By Dr. Michael Rohde
I recently read an excellent study by Dr. Florian Degen and Dr. Oliver Krätzig from the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production.
The article in the Journal of Power Sources Advances highlights the critical pain points in lithium‑ion battery cell production — from elevated scrap rates and throughput bottlenecks to soaring energy demands. Notably, the mixing & coating step stands out as a key contributor to process inefficiencies and reject rates.
This finding aligns perfectly with our experience at Orion S.A. The underlying challenge often boils down to the “magic triangle” of slurry formulation: dispersion, process conditions and carbon black properties. These pillars are inseparable and must be harmonized to deliver stable, homogeneous slurries and defect‑free electrode coatings.
This finding aligns perfectly with our experience at Orion S.A. The underlying challenge often boils down to the “magic triangle” of slurry formulation: dispersion, process conditions and carbon black properties. These pillars are inseparable and must be harmonized to deliver stable, homogeneous slurries and defect‑free electrode coatings.
Carbon black is often underestimated, largely because it represents only a small mass fraction of the cell. Yet its structure, surface chemistry and aggregate size distribution significantly influence slurry rheology and, in turn, cell performance.
If you’re scaling lithium-ion battery production or working on a new formulation for a project, let’s talk. Orion’s experts in your region are ready to partner with you. They deliver engineered conductive carbon blacks, process tweaks and deep technical insight to accelerate high‑performance electrodes. Contact us!
Dr. Michael Rohde is the director of Global Marketing for Batteries at Orion S.A. He earned a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Freiburg and an MBA from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.
