Rotary Tube Furnace for NCM Heat Treatment Optimization

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Rotary Tube Furnace for NCM Heat Treatment Optimization

Lithium Nickel Cobalt Manganese Oxide (LiNixCoyMnzO₂, NCM) is a mainstream ternary cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. Boasting high specific capacity and an excellent voltage platform, it is widely used in electric vehicles and high-end consumer electronics. As a key step in NCM preparation, heat treatment directly determines crystal structure integrity, element distribution uniformity and electrochemical stability. With rotational mixing and precise temperature control, rotary tube furnaces resolve pain points like agglomeration, local overheating and abnormal phase structures in traditional static sintering, serving as core equipment for efficient NCM heat treatment. Based on practical experience and technical research, this paper proposes an optimized process for NCM treatment via rotary tube furnaces, guiding lithium battery material manufacturers to enhance performance and cut costs.

I. Core Advantages of Rotary Tube Furnace for NCM Material Treatment

Compared with box furnaces and pusher furnaces, rotary tube furnaces offer three core advantages for NCM heat treatment, laying the groundwork for process optimization.

Firstly, it improves heating uniformity. Rotating at 0.1-10 rpm, the furnace tube tumbles the NCM precursor-lithium source mixture continuously, preventing over/under-sintering from local accumulation and ensuring regular particle morphology with atomic-level element uniformity. Secondly, atmosphere and temperature are precisely controllable. Equipped with a PID system (±1℃ accuracy) supporting programmed heating/cooling, it matches multi-stage NCM sintering needs. Gas flow meters and valves enable switching between inert (N₂, Ar) and oxidizing (O₂) atmospheres, inhibiting Ni²⁺ oxidation and stabilizing layered structures. Finally, it features wide adaptability, compatible with high-nickel low-cobalt materials (NCM523, NCM811) and scenarios like precursor sintering, surface modification and waste regeneration, suiting both mass production and lab R&D.

II. Core Parameter Regulation for NCM Heat Treatment Optimization

Optimizing four core parameters—rotation speed, temperature system, atmosphere and material ratio—can significantly enhance NCM’s electrochemical performance. Specific regulations are as follows.

（I）Rotation Speed Optimization

Rotation speed affects mixing efficiency and residence time, requiring adjustment by NCM type and particle size. For high-nickel NCM (e.g., NCM811) with poor thermal stability, 3-5 rpm balances dispersion and particle integrity, avoiding breakage. For NCM523, 2-3 rpm optimizes efficiency and morphology. Practice shows proper speed ensures uniform carbon coating, boosting Li⁺ diffusion by 15%-20% and maintaining over 95% capacity after 200 1C cycles.

（II）Precise Temperature System Design

A two-stage sintering system adapts to precursor decomposition and crystal formation. Pre-sintering: heat at 2-5℃/min to 400-500℃, hold 4-6 hours to remove hydroxides and organics, avoiding excessive porosity. High-temperature sintering: heat at 5-8℃/min to 750-850℃ (upper limit for high-nickel NCM), hold 10-15 hours to form a complete layered α-NaFeO₂ structure. Gradient cooling (3-5℃/min to room temperature) inhibits distortion and cation mixing. Avoid exceeding 900℃ to prevent abnormal grain growth and reduced performance.

（III）Atmosphere Regulation Strategy

Atmosphere control inhibits Ni²⁺ oxidation and stabilizes lattice oxygen. For conventional NCM, use ≥99.99% O₂ at 0.5-1.0 L/min to ensure Ni³⁺ content and reduce rock salt impurities. For high-nickel NCM, O₂/Ar (3:1) balances oxidation and thermal safety. Maintain continuous atmosphere to avoid oxidation layer shedding; purify fluorine/lithium-containing exhaust for environmental compliance.

（IV）Material Ratio and Pretreatment

Ball-mill NCM precursor with Li source (LiOH·H₂O or Li₂CO₃) at Li/(Ni+Co+Mn)=1.05-1.10, controlling D50 at 5-10μm to reduce segregation. Dry high-specific-surface-area precursors at 120℃ for 4 hours to remove moisture and impurities. Fill 30%-50% of the furnace tube volume for sufficient tumbling and uniform heating/atmosphere contact.

III. Performance Improvements Post-Optimization

Experimental and pilot tests confirm significant performance gains. Structurally, NCM forms a complete layered structure with reduced cation mixing (I₀₀₃/I₁₀₄ >1.5) and porosity (3.7%-5%, down 50%+ vs. traditional processes). Electrochemically, NCM811 achieves 200 mAh/g (2.8-4.3V, 0.1C), 95.3% capacity retention after 100 cycles, 30% lower charge transfer impedance and doubled Li⁺ diffusion. Production efficiency rises 25% with 18% lower energy consumption, balancing performance and cost.

IV. Industrial Application Notes

Two key measures ensure industrial mass production. First, select corundum or mullite for furnace tubes—their high-temperature and Li⁺ corrosion resistance prevents contamination and extends service life. Second, monitor quality via online XRD (crystal structure) and SEM (particle morphology), adjusting parameters timely for batch stability. For waste NCM regeneration, use H₂/N₂ reducing atmosphere to replenish Li and repair structures, supporting circular economy.

V. Conclusion

Precise parameter regulation of rotary tube furnaces resolves core NCM heat treatment challenges, optimizing structure and electrochemical performance. With the development of high-nickel and single-crystal NCM, further optimize multi-stage parameters via intelligent temperature control and grain growth theory to adapt to solid-state batteries. As core heat treatment equipment, rotary tube furnace optimization will continue boosting lithium-ion battery energy density and cutting costs, driving high-quality new energy development.

Zhengzhou Protech Technology Co.,LTD is a professional manufacturer specializing in tube furnaces, muffle furnaces, atmosphere furnaces, and vacuum furnaces. We are committed to providing targeted solutions to meet your diverse heating equipment needs.

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