This patent-pending leak test process is based on vaporizing and extracting volatile organic compounds from the cells should there be a leak, and then tracing and quantifying their presence in the vacuum chamber.
The present generation of Li-ion batteries includes electrolytes that can contain flammable elements, which could generate toxic compounds or compromise the correct functioning of the cells if exposed to ambient humidity. Perfect sealing of the cells guarantees that moisture cannot enter and that electrolytes cannot leak out of the battery cells. The Leak B-Tracer, which can be easily retooled to fit a variety of batteries, can provide 100% testing of the battery cells during different stages of the production process: immediately after electrolyte filling and sealing, after formation, or after degassing and subsequent final sealing, up to the end-of-line testing.
During operation, the cells are placed in the vacuum chamber during the test. In the presence of a housing leak, partial vaporization of the electrolyte solvent occurs, and it exits from the cell towards the vacuum chamber. The test principle is based on the possibility of measuring the extent of the leak by tracing these electrolyte vapors with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Moreover, by using the AMU (Atomic Mass Unit) scanning procedure, this system can easily identify the correct AMU value, without knowing the recipe of the solvent.
Benefits of these testing systems include:
• Suited for any type of cell (button, cylindrical, prismatic or pouch), through an easy retooling system of the vacuum chamber
• Applicable to any stage of the process, including after electrolyte filling and sealing,
• Appropriate for different types of electrolytes
• Fast cycle time
• Gross leak test ability prevents contamination
The Leak B-Tracer is equipped with Marposs’ ”Fast Response System” solution, which consists of a mass spectrometer connected to an industrial Marposs Merlin Plus and Marposs “SOLT” software for the management of the measure cycles and for the local storage of the test data.
The IPC can also be used for local data storage and statistics. For each part tested, the following data can be stored on the local storage of the IPC:
• Test date and time
• Result (good or reject)
• Actual test pressure value
• Leak value
• Test parameters (test pressure and reject limit)
For more information on Marposs’ Leak B-Tracer Automatic Leak Testing System for Sealed Batteries, visit Leak testing for Electrolyte Tracing - Leak B-TRACER - products | Marposs or contact Marposs Corp. at (248) 370-0404 or marposs@us.marposs.com |
