Two BASF units are about to go into production!

Basf has announced that it will invest in the production of waterborne negative adhesives to support the lithium-ion battery industry by transforming two existing dispersion plants in Jiangsu and Guangdong provinces of China. In addition to the existing portfolio, the two units will produce two innovative categories of negative adhesive products: Licity® and BasonalPower® based on modified styrene-butadiene copolymer emulsion (SBR). Production is expected to begin in mid-2023.

Basf invests in negative adhesives

The investment in Licity® and BasonalPower®, high-performance negative electrode adhesives, complements the existing portfolio. The move can support BASF's customers' rapid development in energy storage, electric vehicles and other areas, said Fu Anzhi, senior vice president of BASF's Asia Pacific dispersion. It further strengthens BASF's position as one of the most reliable suppliers of cell materials in the Asia-Pacific region.

Basf's adhesives are designed to overcome the application limitations of lithium-ion batteries, such as performance at low temperatures. They are water-based adhesives with high colloidal stability and good compatibility with auxiliary adhesives such as carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Basf's adhesives are characterized by excellent processability and excellent coating performance. In addition, they have excellent mechanical and electrochemical properties.

Lithium key material SBR

Although the negative electrode binder of ion battery is relatively small in the battery material, it has an important impact on the performance and stability of the battery. SBR is used in 98% of the negative electrode binder of lithium battery. SBR binder solid content is generally 49%-51%, highly soluble in water and polar solvents, with high bond strength, good mechanical stability and operability. The amount of negative binder usually accounts for 1.5% of the negative electrode material.

Generally, the negative graphite cathode uses SBR and CMC synergistically as a binder, CMC is called a thickening agent, SBR is called a binder, and the two play a complementary role. SBR has strong adhesion, but it can not be stirring for a long time. CMC plays a good role in the dispersion of negative graphite. In the homogenization process, CMC and SBR mixing in a reasonable proportion can make up for each other's defects.

Industry development status and trends

The water-based adhesive used in the negative electrode material of lithium battery belongs to the emerging subdivision field of domestic adhesives with rapid development. At present, the high-end lithium battery water-based adhesive market has formed a highly concentrated situation, which is almost monopolized by Japanese companies such as ZEON and JSR.

The fundamental reason for the formation of the gap between domestic waterborne adhesive and Japanese enterprises is that domestic adhesive enterprises started late, the basic research and development strength is weak, and the supporting raw materials and equipment need to be improved. The above Japanese enterprises mainly focus on research and development and production capacity in Japan, while in China they mainly focus on market sales, with high product prices and limited supply to a certain extent.

With the large-scale production of lithium battery in our country, as one of the important auxiliary materials, lithium battery water-based adhesive will begin to gradually localize, which will make domestic enterprises have the natural advantages of meeting the customized needs of downstream battery enterprises. Domestic enterprises mainly include Huitian New Materials, Sichuan Yindile Material Technology Group Co., LTD., and Shenzhen Yixin Materials Co., LTD., which are mainly engaged in the research and development and production of potassium battery negative electrode glue. At present, they are introducing into the high-end market, and there is a huge potential space for import substitution

Basf's dispersions business unit operates three production units in China, with dispersions production sites in Jiangsu and Guangdong commencing operations in 2002 and 2012, respectively.

■ BASF Jiangsu base is located in Nanjing and operates nine production units by the end of 2021, mainly producing intermediates, specialty chemicals, dispersants and pigments, and paper chemicals.

■ BASF Guangdong base is located in Huizhou, with an annual capacity of 100,000 tons, for the production of carboxystyrene butadiene latex for the paper industry and acrylic acid dispersant for the coating, construction, printing and packaging and adhesives industries. On March 15, BASF announced plans to build a second production line at its Daya Bay base in Huizhou to expand its polymer dispersion capacity.

■ BASF Shanghai base was established in 1989 and is a joint venture with Shanghai Gaoqiao Petrochemical Company to produce polymer dispersions. The designed capacity is 20,000 tons per year. 2014 changed its name to BASF New Materials Co., LTD. In 2021, the company changed its business scope to produce organic pigments, dyes, textile and leather additives, fire-resistant hydraulic additives, acrylic dispersions and acrylic copolymers, metal complex dyes, resin products, engineering plastics, etc.