Langsheng: Innovation in Electric Vehicles and Batteries

Langsheng, a chemical company, will have its own booth at the Battery Show in Stuttgart for the first time. The event is considered to be the most advanced battery and hybrid vehicle technology exhibition in Europe. Emphasis is placed on the raw materials and compounds used in the production of lithium batteries and electric power assembly components. "Longsheng offers a lot of products and materials throughout the battery value chain," explains Dr. Wolfgang Ebenbeck, an expert on electric vehicles and batteries at Longsheng. "Our product portfolio includes raw materials for the synthesis of lithium chemicals, Flame Retardants and products for the extraction of high-purity nickel and cobalt compounds for cathode materials, and high-tech polyamides and polyesters for batteries and electrical power assembly components. In a promotional film on the exhibition stand, Langsheng showed the potential applications of its materials in advanced lithium batteries, as well as some of the applications involved in the company's raw materials.

Electric vehicles are promoting the development of lithium batteries

Lithium batteries play a key role in advanced technology solutions in electric vehicles, energy storage and consumer electronics. In particular, the trend of electric vehicles is driving investment in large-scale battery production. In Europe alone, it is planned to build a battery factory with an annual capacity of more than 100 gigawatt-hours by 2025. According to P3 Group's forecast at the April 2019 Battery Expert Forum, by 2020, the cost of lithium battery system will be greatly reduced, and battery-driven vehicles will be able to compete with the same vehicles driven by internal combustion engines.

Thermoplastic has great potential in battery application

Langsheng has developed customized polyamide and polybutylene terephthalate under Durethan and Pocain brands for lithium batteries, electric power assembly and charging infrastructure components. "The Battery Show offers us an ideal opportunity to have direct contact with international battery manufacturers and show them the benefits of our thermoplastics, such as cost reduction, functional integration, flame retardancy, heat conduction and lightweight design. Anika van Aaken, an expert in the "Electronic Power Systems Team" of the High Performance Materials Division, explained: "As we have been doing business with the E/E and automotive industries for many years, our materials have met the most important global standards in the E/E industry, and most of them have been used in automobiles. We provide support to project partners in the whole development chain of electric plastic parts. Potential applications of Langsheng thermoplastics in batteries include module caps and partitions, high-voltage connectors, shell parts of control units, battery brackets, gaskets, module caps and power lines. An example of innovation in battery materials is Durethan BKV45FN04, a 45% weight glass fiber reinforced material, which is easy to flow. Halogen-free flame retardant polyamide 6 has passed the UL94 flame retardant test of Underwriters Laboratories Inc., which is classified as V-0 (0.4mm) and has resistance to electric trace at high voltage. Because of its stiffness and strength, it is an ideal choice for the production of battery structural components - such as battery frames and end plates, and it is also suitable for high-voltage connectors.

Higher capacity, faster charging, longer charging cycle

Especially in the "heart" battery of lithium battery, Lanxess material directly or indirectly improves the performance of battery. For example, Bayode E B is the precursor of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) produced by carbothermal reduction. The cathode active material is characterized by long service life, and, among other things, it can charge batteries rapidly at high charging current. Using rhenofit CNT-4 can increase the battery capacity and the number of charging cycles. The product involves the dispersion of carbon nanotubes for cathodes and anodes.

Lewatit brand ion exchange resin has a long experience in the extraction and production of battery-grade nickel and cobalt, as well as the purification of high-purity lithium. These three metals are the key components of cathode materials for electric vehicle batteries. Lansheng is one of the leading manufacturers of hydrofluoric acid and Phosphorus Trichloride, which are two key materials of lithium hexafluorophosphate (Lipf6) and Standard conductive salts used in lithium battery electrolytes. A dramatic increase in the production capacity of lithium batteries in Europe will also trigger demand for such electrolyte components. We can use these two key materials to ensure the supply of Lipf6 and electrolyte production in Europe, "Ebenbeck said.

Extraction of lithium for batteries

Langsheng also believes that it is in a favorable position in the growth of global lithium demand for battery chemicals. Langsheng plans to work with Canadian Standard Lithium Company to commercially extract lithium from brine produced by El Dorado Lanxess, Arkansas, to produce bromine products. Standard lithium provides an innovative process for extracting high purity lithium directly from brine. The technical and economic feasibility of the project is currently under review.