# US 2026/0088397 A1 · Thermal Barrier and Battery Module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0088397 A1 - Document ID: US20260088397A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 19/282,144 - Filed: 2025-07-28 - Published: 2026-03-26 - Earliest claimed: 2024-09-24 - Assignees: SK On Co., Ltd. - Applicants: SK On Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Tae Il KIM; Dae Won KWON; Suk Chul KIM; Yong Uk KIM; Byung Jun PARK; Sin Ho PARK; Moo Han BAEK; Jong Ho SEOK; Seung Gee HONG - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260088397A1 ## CPC - H01M 10/659: by heat storage or buffering, e.g. heat capacity or liquid-solid phase changes or transition - H01M 50/227: Organic material - H01M 10/613: Cooling or keeping cold - H01M 10/651: characterised by parameters specified by a numeric value or mathematical formula, e.g. ratios, sizes or concentrations - H01M 10/655: Solid structures for heat exchange or heat conduction - H01M 10/6555: arranged between the cells - H01M 10/6557: arranged between the cells - H01M 10/6568: characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings - H01M 10/658: by thermal insulation or shielding - H01M 50/231: having a layered structure - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract The present disclosure provides a thermal barrier and a battery module, wherein the thermal barrier comprises a heat-absorbing layer comprising a hydrogel, wherein the hydrogel comprises an absorbent polymer and water retained in the absorbent polymer, and the hydrogel comprises 3 to 10 parts by weight absorbent polymer based on 100 parts by weight of water. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermal barrier comprising a heat-absorbing layer comprising a hydrogel, wherein the hydrogel comprises an absorbent polymer and water retained in the absorbent polymer, and wherein the hydrogel comprises about 3 parts by weight to about 10 parts by weight of the absorbent polymer based on 100 parts by weight of water. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermal barrier of claim 1, wherein the absorbent polymer comprises at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamide (PAM), polyacrylic acid (PAA), and a PAM-PAA copolymer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thermal barrier of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel displays a falling distance of 60 mm or less after 5 minutes when measured according to ASTM D4212 using a Zahn Cup viscometer having a diameter of 4.39 mm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The thermal barrier of claim 1, wherein the heat-absorbing layer is encased in a shell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The thermal barrier of claim 4, wherein the shell has a thickness of about 80 μm to about 160 μm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The thermal barrier of claim 4, wherein the shell is a laminate sheet comprising a metal foil. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The thermal barrier of claim 6, wherein the foil is aluminum foil. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The thermal barrier of claim 7, wherein the aluminum foil is disposed between an inner resin layer and an outer layer resin layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The thermal barrier of claim 8, wherein the laminate sheet further comprises an adhesive on one or both sides of the aluminum foil. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The thermal barrier of claim 8, wherein the outer resin layer comprises a first outer resin layer adjacent to the aluminum foil, and a second outer resin layer located on the first outer resin layer, optionally wherein an adhesive is disposed between the first outer resin layer and the aluminum foil. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The thermal barrier of claim 10, wherein the first outer resin layer comprises a polyamide and the second outer resin layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The thermal barrier of claim 1, further comprising a mica sheet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The thermal barrier of claim 12, wherein the mica sheet comprises mica and a heat-resistant inorganic fiber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The thermal barrier of claim 13, wherein the heat-resistant inorganic fiber comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a glass fiber, an alumina fiber, a zirconia fiber, a mullite fiber, rock wool, asbestos, silica wool, and ceramic wool. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) The thermal barrier of claim 4, further comprising a mica sheet disposed on at least one layer of the shell. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The thermal barrier of claim 15, wherein the mica sheet comprises mica and a heat-resistant inorganic fiber optionally selected from the group consisting of a glass fiber, an alumina fiber, a zirconia fiber, a mullite fiber, rock wool, asbestos, silica wool, and ceramic wool. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The thermal barrier of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel comprises about 3 parts by weight to about 10 parts by weight of PAM based on 100 parts by weight of water. ### Claim 18 (depends on 4) The thermal barrier of claim 4, wherein the hydrogel comprises about 3 parts by weight to about 10 parts by weight of PAM based on 100 parts by weight of water. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The thermal barrier of claim 15, wherein the hydrogel comprises about 3 parts by weight to about 10 parts by weight of PAM based on 100 parts by weight of water. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A battery module comprising: a cell assembly comprising two or more battery cells; and a module case comprising the cell assembly, wherein the cell assembly comprises the thermal barrier of claim 1 disposed i) between two adjacent battery cells, ii) between a module case and the battery cells at the ends of the cell assembly; or iii) both i) and ii).