The transition to e-mobility depends on the safety and reliability of lithium-ion batteries, the core technology powering today’s electric vehicles (EVs).
To ensure performance and prevent safety risks, battery cells must be perfectly sealed to avoid electrolyte leakage. Even small leaks can cause electrolyte loss, performance degradation, or the release of flammable and toxic substances when exposed to humidity.
The Marposs Leak B-Tracer addresses this challenge by providing leak detection for sealed lithium-ion battery cells using a patented electrolyte tracing method.
Unlike helium-based testing, which can only be performed before electrolyte filling and sealing, the Leak B-Tracer enables leak testing at the final stage of assembly. This is immediately after electrolyte filling and sealing, after formation, after degassing and final sealing, and even at end-of-line testing.
Testing capabilities
During operation, cells are placed in a vacuum chamber. If a housing leak is present, partial vaporization of the electrolyte solvent occurs, releasing vapors into the chamber. A quadrupole mass spectrometer then traces and quantifies these vapors, providing precise leak detection. The process is applicable to any electrolyte chemistry and can be retooled for prismatic, cylindrical, button, or pouch cells.
The Leak B-Tracer is a semi-automatic system designed for prototype and pilot lines, off-line testing, SPC analysis, and re-checks of scrap batches from mass production. By enabling 100% testing of battery cells across multiple production stages, the system ensures electrolyte integrity and prevents contamination from gross leaks.
Benefits for EV battery manufacturing
- Supports any cell type through quick retooling of the vacuum chamber
- Applicable at multiple points in the production process, not only pre-sealing
- Works with a wide variety of electrolytes via AMU scanning
- Provides fast cycle times suited to production requirements
- Detects gross leaks early, preventing contamination and downstream failures
Integrated measurement
The Leak B-Tracer incorporates the Marposs DV system, consisting of a quadrupole mass spectrometer connected to the Marposs Merlin Plus platform and SOLT software. This configuration manages measurement cycles and provides local storage of test data, including results (pass/reject), test pressure, leak values, and reject thresholds.
By combining electrolyte tracing expertise with automation capability, Marposs offers a solution that can be integrated into EV battery cell production lines while meeting stringent cycle time and quality requirements.
Filed Under: Batteries, Technology News, Test And Measurement