VENT FEATURE PROTECTION BRACKETS FOR ELECTRIFIED VEHICLE TRACTION BATTERY PACKS

A traction battery pack for an electrified vehicle may include a protection bracket for shielding a vent feature of the traction battery pack. An exemplary protection bracket may be made of a polymeric material and is designed to shield the vent feature from debris impingement. The protection bracket may include features such as a mesh venting pattern and a melting point that is lower than the temperature of battery vent byproducts that may be released during battery thermal events of the traction battery pack.