Arkema focus on battery technology where “anything is possible”

Arkema, which has been a leading global provider of inside-the-cell materials for the electric vehicle (EV) and electric storage system (ESS) battery market since the mid-1990s, sees battery manufacturing as a strategic growth market in line with its sustainability and decarbonization goals.

At the Battery Show Europe 2024, Arkema showcased an expanded line of new materials for both inside and structural system components, as well as strategic mergers and acquisitions and partnerships in every geography.

This includes a major initiative as a key development and supply partner of ProLogium, a Taiwanese technology leader in advanced batteries, ahead of the launch of its gigafactory in France.

Arkema products include PVDF, PA11, PEKK, PI, Acrylics and UV/EB materials, Adhesives materials

Automotive Industries (AI) asked Woldemar d’Ambrières, Global Market Manager Batteries, at Arkema, about sustainability and decarbonisation in battery industry.

d’Ambrières: Arkema develops high performance materials that enable development of EV and ESS. We contribute to the electrification of the mobility sector by doing what we are doing.

We are also focusing on some specific challenges related to sustainability and decarbonization of battery manufacturing.

For instance, we are working on the recyclability of the cell.

We have projects to develop bonding/debonding technology which ensures that all the products used in the battery are recyclable.

And we have some products that are 100% bio based, which are out of castor oil for specific applications.

AI: What solutions for EV and ESS battery systems did you showcase at the Battery Show Europe 2024?

d’Ambrières: We displayed solutions for inside the cell, because that is where the chemistry happens.

We are not really looking at volume markets or volume applications, but at some specific technological challenges.

There is a wide range, which includes cathode and anode binders, and electrolyte solutions that can solve fast charging challenges.

We have ionic liquids, which can solve some security issues regarding flammability.

And we also have outside solutions. There are adhesives for the pack and assembly, specialty coatings, and materials for cooling applications.

AI: Is your range supported by global manufacturing and supply capabilities?

d’Ambrières: Yes, Arkema is a global company, okay.

Around one third of our manufacturing capacity is in North America, another third in Europe and one third in Asia.

Our strategy is to be able to supply from the region to the region.

We also have R&D capabilities as well in all three regions.

AI: Is your R&D working on advancing material solutions for emerging technologies such as high silicone lithium-ion, sodium-ion, semisolid, and all-solid-state batteries?

d’Ambrières: Yes, we have a specific acryclic binder which works in high silicon environment at the anode.

For sodium-ion, we are developing some interesting solutions, and have taken a stake in a start-up called Tiamat.

Spun out from the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) in 2017, Tiamat has been designing, developing, industrializing and marketing sodium-ion batteries, a new lithium-free technology which enables battery suppliers to avoid the constraints associated with the supply of this metal.

We are also working on specific binders for the solid-state batteries.

AI: What new dry battery technologies are you working on?

d’Ambrières: This a hot topic in the market at present.

The dry battery process is very interesting because it helps to save energy, so it is more environmentally friendly by reducing the carbon footprint of the factory as you do not need a dryer.

We already have solutions for binders for the cathode and for the anode.

AI: Do the companies see continued growth in the battery market?

d’Ambrières: Yes, absolutely.

As a specialty material company, Arkema is focusing on markets that have an impact on sustainability and where we have potential differentiation, where some specific technologies and solutions are needed.

Battery manufacturing meets these criteria.

To give you just a few a few figures:

We see the potential for double digit growth year-on-year. We are targeting more than 20% annual growth in this business.

Even though there has been a bit of a temporary slowdown in Europe and the United States, Asia is still growing very fast.

Our long-term forecast remains the same, so it is really a growing market.

Our target is, is to reach US$1 billion turnover in the battery business by 2030.

While it is not the majority of our business, it is an important development for us.

AI: What efforts do you make to strengthens your position as partner of choice for co-developing safer, more efficient and more sustainable batteries of the future?

d’Ambrières: If we take a step back, Arkema has been supplying the lithium-ion battery very clients for decades, starting in the ‘90s with consumer electronics.

So, for the past 20 years we have been helping clients to reach their technology goals by partnering with them on scaling manufacturing and technological development for the next generation. And we continue to do that.

We take a stake in companies or partner with them where their technologies can complement ours to accelerate the development of more efficient, safe and affordable batteries.

AI: What do you expect from your initiative with ProLogium ahead of the launch of the gigafactory in France?

d’Ambrières: ProLogium is an historic partner, because we have worked with them in Taiwan for a long time.

They know our products, which they have been testing and using for a long time.

So, it made a lot of sense for them to invest in quite heavily in France for the factory, as well to establish an advanced R&D laboratory adjacent to Arkema’s flagship Battery Center of Excellence.

Their next step will consist in building a gigafactory in Dunkirk, which will be capable of supplying over 500,000 cars per year.

The collaboration will focus first on Kynar^® PVDF grades and advanced high-performance materials tailored for ProLogium’s next-generation Lithium Ceramic Batteries, and includes plans to leverage Arkema’s extensive suite of inside-the-cell technologies.

AI: What’s next for Arkema?

d’Ambrières: The battery segment is very strategic for us.

We are widening our portfolio, and are continuously working with clients to try to understand their needs and to find the best solutions or the new technology and the next generations of batteries.

So, we will keep on developing new products and making strategic acquisitions.

In this space, anything is possible.

Woldemar d’Ambrières, Global Market Manager, Batteries, at Arkema 

Woldemar d’Ambrières joined the Arkema Battery team in March 2024 as the Global Market Manager, Batteries.

He joins Arkema from Veolia Korea in Seoul, where he most recently led that company’s plastic and organic recycling initiatives.

His primary responsibility is to help define and market Arkema’s entire portfolio of solutions for EV and ESS batteries, both inside and outside the cell.

Find out more on the Arkema website by clicking here.