Organic and Inorganic Hybrid Composite Phase Change Material for Inhibiting the Thermal Runaway of Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

To deal with the flammability of PA (paraffin), this paper proposes a CPCM (composite phase change material) with a high heat-absorbing capacity for mitigating the thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries. Two heating power levels were used to trigger thermal runaway in order to investigate the influence of heating power on thermal runaway characteristics and the mitigation effect of the PCM (phase change material). Thermal runaway processes and temperature changes were recorded. The results showed that heating results in a violent reaction of the battery, generating a high temperature and a bright flame, and the burning of PA increases the duration of a steady flame, indicating an increased threat. SA (sodium acetate trihydrate) effectively inhibited PA combustion, and the combustion time was reduced by 40.5%. PA/SA effectively retarded the rise in temperature of the battery, and the temperature rise rate was reduced by 87.3%. Increased heating power caused faster thermal runaway, and the thermal runaway mitigation effect of the CPCM was dramatically reduced. This study may provide a reference for the safe design and improvement of thermal management systems.