Using Thermoplastic Elastomer for Wettability Improvement of HDPE-Based Separator of Lithium-Ion Battery

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) as a commercial polyolefin has relatively high heat-shrinkability while possessing less wettability, which limits its performance as a Lithium-ion battery (LIB) separator. In this work, the loading content of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and the manufacturing method on the HDPE wettability were investigated. The separator samples were examined from the electrolyte (۱.۰ molar lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF۶) added to a ۱:۱ mixture of ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC)) absorption and the surface wettability aspects after the extraction of TPE grade vistamaxx ۶۱۰۲ from the compound to create porosity in the sample. The resultant data showed that the separator wettability was enhanced by ~۳۴% by increasing the TPE content. Moreover, the TPE component led to an enhancement in the surface wettability by ۹%. The obtained data illustrated that the HDPE separators made of ۴۰ wt.% TPE and is the best candidate for LIBs