On the strain rate-dependent mechanical behavior of PE separator for lithium-ion batteries

The separator is a critical component for ensuring electrochemical cycling performance and preventing internal short circuits in lithium-ion batteries. For the collision safety of lithium-ion batteries, understanding the rate-dependent mechanical behavior of the separator is essential for battery impact modeling and safety prediction. This study conducts a comprehensive experimental investigation into the strain rate–dependent tensile/compressive behavior and failure mechanism of the polyethylene (PE) separator under quasi-static and dynamic conditions. The combination of deformation images recorded by cameras and post-mortem characterization using SEM was employed to clarify the rate-dependent deformation and fracture mechanism of the separator under both tensile and compressive loading. The experimental results demonstrate a significant strain rate effect on the tensile/compressive mechanical properties and damage/failure behavior of the separator. Furthermore, the effect of the strain rate on the mechanical properties, including the tensile strength, tensile fracture strain, tensile elastic modulus, compressive modulus, yield stress and yield strain of separator, was analyzed and discussed. A significant strain rate-dependent tensile damage and fracture behavior of the separator was observed, where the fracture site exhibited an obvious phase transition and skeletal lamella fracture under extremely high strain rate tensile loading. The separator underwent severe damage under dynamic compressive conditions. The results of this study provide an important basis for the establishment of rate-dependent safety criterion and short circuit prediction of lithium-ion batteries under impact loading, and shed light on understanding separator failure-induced short circuit issues in battery collision safety scenarios.