Thermal management and fire safety have become critical topics in the design of battery systems for electric vehicles and beyond. Building on its long-standing work in this area, AZL has launched a new Joint Partner Project, “Thermal Runaway Testing for Battery Casings”, to advance the benchmarking of materials for battery housings under realistic thermal runaway conditions. Interested companies can still join at any time to benefit from and contribute to its results.

With a planned duration of approximately 9 months, the project focuses on the development of a new testing environment that combines high-gradient heating with controlled hot particle impact, replicating the complex conditions of modern battery chemistries such as LFP and NMC. This enables systematic evaluation of both structural and functional materials – including metals, composites, and hybrid designs – under application-relevant stress scenarios.

Tailored test profiles will be created to assess thermal resistance and mechanical integrity during exposure, with results documented through videos, thermal data, and comparative performance metrics. These insights aim to support material qualification, design optimisation, and supplier selection for applications in automotive, aerospace, and other sectors requiring safe energy storage solutions.

This initiative builds on a predecessor collaboration in which over 50 materials were benchmarked for fire resistance under tensile load and varying flame temperatures. Leveraging this foundation, the new project brings together companies from across the value chain to share expertise, validate concepts, and gain insight into leading market solutions.

🔥Join now to shape the project from the start and secure your place in defining next-generation fire safety standards.