Samsung SDI is upgrading the way it is manufacturing solid-state batteries at its test production line, TheElec has learned.
The tech giant is adding warm isotactic press (WIP) that uses water and roll pressing processes to their production, sources said.
The pressing in solid-state batteries must done quickly at high pressure and temperature so that core materials are lumped solidly together.
This is because the solid electrolyte must be sunk in deeply with the cathode and anode.
This requires high pressure of over 100MPa, a pressure level felt at 10km underwater. This sort of pressure is felt at the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean.
Samsung SDI is using 400MPa and 600MPa to manufacture its solid-state batteries.
The company dumps the battery cells into a water tank __ this is called WIP.
It takes around 30 minutes to prepare the battery cell so that it is shut out completely from water, a process that takes 15 minutes for conventional batteries.
Samsung SDI is attempting to shorten the time to increase productivity and that is why it is also adding roll pressing.
The company is planning to readjust its test line, called S Line by the company, starting next month.
Once operations at S Line prove that the addition of the new processes is viable, Samsung SDI plans to build another S Line at its plant in Ulsan. The current S Line is located at Suwon.
The company said previously that it plans to start manufacturing solid-state batteries in 2027 __ its upgrade timeline indicates that Samsung SDI is on track to successfully do so.
S Line went into operation in July last year. In December, the company formed a team called All Solid Battery to focus on its solid-state battery project.
