Surface treatment for metal-polymer laminated electrochemical cell package
View Patent ↗A method for preparing a metal-polymer laminate packaging material, a method for preparing a metal-polymer laminated electrochemical cell package, and an electrochemical cell package, wherein adhesion of the polymer to the metal sheet used in the packaging material and/or hydrophobicity of the metal sheet are improved. In accordance with the invention, the metal sheet is subjected to a surface treatment and thereafter coated with a polymer to form a metal-polymer laminate packaging material. Exemplary surface treatments include chromate or phosphate conversion coatings, anodization, or chemically cleaning the metal sheet with a caustic solution and/or an acidic solution.
1. An electrochemical cell package comprising:
a metal-laminate packaging material comprising a metal sheet having a protective coating encapsulating the metal sheet to form a coated metal sheet sandwiched between an inner polymer layer comprising a polymeric binder coating laminated directly to the coating of the coated metal sheet and an outer polymer layer, wherein the protective coating is selected from the group consisting of a chromate conversion coating, a phosphate conversion coating, and an anodized porous oxide coating; and
an electrochemical cell structure surroundingly enclosed in the metal-laminate packaging material adjacent the inner polymer layer.
2. The package of claim 1 wherein the metal sheet comprises aluminum foil.
3. The package of claim 2 wherein the aluminum foil has a thickness of at least 17 μm.
4. The package of claim 1 wherein the inner polymer layer comprises a heat sealable layer on the polymeric binder coating.
5. The package of claim 4 wherein the outer polymer layer comprises an adhesive layer on the coated metal sheet and a polymeric binder coating laminated to the adhesive layer.
6. An electrochemical cell package comprising:
a lithium-ion cell structure;
a metal-laminate packaging material comprising:
a metal sheet encapsulated in a protective coating to define a coated metal sheet, the protective coating being selected from the group consisting of a chromate conversion coating, a phosphate conversion coating, and an anodized porous oxide coating;
an inner polymer layer comprising a polymeric binder coating laminated directly to the coated metal sheet; and
an outer polymer layer;
wherein the coated metal sheet is sandwiched between the inner polymer layer and the outer polymer layer; and
wherein the inner polymer layer is positioned adjacent the lithium-ion cell structure and the metal-laminate packaging material surroundingly encloses the lithium ion cell structure,
7. The electrochemical cell package of claim 6 wherein the coating is a chromate conversion coating.
8. The electrochemical cell package of claim 6 wherein the coating is a phosphate conversion coating.
9. The electrochemical cell package of claim 6 wherein the phosphate conversion coating is selected from the group consisting of iron phosphate, zinc phosphate and manganese phosphate.
10. The electrochemical cell package of claim 6 wherein the coating is an anodized porous oxide coating.
11. The electrochemical cell package of claim 6 wherein the coating is an anodized porous oxide coating is a sealed coating.
12. An electrochemical cell package comprising:
a metal-laminate packaging material comprising a metal sheet having a protective coating encapsulating the metal sheet to form a coated metal sheet sandwiched between an inner polymer layer comprising a polymeric binder coating laminated directly to the coating of the coated metal sheet and an outer polymer layer comprising an adhesive layer on the coated metal sheet and a polymeric binder coating laminated to the adhesive layer, wherein the protective coating is selected from the group consisting of a chromate conversion coating, a phosphate conversion coating, and an anodized porous oxide coating; and
an electrochemical cell structure surroundingly enclosed in the metal-laminate packaging material adjacent the inner polymer layer.
13. . The package of claim 12 wherein the metal sheet comprises aluminum foil.
14. The package of claim 13 wherein the aluminum foil has a thickness of at least 17 μm.
15. The package of claim 12 wherein the inner polymer layer comprises a heat sealable layer on the polymeric binder coating.