Arkema/Semcorp tie-up for battery separators

Speciality materials firm Arkema and Semcorp, a Chinese manufacturer of lithium-ion battery separators, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic collaboration aimed at accelerating innovation in battery separator technologies and supporting Semcorp in its international expansion.

As part of this strategic partnership, Arkema will provide solutions and technical support to bolster the deployment of Semcorp’s high-performance separators in key global markets, ranging from Electric Vehicles and Energy Storage Systems to Consumer Electronics.

This collaboration also aims to support joint development initiatives focused on next-generation separators, leveraging both companies’ innovative solutions to enhance performance and safety.

Separators play a critical role in battery systems by preventing short circuits between the anode and cathode while facilitating ionic transport. Their design and material properties directly improve battery safety, efficiency, thermal stability, and lifespan.

Arkema adds it is a long-standing supplier of high-performance products to the battery industry. Its portfolio for separators, including Kynar PVDF and Incellion acrylic-based solutions, is designed to meet the growing demand for durable lithium-ion batteries, essential to the transition toward electric mobility and renewable energy storage.

Semcorp, headquartered in China and serving major battery manufacturers worldwide, aims to benefit from this collaboration by advancing the development of separators.