Available tests and benefits
Fire testing for planar materials designed to be evaluated as battery enclosure components under extreme thermal and mechanical conditions. The primary test types include:
- Torch fire-only exposure (baseline thermal resistance)
- Combined torch & grit cycles (simulated real-world abuse) by following the UL2596 torch & grit type test standard
- Enhanced safety assurance through early design-stage validation
- Faster time to certification by pre-screening materials
- Provide incident risk reduction in thermal events
- Data-rich reporting for internal or external audits
Test conditions:
| Parameter | Value / range |
| Flame temperature | 800 to 1200 ± 50 °C, with deviation ±50 °C |
| Torch tip to sample surface distance | 60 mm |
| Torch duration | 20 seconds per cycle or >10 minutes for torch flame only test |
| Grit blasting rate | 1.5 ± .15 g/s |
| Grit exposure cycles | 2–10 typical |
| Sample size* | Standard (e.g., 200 ×200 mm) or small samples (100 × 100 mm) |
* Results from a small sample size cannot be comparable with results from a standard sample size.
Test bench features:
- Closed-loop torch control: Precise control of flame temperature and duration.
- Grit injection system: Adjustable velocity for consistent abrasion.
- K-type thermocouples for precise surface and backside temperature measurements
- Digital video recording from both front and rear sides to capture damage evolution during testing
- Data acquisition: synchronised recording of backside temperature versus test time.
Applicable standards:
Tests are based on the following industry standards:
- UL 2596 – Section on Torch & Grit Testing
- GMW 18435 – A General Motors standard
This test result showed material potential for passing the industry certification test in the traction battery pack system-powered electric vehicle sector:
- UL 9540 / 9540A
- GB38031-2025
- UNECE R-100.
Results (Illustrative):
| Material ID | Backside self-ignition | Equilibrium temperature at the end of the test (ºC) | Burn-through | Brun-through cycles |
| A | No | 150 | No | 2 |
| B | Yes | 180 | No | 3 |
| C | Yes | 170 | Yes | 3 |
Comparison vs. industry benchmarks:
Our testing setup includes edge protection for the sample coupons, preventing edge ignition and enabling a more representative evaluation of material fire resistance.
Use cases:
- Thermal runaway venting shielding validation in electric vehicle battery pack components.
- Composite material screening for flame protection
- Design certification for rail, aviation, and energy storage system enclosures
Contact:
To discuss your testing needs and explore collaboration opportunities, please contact IMDEA Materials Technology Transfer and Innovation Office (TTIO) at techtransfer.materials@imdea.org.
