energy density, capacity and output
  • Produces thin membrane
  • Uniformed pore size and distribution
Cons
  • Costly
This method is used at the SK facility.
VS
Dry processing method
Pros
  • Good conductivity
  • High temp. and oxidation resistance
  • Simple process
Cons
  • Uneven pore size
  • Poor stability

Separator
market trends

Lithium-ion battery separators market size outlook

(Unit: Bil USD)

*Source: <2023> SCM Analysis and market outlook for UB 4 major materials (-2030)

Wet process (62%) vs Dry process (38%)

The dry processing method separators have advantages in terms of manufacturing costs, yet they have limitations when utilized as high-energy density batteries.
Wet-laid separators is expected to stay dominated.

Solutions to improve
thermal stability

Porous layer coating

Aramid coating

Ceramic particle coating

What makes our separators outstanding?

SK hi-tech battery materials Poland is part of one of the largest manufacturers of lithium-ion battery separators in the world – SK ie technology. Our separator, manufactured in a wet process, is characterized by exceptional quality and safety.

World's first Sequential Stretching Technology

Extend the separators freely with uniform quality

Eco-fiendly ENPASS™ Ultrathin Ceramic Coated Separator (CCS)

Ceramic particles coating on the surface of the base film