Practical Battery Roll Press: From Lab R&D to Mass Production Selection

1. What is a battery roller press?

The battery roller press is a core equipment in the production and research of lithium batteries. It mainly uses the squeezing effect of one or more pairs of rollers to compress the positive and negative electrode sheets of the battery into the desired thickness. At the same time, it makes the active substances in the sheets more evenly distributed and denser, laying the foundation for the subsequent charging and discharging performance and service life of the battery. It can be classified into laboratory small machines, pilot line semi-automatic machines and production line fully automatic machines according to the usage scenarios, and into cold roller presses and hot roller presses according to the process.

2. The core functions of the battery roller press

(1) Optimize the structure of the electrode sheet: Through precise squeezing, the active substances, conductive agents and binders in the electrode sheet can be fully combined, reducing internal voids and avoiding the occurrence of active substances falling off during use.

(2) Ensure battery performance: The appropriate thickness and density of the electrode sheet can increase the energy density of the battery, make the battery capacity more stable, and reduce internal resistance, reducing heat loss during charging and discharging.

(3) Adapt to production needs: Laboratory models support small batch sample testing, meeting the research needs of new battery materials; production line models can achieve continuous and stable operation, adapting to large-scale mass production and improving production efficiency.

(4) Reduce production losses: Through stable pressing effects, the scrap rate of electrode sheets caused by uneven thickness and edge damage can be reduced, helping enterprises control production costs.

3. Key factors affecting the usage effect of the roller press

(1) Equipment configuration: The material and smoothness of the rollers directly affect the surface quality of the electrode sheet. High-quality bearing steel rollers can avoid electrode sheet scratches; the response speed of the control system is related to the accuracy of thickness control, avoiding pressing deviations.

(2) Process matching: The selection of cold roller press and hot roller press should be in line with the material characteristics. Ordinary materials can use cold roller press, while special materials (such as high-nickel ternary, silicon-carbon negative electrode) need to use hot roller press to achieve the ideal compaction effect.

(3) Operating environment: High temperatures, humidity or dusty environments will affect the stability of equipment operation. Especially in laboratory research, the sealing of equipment in a special gas-protected environment is very important to avoid material oxidation and affect test results.

(5) Operation and Maintenance: Correctly adjusting the gap and pressure between the rolls, regularly cleaning the rolls and replacing the lubricating oil can reduce equipment failures, extend service life, and ensure the pressing accuracy during long-term use.

4、How to select the appropriate battery roll press?

(1) First, clarify the usage scenario: If it is for the research and development of new materials, choose a laboratory small machine, and focus on the flexibility and adjustment range, which can be adapted to the testing of different thickness samples; if it is for the batch production of energy storage batteries, choose a cold roll press fully automatic machine, and prioritize production efficiency and stability; if it is for the high-end battery production line, choose a warm roll press to ensure the compaction effect of special materials.

(2) Focus on core configuration: Opt for equipment with high-quality roller materials and smooth surfaces to prevent damage to the foil; the control system should be capable of responding quickly to ensure uniform thickness; select cold-roller or warm-roller models based on the material characteristics; for special materials, consider using temperature-adjustable warm-roller presses.

(3) Adapt to own production capacity: For small-scale processing factories just starting out, semi-automatic machines can be chosen, balancing flexibility and cost; for large-scale production enterprises, fully automatic machines should be selected, featuring integrated functions such as trimming and dust removal, reducing subsequent processes and improving overall production efficiency.

5、Key comparison in equipment selection

How to choose between cold roll pressing and hot roll pressing?