Experimental investigation on mitigation of thermal runaway propagation of lithium-ion battery module with flame retardant phase change materials

In the application of lithium-ion battery (LIB) modules, the pivotal factor in ensuring battery safety performance lies in enhancing thermal management effectiveness and adeptly curbing the thermal runaway propagation (TRP). This paper synthesizes the innovative type of high thermal conductivity composite phase change material (CPCM) and flame retardant phase change material (RPCM) with the inclusion of intumescent flame retardant (IFR). The structural and thermal attributes of these phase change materials (PCMs) are meticulously examined. The findings reveal that the RPCM, fortified with 10% SiC and 10% IFR, attains a peak thermal conductivity of 4.022 W/(m·K) and latent heat of 112.9 J/g. Diverse PCMs are then employed to scrutinize the thermal management of single cell and the mitigation of TRP in battery modules. The outcomes of charging and discharging cycles demonstrate that PCM cooling effectively curbs maximum temperature elevation. The most efficient PCMs reduce the maximum temperature by around 7.8 ℃ and 7.4 ℃. The impact of RPCMs and aerogel on curtailing TRP unveils that their amalgamation notably diminishes the risk of TRP and prolongs the propagation time. This research contributes a novel approach by exploring advanced PCMs potential to tackle heat dissipation optimization and TRP suppression for LIB modules simultaneously, and these findings proffer valuable information into enhancing battery operational safety.