Modelling of the Calendering Process of NMC-622 Cathodes in Battery Production Analyzing Machine/Material-Process-Structure Correlations

The shift in the transport sector from internal combustion engines to battery-powered electric vehicles and the continued demand for portable applications increases the need for batteries in the coming years. To optimize battery technologies, it is essential to fully understand the production process and the associated parameters as well as their influence on the chemical processes within the cell. At the Institute for Machine Tools and Industrial Management (iwb), extensive knowledge of the calendering process is gathered including the investigation of the displacement behavior for both the calender rolls and the bearing, as well as the adhesion strength. The process parameters such as roll temperature and velocity, structure parameters (e. g., coating thickness, adhesion strength), and machine behavior parameters (displacement and bending line) are investigated using three calender models. The achieved porosities are verified via porosity consistency measurements. Based on the collected data, qualitative machine/material-process-structure models are built up. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy support the relations made. In addition, a connection between vertical displacement and line load is established.