The Enhanced Performance of Phase‐Change Materials via 3D Printing with Prickly Aluminum Honeycomb for Thermal Management of Ternary Lithium Batteries
Ming Cao, Juhua Huang, Ziqiang Liu
Abstract
This study introduces a new type of lightweight, shape‐stable composite phase‐change material (CPCM) to improve the thermal management of ternary lithium batteries. Paraffin wax (PW) was used as a phase‐change material, expanded graphite (EG) and high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) were used as support materials, carbon fiber (CF) was used as a heat‐conductive additive, and a 3D printed aluminum honeycomb with a prickly structure (3D Al‐Hc) was added to enhance the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of the CPCM. The properties of the CPCM were analyzed based on its microstructure, thermal properties, and stress‐strain response. The CPCM was applied to a battery cooling module to determine the temperature response of a battery. The results showed that when the CF mass fraction was 4.5 wt%, the degree of supercooling in the PW/EG/CF/HDPE was reduced by 51.5% and 43.3% compared to PW PCM and PW/EG CPCM, respectively. In addition, the thermal conductivity of the PW/EG/CF/HDPE/3D AL‐Hc CPCM (5.723 W/(m·K)) was 1.9 times that of the PW/EG. Due to the presence of the 3D AL‐Hc, the CPCM has a strain of 1.25 mm at a pressure of 100 KPa. In addition, the CPCM has excellent battery thermal management performance. At a 2.5°C discharge rate, the operating temperature of the battery is kept within the safe temperature range of 50°C.