May 11, 2009 07:00 ET

ExxonMobil Chemical Announces New Developmental Grades of Battery Separator Film for Safer Lithium-Ion Batteries

HOUSTON --(Business Wire)-- May 11, 2009 ExxonMobil Chemical continues to extend its technology leadership with the development of two new grades of V series co-extruded battery separator films. These new developmental grades will help make lithium-ion batteries (LIB) safer than ever before for hybrid and electric vehicles, power tools and electronic devices including laptop computers.

Featuring improved thermal stability and lower shutdown temperature for a higher safety margin, the developmental grades add to the company’s battery separator film portfolio that includes the award-winning V-series separator films introduced in 2007. Based on the same advanced co-extrusion technology platform and proprietary wet bi-orientation manufacturing process as V-series separator films, the developmental grades can help prevent thermal runaway in batteries while providing LIB designers more flexibility in selecting electrode systems and formats in battery designs to improve power and capacity density.

Higher Safety Margin with Excellent Performance Balance

Each of the new developmental grades offers safety-margin enhancements. Developmental grade 1 extends thermal stability with an improvement in transverse direction shrinkage to 8%, at 130ºC for 30 minutes, from 35.5% in previous-generation separator films.

Developmental grade 2 has a significantly improved shutdown temperature of 128 C, compared to 134 C for a standard V series grade, and maintains a longer insulation period with higher meltdown functionality.

“These developmental grades demonstrate our technology leadership advancement and commitment to the LIB industry in developing safer and better-performing batteries,” said Jim Harris, senior vice president, ExxonMobil Chemical. “The enhanced performance characteristics of these new separator films will enable battery companies to develop smaller and more powerful batteries, including those required for next-generation, lower-emission vehicles.”

ExxonMobil Chemical currently manufactures battery separator films in Nasu, Japan, and is building a manufacturing facility in Gumi, Korea, to accommodate additional demand and serve global customers reliably and efficiently. The new manufacturing plant will be completed in 2010.

About ExxonMobil Chemical

ExxonMobil Chemical is one of the world’s premier petrochemical companies with manufacturing, technology, and marketing operations around the world. The company delivers a broad portfolio of products and solutions efficiently and responsibly, with a commitment to create outstanding customer and shareholder value. ExxonMobil Chemical endorses the principles of sustainable development, including the need to balance economic growth, social development and environmental considerations. To learn more, visit www.exxonmobilchemical.com.

Note to Editors

The term "ExxonMobil Chemical" refers collectively to some or all of the companies affiliated with Exxon Mobil Corporation, and/or itself, which have chemical manufacturing and/or marketing operations around the world.

ExxonMobil Chemical, Houston
Jeff Neu, 281-870-6607