Arkema Improves Electric Vehicle Battery Safety with Foranext GTB Range

Arkema intends to launch the first Foranext Gaseous Thermal Barrier (GTB) series to improve the safety of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. This new GTB material is designed to prevent the spread of battery thermal runaway in the event of a battery fire.

The industry has recognized the need for manufacturers to continue developing solutions such as immersion coolants to safely reduce charging times for EV batteries. Immersion cooling technology shortens charging times and creates an electrical insulation layer that prevents arcing and vibration damping. Fire remains a major risk with these fluids and systems.

Foranext GTB is a game-changing material that can be added to immersed coolant technology to combat the spread of thermal runaway. When the battery reaches unusually high temperatures, GTB is activated and forms a gas barrier around the battery, isolating it from the rest of the battery. The gas generated during thermal runaway can ignite outside the vehicle, but the presence of GTB in the exhaust gas will reduce the probability of ignition.

Arkema is the first company to propose replacing solid thermal barriers with gases, combining the excellent heat dissipation properties of immersion cooling with the superior thermal insulation properties provided by Foranext GTB for superior results.