Celgard Receives $2.3M Development Contract from USABC for Li-ion Separator Technology

3 December 2008

Celgard, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Polypore International, Inc., has received a $2.3 million contract from the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) to develop separator technology for lithium-ion batteries for hybrid-electric (HEV) and plug-in hybrid-electric (PHEV) vehicles.

The 18-month cost-share contract involves demonstrating performance characteristics of high-temperature melt integrity (HTMI) lithium-ion battery separators, focusing on abuse tolerances, production process definition and scale-up parameters. A standard definition and protocol for measuring HTMI will also be developed as a part of this contract.

Creating standardized tests for measuring HTMI will enable automakers to use common specifications when evaluating and sourcing lithium batteries. The tests will also provide benchmarks for battery performance and technological improvements.

This contract is the third in a series of research engagements for Celgard since 2002 from USABC, a division of the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR), the umbrella organization for collaborative research among Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation.

Celgard is a global leader in the development and production of specialty microporous membranes, including separators used in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for personal electronic devices such as notebook computers, mobile telephones, digital cameras, and other high performance applications such as power tools, hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs), Electric Vehicles (EVs), and fuel cells.

In September, Celgard opened a 112,000-square-foot, $18 million expansion of production and warehouse facilities adjacent to its headquarters in North Carolina. The Charlotte expansion followed a $25 million acquisition of Yurie-Wide Corporation in South Korea in May, and continuing investment in a slitting operation in Shanghai, China.

The company supplies lithium-ion battery makers throughout the world from facilities in Charlotte and China, with production expected to begin in South Korea in the near future. Celgard has the lithium-ion battery separator industry’s broadest product portfolio including dry-process tri-layer (PP/PE/PP) and polypropylene (PP) monolayer lithium-ion battery separators, and polyethylene (PE) separators from its acquisition of Yurie-Wide.