Battery pack systems that include polymers

A thermal management system, comprising:

• a plurality of battery cells;
• and
• a thermal isolation mechanism positioned between adjacent battery cells, the thermal isolation mechanism including:
• a thermally conductive material housing;
• a solvent contained within the housing;
• and
• a polymer having an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) or a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) contained within the housing, wherein:
• the polymer having the UCST and the solvent are configured to form a single gel phase at a temperature above the UCST and the polymer having the UCST and the solvent are configured to form separate phases at a temperature below the UCST;
• or
• the polymer having the LCST and the solvent are configured to form a single gel phase at a temperature below the LCST and the polymer having the LCST and the solvent are configured to form separate phases at a temperature above the LCST.

A battery pack, comprising:

• a cooling plate having a coolant fluid channel defined therein, wherein the coolant fluid channel includes:
• an outer polymer layer;
• and
• an inner polymer having an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) or a lower critical solution temperature (LCST), and wherein:
• the inner polymer having the UCST and a first solvent in the coolant fluid channel are configured to form a single gel phase at a temperature above the UCST and the inner polymer having the UCST and the first solvent are configured to form separate phases at a temperature below the UCST;
• or
• the inner polymer having the LCST and a first solvent in the coolant fluid are configured to form a single gel phase at a temperature below the LCST and the inner polymer having the LCST and the first solvent are configured to form separate phases at a temperature above the LCST;
• an interface pad positioned in contact with one surface of the cooling plate;
• an isolation pad positioned in contact with an opposed surface of the cooling plate;
• wherein each of the interface pad and the isolation pad is formed of a superabsorbent polymer;
• a plurality of battery cells positioned in contact with the interface pad;
• and
• a thermal isolation mechanism positioned between adjacent battery cells, each thermal isolation mechanism including:
• a thermally conductive material housing;
• a second solvent contained within the housing;
• and
• a polymer having an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) or a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) contained within the housing, wherein:
• the polymer having the UCST and the second solvent are configured to form a single gel phase at a temperature above the UCST and the polymer having the UCST and the second solvent are configured to form separate phases at a temperature below the UCST;
• or
• the polymer having the LCST and the second solvent are configured to form a single gel phase at a temperature below the LCST and the polymer having the LCST and the second solvent are configured to form separate phases at a temperature above the LCST.