A porous sheet or a sheet having small holes is shaped as a tape.    The tape is spirally wound with overlapping edges to form a cylinder. The liquid under treatment is flowed along the sheet.    The sheet if produced as follows: a uniform synthetic resin soln. contg. solvents and non-solvents is adhered to a base and volatilised until dry to form the sheet or the soln. is coated over the base, then immersed in a non-solvent and dried. The separator element is produced at high speed.
Battery comprises a plug for closing the battery vessel. The plug has on its interior a chemically resistant film. The film contains in its interior a fibrous filler or cloth and is permeable to gas generated from the interior of the battery and impermeable to a liquid or sol-like electrolyte    As the film is permeable to gas and impermeable to electrolyte, it is possible to simply permit escape of the gas out of the battery to the exterior and prevent leakage of electrolyte from the battery.
The gel-like zinc anode is fabricated by mixing zinc powder, an alkaline electrolyte and sodium alginate as a gelling agent in amt. 1-10 wt. % w.r.t.    Since sodium alginate has a large occlusion amount of an electrolyte, it is possible to retard generation of zinc hydroxide and zinc oxide which prevent discharging of zinc. Therefore, effective utilisation of zinc can be maintained over a long period of time and a discharging characteristic of an alkaline battery is improved.
Flat-type battery comprises an anode using light metal as active material, a cathode consisting mainly of cathode active material, an organic electrode and the cathode active material compacted and bonded by pressure to an uneven portion formed on an inner surface of a battery case.    Since the cathode active material is compacted and bonded by pressure to an uneven portion formed on an inner surface of a battery case, a contact surface area between the cathode active material and the battery case can be increased and preservable and discharging characteristics of the battery are improved.
The separator is mfd. by embossing a unified sheet of a porous material of 0.5 mm thickness and a synthetic resin having fine holes to form a number of convex portions on the sheet, and crushing the fine holes at the convex portions.    The separator is thin and porous, and has no pinholes. The separator, also, assures an effective quantity of electrolytic solution by maintaining the distance between the plates. The battery performance is therefore improved.    The unified sheet is obtd. by attaching a homogeneous synthetic resin soln. to a porous material. The synthetic resin solution comprises (a) a synthetic resin (e.g. PVC, polystyrene, polyvinylidene fluoride, etc.), (b) a solvent (e.g. tetrahydrofuran) and (c) a non-solvent (e.g. isopropyl alcohol) which is compatible with the solvent. Example of the porous substrate is polyester non-woven fabric of 0.1 mm thickness.
Separator is mfd. by (a) attaching a homogeneous synthetic resin soln. (I) to a porous substrate of acid-resistant synthetic resin of thickness 0.5 mm to form fine holes in the porous substrate; and (b) embossing the resulting synthetic resin sheet to form a number of convex regions and crushing the fine holes in the convex regions. Specifically (I) comprises (a) a synthetic resin (e.g., PVV, polystyrene, polyvinylidene, etc.), (b) a solvent (e.g. tetrahydrofuran) which dissolves the synthetic resin, and (c) a nonsolvent (e.g. isopropyl alcohol) which does not dissolve the synthetic resin and is compatible with the solvent.    The separator is thin and porous, and has no pinholes. The separator, also, ensures an effective quantity of electrolytic solns. by maintaining the distance between the plates. the battery performance is improved by the use of the separator.
The lattice member comprises (A) a casting lattice of Pb alloy contg. little or no Sb, and mainly composed of horizontal skeletons and diagonal skeletons which radially extend from the edge portion of the lattice; and (B) a substrate of acid-proof resin (e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene, etc) and having an elastic net structure.    The elongation of the lattice member, composed of a low self-discharge Pb alloy, is concd. in the horizontal direction. of non-charging and capacity decrease are prevented, even if a Pb alloy of low self-discharge property is used. The battery is used for motor cars.
The lattice member comprises (a) a casting lattice made of Pb alloy contg. a little or no Sb, and mainly composed of horizontal skeletons and having diagonal skeletons which radially extend from the edge portion of the lattice; and (B) a resin substrate made of an acid-proof resin (e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. (and having a checkerboard pattern structure. The lattice and the resin substrate are unitary construction, and there are spaces between the horizontal skeletons of the lattice and the left and right peripheral skeletons of the resin substrate.    The elongation of the lattice member is conc. in the horizontal direction, and is absorbed by spaces provided in the lattice member, so that the shape of the lattice member is not changed at the overcharged region. Accordingly, short-circuit caused by the elongation of the lattice member is prevented, and the impossibility of charging and the decrease of capacity are also prevented, even it the lead alloy of low self-discharged property is used. The lead storage battery is suitably for a motorcar.
A lattice member for a lead storage battery comprises (A) a casting lattice made of lead alloy contg. little or no antimony, and mainly composed of vertical skeletons and having diagonal skeletons which radially extend from the edge portion of the lattice; and (B) a resin substrate made of an acid-resistant resin (e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.) and having a checkerboard pattern structure. The lattice and the resin substrate are unitary constructed and there are spaces between the both upper and lower ends of the vertical skeletons of the lattice and the both upper and lower peripheral of the resin substrate.    The elongation of the lattice member is conc. at the vertical direction, and is absorbed by spaces provided in the lattice member, so that the shape of the lattice member is not changed at the overcharged region. Accordingly, the short circuit caused by the elongation of the lattice member is prevented, and the impossibility of charging and the decrease of capacity are also prevented, even if the lead alloy of low self-discharge property is used. The battery is suitable for a car.
A lattice member for a storage battery plate is mfd. by (1) adhering thread-like thermoplastic resin materials to a lattice substrate carried on a belt conveyor which moves continuously; (2) pressurising the resin materials by a heated roller to bond the resin materials with a skeleton of the lattice member securely.    By combining the thermoplastic resin material with the lattice member comprising low Sb-contg. Pb, or Ca-contg Pb, the mechanical strength of the plate using the lattice member is increased, and the self-discharge of the plate is decreased.
The process comprises (1) injecting molten thermoplastic resins linearly onto a skeleton wall of the lattice member carried on a belt conveyor which moves continuously, and (2) adhering the resins to the lattice member by means of a heated pressure roller. Pref. the lattice member comprises low Sb-contg. Pb or Ca-contg. Pb.    The mechanical strength of the plate is increased and its self-discharge is increased.    Pref. thermoplastic resin material in a hopper (3) is heat-melted and injected onto a lattice member, on a belt conveyor, through nozzles. The lattice member is moved and its whole surface is pressed by a heated roller to bond the linear resins with the lattice member, followed by cooling and curing.
Process comprises (1) charging an anode mixt. material into a cup which consists of a zinc closure plate and a cylindrical packing (e.g. nylon, polyethylene, etc.) whose end portion is engaged with the peripheral portion of the zinc closure plate via an intervening partitioning paper; (2) setting a cap-like metal container whose bottom portion is coated with carbon film in the cup; and (3) bending the open end portion of the metal container inwardly to seal the battery.    The electrolyte pref. comprises an aq. soln. of zinc chloride, or a mixed aq. soln. of zinc chloride and ammonium chloride. Manganese dioxide is used as anode active material. Metal container is suitable e.g. brass, Ni, Ni-plated steel, Cr, Cr alloy, Au-plated steel, Sn-plated steel, Zn-plated steel, etc.    Dry battery has a simple structure and an excellent liquid leakage resistance. It is used as a power source or various small electronic appliances e.g. electronic calculator, wrist watch, etc.
Flat profile dry battery is mfd. by (1) charging an anode active material contg. an electrolyte into a metal container in which the bottom is coated with a carbon film and the sides are coated with an insulating packing (e.g. nylon, polyethylene, etc.); (2) arranging a zinc closure plate above the anode active material with an intervening partitioning layer which contains the electrolyte; and (3) bending the open end portion of the metal container inwardly to seal the battery.    The metal container is pref. made of brass, Ni, Ni-plated steel, CR, Cr, alloy, Au-plated steel, Sn-plated steel, Zn-plated steel, etc. The electrolyte comprises an aq. soln. of zinc chloride, or a mixed aq. soln. of zinc chloride and ammonium chloride.    The flat dry battery comprises a anode active material (manganese dioxide), a cathode active material (zinc), and electrolyte, and has a simple structure and an excellent liquid leakage resistance. Battery is used as a power source for various miniature electronic appliances such as electronic calculator, wrist watch, etc.
An electric storage battery, partic. for driving a vehicle, includes a box with a closed base and holding battery plates abutting against the walls. Each plate has an insulator engaging the walls and there is a vibration absorbent layer between base and plates.    The layer is pref. a silastomer and the walls are on an insulating spacer formed separately from the base so that the layer is between the spacer and base. The insulatos are pref. secured to the walls. The spacer is e.g. of polypropylene.
The air cell comprises an intermediate layer interposed between an air electrode and an anode. The intermediate layer consists of a mixt. of an electrolyte and electroconductive material of carbon having water-retaining property.    High polymer material having good water-retaining property may be added to the intermediate layer.
The can of a dry cell is covered with a tube of heat-shrinkable resin consisting of low-density crosslinked polyethylene contg. amorphous 1,2 polybutadiene, the tube being adhesively bonded to the outside of the can by a hot-melt adhesive. Leakage of electrolyte from the can is prevented.
The can of a dry cell is covered with a tube of heat-shrinkable resin consisting of low-density crosslinked polyethylene contg. amorphous 1,2 polybutadiene. Since the cover tube has adequate flexibility and stable mechanical strength at high temps., the cell has improved resistance to liquid leakage.
The zinc can of a dry cell is covered with a synthetic resin cylinder comprising a metal film formed on 1 surface of a stretched film consisting of thermoplastic synthetic resin contg. a filler. Since the thermoplastic film contg. a filler is heated and stretched, it has a large number of fine gaps or cracks, and roughened surfaces suitable for adhesive bonding. Therefore the dry cell has improved resistance to liquid leakage and improved storage properties.    Specifically, the thermoplastic resin is polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide resin, polyethylene, terephthalate or PVC.
Several holes are bored through a synthetic resin liq. of the sealed Ag oxide battery which contains AgO, Zn, Hg and synthetic resin, and then the battery is heated in a refractory vessel to recover Ag or Ag cpd.    In an example, sealed type AgO battery comprises a synthetic resin lid, a container, a packing member for sealing the lid and container, a Zn oxide cathode, an anode and a separator. A hole is bored on the lid.    The waste batteris are charged in a refractory vessel in an electric furnace and heated. Volatile matters, such as Hg, moisture and decomposed gases, are directed to a Hg recovering bath through a duct. Meanwhile, Ag is melted and held in the container.
Mrf. of positive and a negative electrode plates for a rapid start type storage battery comprises preparing active material plates contg. 1-5% thermoplastic microcapsules contg. metallic oxide such as lead oxide which reacts with sulphuric acid to produce lead sulphate and water; forming the active material plates; and subjecting the plates to a drying treatment at a temp. above the m.pt. of the thermoplastic microcapsules.    By this method, the sulphuric acid content in the formed active material plates can be effectively removed, because sulphuric acid reacts with lead oxide to form lead sulphate and water during the drying step. Microcapsules having the particle size of 100-500 mu are made from powdery lead oxide having the particle size 2-50 mu and polystyrene resin.
Electrode plate for storage battery comprises a metallic fibre sheet such as a lead sheet with a grid- or dot-like reinforcing solid part formed by impregnating part of the sheet with a synthetic resin soln. such as vinyl chloride.    The plate has improved electrolyte permeability. Hence utilisation efficiency of lead active material and discharge capacity of the battery can be improved. The storage battery using the electrolyte plate has improved life time.
Storage battery comprises a rolled electrode assembly comprising electrode sheets and a porous separator disposed between the electrode sheets, a cell casing, an electrolyte disposed in the cell casing, the rolled electrode assembly being immersed in the electrolyte, and negative and positive terminals connected to each electrode sheet. The electrode sheets consist of metallic fibre as lead. The separator may consist of a porous rubber sheet or a porous vinylchloride resin sheet.    By using the rolled electrode assembly, a storage battery with improved discharge capacity can be easily obtd. The utilisation efficiency of the lead active material can be improved by using the metallic fibre electrode sheets of lead.
After bubbles are removed under reduced pressure from a gelled anode mixture consisting of amalgamated zinc, alkaline electrolyte and gelling agent such as carboxymethyl-cellulose, the gelled anode mixt. is mounted together with a cathode, separator and the other components to complete an alkaline cell. By removing the bubbles from the gelled anode mixture, the inner resistance of the alkaline cell is reduced.
An organic electrolyte battery contains a microporous permselective ion exchange membrane sepg. the cathode from the electrolyte and preventing diffusion of electrolytic anions. The membrane comprises a microporous substrate and a linear non-crosslinked polyelectrolyte, selected from Li, -Na-or K salts of polyacrylates or polystyrene sulphonate, which is insoluble in the solvent of the electrolyte salt and has a pref. mol w.t. of 104.    The battery has a light metal anode and a cathode selected from metal halides and sulphur. The electrolyte solvent is gamma-butyrolactone, propylene carbonate, THF, DMF, DMSO, dimethyl carbonate and/or acetonitrile.    The membrane has an ion exchange capacity of 12 milliequivs/g which is twice that of conventional membranes and exhibits reduced specific resistances with redn. in internal cell losses.
A planar battery comprises 2 permeable sheet electrode supports, sheet separators, active material, electrolyte and a peripheral seal comprising an electrically insulating frame which is sealed to the electrode supports only inboard of the exterior periphery to allow venting to atmosphere. The outer periphery of the frame extends outwardly beyond the periphery of the electrode supports.    Used as a thin flat Le Clanche type primary disposable battery in automated cameras for powering motor driven film processing and reflex optics, cocking assemblies and shutter control. The battery has improved reliability and lower swelling characteristics due to the type of seal which allows gas venting of each cell to atmosphere.
A cathode for a prim. electrochemical cell comprises a porous aggregate of semi rigid globules having a wt.% compsn. of 40-99 carbon black 1 of an inert mechanical binder (fluorocarbon polymer) and the balance graphite.    Used for prim. electrochemical cells with cathode depolarisers that can be reduced on a carbon cathode, alkali metal anode and non-aq. electrolyte e.g. solute dissolved in an inorganic oxyhalide of P or S. The cathode incorporates more active carbon and reduces the possibility of internal shorting, and produces better and more uniform cell operation.
In an example, 1% N,N'-dimethylpiperazine-1,5-dibromopentane polymer was added to a ZnO-satd. 8.5N KOH electrolyte. A battery was assembled from a porous Zn anode, NiO cathode, and this electrolyte. The battery was discharged at 5 and charged at 2.5 a/dm.2. Short circuit did not occur after 100 cycles.    A conventional battery contg. ZnO-satd. 8.5N KOH electrolyte was short circuited. after 14 cycles.
Process comprises (1) filling a metal foamed plate with a slurry, (2) drying and sintering the resulting plate. The sintered substrate is used as an electrode for, e.g. Ni-Cd alkaline storage battery. The slurry-coated porous metal plate (substrate) can be dried and sintered without causing cracks in the slurry layer or peeling-off of the slurry layer from the substrate.
Process comprises (a) annealing a porous metallic substance (e.g. wire net, punched sheet, etc. of Fe, Ni-plated Fe, etc.) to soften the substrate; (2) filling the porous substrate with a paste-like active material; and (3) drying the resulting substrate.    The plate can be used for Ni-Cd storage battery, etc. When a stress is applied to the substrate, the softened substrate obtd. by the preliminary annealing absorbs the stress, so that the paste-like active material is not affected by the stress applied to the substrate. In the case where the substrate on which the active material is coated must be processed on a spiral configuration, the falling-off or peeling-off of the active material from the substrate can be prevented.    The paste-like active material is e.g. prepared by mixing a binder (e.g. nylon, polyvinyl alcohol, etc.), water, etc. wtih a mixt. of cadmium oxide and nickel powder, or cadmium oxide, cadmium hydroxide hydroxide and nickel powder.
Process comprises water-proofing a carbonized material based mixt. from which the rod is moulded, surface-grinding, coating and water-soluble resin (e.g. polyvinyl alcohol, etc.).    The inner and surface cracks of the carbon rod are covered with the surface resin film, so that creep of an electrolyte is prevented.
Slightly soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibres are bonded with readily soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibres to provide non-woven cloth, of density and thickness 0.2-0.4 g/cm3 and 0.3-0.8 mm, resp. Alkaline cell separator is made of the non-woven cloth.    The separator has hydrophilic and uniform liquid absorption properties, and high swelling strength, giving alkaline cells with decreased internal resistance and high short current value.
Alkaline cell includes a composite separator disposed between a paste cathode and a moulded anode. A first separator (I) consists of a material which swells by absorbing an electrolyte, and a second separator (II) consists of a material which shrinks by absorbing an electrolyte.    (II) is placed on a surface of an anode mixt., and (II) is disposed on (I) at the side of the cathode. An electrolyte holder is placed between (II) and the cathode.    Specifically (I) consists of cellophane, and (II) is composed of Kraft paper, cotton paper, vinylon paper, etc. Felt is pref. used as the electrolyte holder.
The binder has high electrolyte resistance and acid resistance with high ion conductivity. Internal resistance of the anode is lowered, giving alkaline cells with high performances and high storage stability.    For example, 35 pts. wt. nickel hydroxide, 67 pts. wt. carbonyl nickel and 8 pts. wt. graphite are formed to an anode mixt. 0.004 Pts. wt. sodium polyacrylate is dissolved in 20 pts. wt. emulsion (20 wt. % solid) of ethylene-acrylic acid polymer to form a binder which is added to the anode mixt. The mixed material is coated on a nickel net collector, heated at 80-100 degrees C and dried. Binder is thermally melted to bind particles of the anode mixt. Nickel-zinc cell has 600 mAH capacity.
The binder has high electrolyte resistance and acid resistance with high ion conductivity. Internal resistance of the anode is lowered, giving cells with high performances and high storage stability.    For example, 35 pts. wt. nickel hydroxide, 67 pts. wt. carbonyl nickel and 8 pts. wt. graphite are mixed. 30 Pts. wt. emulsion (20 wt. % solid) of ethylene-acrylic acid polymer is added and the mixt. coated on a nickel net collector, heated at 75-85 degrees C and dried. Ethylene-acrylic acid polymer is thermally melted to bind particles of the anode mixt. The nickel-zinc cell is 600 mAH capacity.
For example, paste is produced by mixing 150 pts. wt. ZnO and 6 pts. wt. suspension of polytetrafluoroethylene (40 wt.% solids). An anode current collector of expanded metal is coated with the paste, and dried to form a porous zinc anode. Anode surface is coated with an emulsion of ethyleneacrylate polymer (1-30 wt.% solids) to impregnate the pores and form a film of polymer.    The polymers has improved resistance to electrolyte and oxidation, and also inhibits migration of Zn ions to the cathode, so that deterioration rate of the charge capacity is low.
For example, a zinc anode is fabricated by coating a metal net with a mixt. of 15 pts. wt. ZnO powder and 0.3 pt. wt. ethylene acrylate polymer, and drying at 60-90 degrees C to bond particles of anode active material to each other. The zinc anode is bent in a U-shape and surrounded by a semipermeable film of polyvinyl alcohol. An electrolyte absorber of non-woven fabric of polypropylene is interposed between the semipermeable film and a nickel cathode. A vent pipe of non-woven fabric of fluoroplastics is provided down the centre of the U-shaped anode.    Resistance of the anode to oxidation by O2 generation is enhanced.
For example a nickel cathode is fabricated by coating a Ni net current collector with a mixt. of 35 pts. wt. Ni(OH)2 67 pts. wt. nickel carbonyl, 8 pts. wt. flaky graphite and 8.5 pts. wt. of a suspension of polytetrafluoroethylene (25 wt. % solids). An emulsion of an ethylene-acrylate copolymer is coated on the cathode in a reduced pressure and dried at 60-100 degrees C, to form a film.    The copolymer enhances adhesion of the active material with its improved resistance to gas generation and electrolyte permeation.
In the paper-like substance, the phenol fibres and binder are 15-70 wt. %, the gypsum whiskers 30-85 wt. % and silica powder is 0-30 wt. %. The wt. of the material is 90-200 g/m2.    For example, phenolic fibres, gypsum whiskers and silica powder were dispersed in water. Resin soln. was prepd. by dissolving resol resin in methanol, and added to the dispersion. The ratio of phenolic fibres + resol resin: gypsum whiskers:silica powder 30.8:59.0:10.2. Paper-like material was produced with a wt. of 150 g/m2, thickness 0.22mm, electric resistance of 0.0066 ohm/1000 cm2/sheet, oxidation resistance of 37.3 hrs. and a pulling strength of 0.27 kg/mm2.
An alkaline-proof cyanoacrylate instant bonding agent is injected between peripheral edge of the cathode can and packing, and also between the packing and peripheral edge of the anode can. The edge portions are caulked before hardening the bonding agent. Cathode active material is of nickel hydroxide, anode active of cadmium, separator of non-woven nylon fabric, and electrolyte of 30% KOH aq. soln.
For example a steel closure has a Ni-plated layer on its outer surface and a Cu-plated layer on its inner surface, and serves as a negative terminal. Anode active material consists of amalgamated znc powder. Cathode active material consists of silver oxide and graphite, surrounded by a cathode ring of Ni-plated steel. A main separator of cellophane is immediately adjacent the cathode active material followed by an electrolyte-holding separator of non-woven cellulose fabric contg. a KOH soln. The sealing packing of nylon is placed between the steel closure and cathode can serve as a positive terminal. A sealant layer of 30-95 wt. % vulcanized chlorosulphonated polyethylene and 5-70 wt. % polybutylene is filled in between the packing and steel closure.
Plastic accumulator casing, e.g. from polyethylene, for industrial accumulators, e.g. electrical trains or forklift trucks is produced by filling the powdered plastic into a mould container, which is heated and subjected to an oscillating rotation so that the plastic sinters onto the inner wall of the mould container to form a casing with lid. The accumulator casing is cooled and removed from the mould container.    Two shoulders are pref. formed in the region of the transition from the accumulator casing to the lid with a smaller cross-section than this transition. The containeris then cut across each shoulder and the sepd. lid obtd. in this way is inserted into the remaining casing and is stuck on to respectively welded to the inner wall of the casing.    The accumulator lid can be produced together with the casing.
Rechargeable aq. metal-halogen cell comprises a casing, contg. a pair of spaced apart porous electrodes with a fine porous separator between them defining positive and negative electrode compartments, and an electrolytic soln. contg. ZnBr2 and/or ZnI2 in both compartments.    An organic halogen complexing additive is added to the electrolyte in at least the positive compartment as 10-50 wt.% soln. The additive is ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycols and molecular wt. 200-6000 and their 1-4C alkyl ethers and esters or polypropylene glycol, molecular wt. 200-6000 and their 1-4C alkyl alkyl ethers and esters.    The additive reduces the self discharge rate by orders of magnitude, e.g. to 0.1 ma/cm2, with a very small sacrifice in cell voltage. Simple inexpensive separators may be used. Complexing reduces the corrosiveness esp. of Br. The separator is pref. microporous polyethylene or polypropylene.
A fuel cell electrode is made by (a) co-agglomerating negatively charged polymer particles and pore former particles, (b) forming a suspension of polymer-pore former co-agglomerate and fuel cell catalyst particles and mixing (c) filtering the suspension to form a layer, (d) mounting the layer on an electrode support, (e) sintering and (f) subjecting the electrode to an etchant which attacks the pore former to produce gas channels in the electrode only in the polymer portions. Pref. polymer is PTFE and pore former is ZnO; the latter comprises positively charged particles of av. dia. not greater than that of the polymer particles.    The electrode exhibits a greater resistance to flooding in open circuit air potentials than prior electrodes.
Powder is charged in a first die having depth more than one-third the square root of the cross section of a hole formed in the die and the powder is pressed by a second die having a hole of cross sectional area larger than that of the first die.    Method eliminates previous weighing of the pellets and selection of the pellets after moulding. Silver oxide, graphite and Teflon are e.g. mixed wat a specified ratio, granulated, and moulded in the dies to produce an anode of a silver oxide cell.
An electrode for a cell comprises a electrode forming material mainly consisting of soot like metallic powder obtd. by evaporating the metal in a reduced press. atmosphere. The metal may consist of 1 of Pt metals, Au and Ag.    The electrode is suitable for use in the fabrication of a fuel cell, an air-Zn cell and an air-Fe cell. By using the electrode, the current density and the life time of the cell can be improved. Typically the electrode also contains active C and PTFE.
Method is used to mfr a sintered porous electrode for a Ni -Cd alkaline cell, with the thick slurry layer, made easily without cracks.    For example, a porous Ni support is coated with a slurry of 40 pts. wt. powdered nickel carbonyl and 60 pts. wt. of carboxy-methyl-cellulose. The slurry layer deposited on the support is first dried, then the slurry is redeposited and repeatedly dried to the desired thickness and then sintered.
Cathode plate comprises a metal core, both sides coated with cathode active material layers through binding layers of alkaline resisting resin contg. conductive material having higher oxygen overvoltage than the active material.    Since the core plate is covered with the cathode active material layers through the resin layers, production of oxygen and peeling off of the cathode active material layers from the core plate can be avoided. The alkaline cell has an improved life time.    For example, a porous Ni core plate, and cathode active material layers are bonded by layers consisting of polyvinyl-alcohol resin contg. silver powder.
Mixt. of pitch and chlorosulphanated polyethylene is used as sealing member for a sealed type alkaline cell. The cell utilising the sealing member has improved liq. leakage resistance.    Cell comprises a cap serving as negative terminal of the cell, with a Ni coating and Cu coating, an anode active material consisting of amalgamated Zn powder, a cathode active material consisting of Ag oxide and graphite, a separator of cellophane, an electrolyte keeping member, a sealing packing, a cathode container serving as positive terminal, and sealing member arranged between the cap and the sealing packing. The sealing member consists of 30-90 wt.% pitch and 10-70 wt.% chlorosulphanated polyethylene.
The enclosed type silver oxide battery uses Ag2O as cathode active material, Zn as anode active material and an alkaline aq. soln. as an electrolyte, silver peroxide (AgO) is converted into Ag2O in the battery. Since silver peroxide (AgO) is converted into Ag2O within a battery, the charging efficiency of the battery can be increased.    Typically an anode can is made of a stainless steel plate having a Au-clad layer at its outer surface and a Cuclad layer at its inner surface. The cathode can consists of a Ni-plated soft steel plate. The cathode consists of silver oxide contg. 2 wt.% of carbon. An anode is produced by gelatinizing a ZnO-saturated 30% NaOH aq. soln. with carboxymethyl cellulose. Packing used consists of polyethylene or nylon. A separator consists of three sheets of reinforced cellophane. In the battery, silver peroxide (AgO) is converted into porous Ag2O by reduction. A charging efficiency is increased by 5 to 50%.
An electric battery comprises a metal vessel with a turned over rim, contg. a mass of depolarising matter, sealed in a plastic envelope. The rim is turned over towards the inside through an angle of 180 degrees and is gripped by an annular throat on the inside of the battery cap. The throat is formed and reinforced by ribs inside the cap and the tip of the rib forming the throat is submerged in a layer of sealing material on top of the mass in the cell.    Design makes a tight joint at the level of the rim of the vessel so that sweating cannot take place, and electrolyte accumulates between vessel and sheath. The concentric rib under the cap forms two compartments above the mass. The oxygen from the carbon rod cannot come into contact with the zinc whilst electrolyte cannot spread across the mass to the anode.
The cell container for a positive electrode of conductive material, has a depolarising mixt. of AgO besides the conductive material. The latter, a porous metal plate, is placed on the surface of the depolarising mixt. of the positive plate and is in electrical contact with the inside wall of the positive container beyond the depolarising mixt.    The construction prevents self-discharge by minimising the contact between the cathode active material and the caustic alkali soln.    The plate pref. consists of uniformly microporous Ag. There is a layer of elastic synthetic resin between the inside of the container and the depolarising mixt.
Battery consists of a lidded container filled with alkaline electrolyte, and contg. at least one positive electrode plate formed from a porous support plate based on silver carrying positive active electrode material. (I) comprises silver distributed on the support plate and an electrically conducting lug attached to the plate.    Each negative plate consists of a porous flexible and expandable, support comprising metal fibres packed with cathode material, comprising particles of (hydrated) iron oxide distributed in the volume of pores in the plate. Conducting lugs are attached to each negative plate. Electrode separator is esp. of plastics to retard growth of silver.    Battery has high energy density (viz. 89 Whr/kg. after 100 cycles) and long useful life (i.e. 3-300 charge/discharge cycles).
Synthetic resin plate is electroless-plated with Ni on both surfaces. The Ni layer is plated with a metal e.g. Au, which is insol. in an electrolyte. The plate is immersed in an acid bath to extract Ni from the plated layer. The Au layer is then plated with a metal e.g. Pt which is insol. in the electrolyte. The plated member is used for an electrode base of lead battery.
Diaphragms with good permeability and chemical resistance, partic. to alkalis, consist of a copolymer contg. 43-76 wt. % F. and potassium titanate (I). The wt. ratio (I): polymer is 0.05-1.20.    The diaphragm pref. has apparent density 0.4-3, porosity 10-80%, pore dia. 0.1-20 mu m and electrical resistance 2-0.1 cm-2. The polymer is pref. PTFE, or a tetrafluoroethylene copolymer with (a) 0.05-95% hexafluoropropylene, or (b) 0.05-90% perfluorovinyl ether or (c) 0.05-66% ethylene.    The diaphragms may be used in electrolysis of NaCl or H2O, fuel - or alkali cells or for preventing mixing of different types of gas or liq.
The electrode comprises Cd supported on a substrate and Ag dispersed in intimate contact with the Cd. The electrode pref. also includes a hydrophobic fluorocarbon polymer, esp. PTFE dispersed within the Cd. The cell comprises a sealed casing contg. positive negative and O-sensing electrodes, separators between adjacent electrodes and an alkaline aq. electrolyte.    The cell is an Ni-Cd cell, esp. used for heartpacers. The electrode develops a greater signal voltage across a lower load (170 OMEGA) than previous electrodes (1050 OMEGA) for a given 0 press., allowing developing 0 press. to be detected and charging discontinued. Ag migration is avoided and the electrode may be permeable to ionic current.
The zinc anode comprises a porous layer of active zinc material deposited on alkali-proof metal substrate, and coaed with a porous rubber coating. Such anode plate has long service life and stability.    A copper plate was immersed in caustic potash electrolyte contg. zinc oxide. A porous layer of zinc was electrolytically deposited on the copper plate by electrolysis at a current density of 4 A/dm2 for 10 minutes. After water-washing the plate was dried in a N2 stream, and then was dipped in a toluene soln. contg. 10% chloroprene rubber. After wiping excess soln., the plate was dried in a N2 stream. The porous zinc layer was coated with a porous layer of chloroprene rubber.
The rust preventive agent consists of base oil e.g. vegetable oil or mineral oil, a sequestering agent, a surfactant agent and a colouring agent. A doughnut-shaped body of felt, cotton or foamed material is impregnated with the ruse preventive agent. A terminal portion is enclosed by the doughnut-shaped body contg. the ruse preventive agent.    As a sequestering agent, EDTA (Na salt), (cH3)2N-CS2Na or Cr dye is used. As surfactant, nonyl phenol, nonyl phenol ether, polyoytethylene nonyl phenol ether or polyalkylene glycol is used. Typically a rust preventive agent consists of 100 pts. wt. of olive oil, 100 pts. wt. of polybutene, 20 pts. wt. of polyamide resin, 5 pts. wt. of polyoyethylene nonyl phenol ether and 5 pts. wt. of EDTA (2Na).
The cell comprises a cathode mixt., a paste layer and a film separator disposed between the cathode mixt. and the paste layer.    The film separator comprises a core material of natural fibre or synthetic fibre, and an electrolyte semipermeable layer formed on one or both sides of the core material.    The fibre consists of plant fibre for paper, polyethylene polypropylene or polyester fibres. The electrolyte semipermeable layer consists of regenerated cellulose cellulose or cellulose acetate.
Layer comprises a porous (non)woven fabric of synthetic resin fibre, a paste. Fabric is made by fusing synthetic resin fibres, esp. of polypropylene. Porosity of the electrolyte is 50-90%.    The layer is not deformed during storing or discharging and the electrolyte capacity does not deteriorate.
The Cu tungstateiis made by reacting 1 mol. of CuO powder with 1 mol. of CuO powder with 1 mol. of WO3 powder for 8 hours, and gradually cooling it to a room temp. The copper tungstate powder is mixed with scaly graphite to complete the cathode material. The utilisation efficiency of the cathode is improved.    Typically a cell comprises a cathode material, a separator of nonwoven fabric of polypropylene, and a Li anode. The organic electrolyte is e.g. propylene carbonate and Li perchloride.
By utilising Ag tungstate made by melting and cooling as cathode, the cell capacity can be improved e.g. to 331 mAh/cc., of 197 mAh/cc. Fir cells where the Ag tungstate is not melted.    Typically the cell comprises Ag tungstate cathode 1, a separator of nonwoven fabric of polypropylene, a Li anode. The organic electrolyte filled consists e.g. propylene carbonate and of lithium perchloride. The silver tungstate cathode is made by melting it at 800 degrees C., cooling it, finely dividing it, and mixing the silver tungstate powder with scaly graphite.
The separator consists of a compacted synthetic fibre fleece. The component fibres have a non-circular, essentially dumb-bell-shaped cross-section. The fleece is opt. laminated with a relatively large-porous carrier substrate. The fibres have a largest dia. of 0.05-20, pref. 1-10, mmu. They are made of polystyrene, a polyolefin or polycarbonate.    The separator is less brittle and more thermally and chemically stable than prior-art PVC fleece separators. There is no release of Cl (-cpds.). It has better resistance to O2 and ageing than rubber separators, and has good electrical and mechanical properties.
Active compsn. for lead accumulator electrodes contg. a mixt. of spreading agents contains a substance (I) which is (electro)chemically (partly) inert, has a high capillary activity, is an electrical conductor and can contain functional gps. influencing the electrode reaction.    (I) can be hydrophilic oxidised C (Ia) of high porosity (opt. mixed with a non-spreading substance, pref. PVC) or hydrophilic, sintered and ground thermoplastic powder, pref. PVC powder. (I), with a particle size of max. 1.5mm is added to the compsn. in an amt. of 0.1-10%. E.g. the use of (Ia) instead of Na humate increased the utilisation by 5% and the life-time by 10-20%.    The degree of mass utilisation and hence the lifetime of the electrodes are improved effectively.
Fe electrodes of alkaline accumulators are produced by coating a steel plate grid with an active compsn. contg. a mixt. of magnetite ore concentrate, Fe2O3, synthetic fibres technical grades FeS, aq. NiSO4 soln. aq. surfactant soln. and polyvinyl alcohol.    Dehydrating agent (I), e.g. conc. H2SO4, to the aq. polyvinyl alcohol soln. heated to a higher temp. before mixing with the remaining components of the active compsn. Compsn. is then smeared into grid and dried 15-30 min. at 110-180 degrees C, until degree of dehydration of polyvinyl alcohol reaches 25-30 mole % of double bonds.    Use of aq. polyvinyl alcohol with a dehydrating additive as binder (i) improves bonding of active components with one another and grid, (ii) obviates need for organic solvents and prevents generation of toxic gases when drying electrodes, (iii) reduces electrode cost, (iv) reduces Fe consumption)1 A hr. by 35-40% and electrode wt. 2x. Film elasticity, electrical conductivity, strength, resistance to water and alkali at high temps. are improved.
The electrode comprises salt of bis(salicyl, aldehyde)ethylene. diimine of formula (I) (where Co or another metal) and about 400 mesh of active carbon homogeneously kneaded together with methyl alcohol and benzene soln. contg. polystyrene.    The mixt. is dried and treated with trichloroethylene containing 5wt.%. A water repellent nature is conferred to the mixt. and it is impregnated into a Ni network.    The air (sic) electrode has the ability to ionise O2. The electrode is inexpensive c.f. conventional Pt electrodes.
Thermoplastic synthetic paper (I) is moulded to a cylinder, one end of which is heated and deformed to close it, for use as alkaline battery separator.    (I) is made by reacting polyvinyl alcohol fibre with formaldehyde.
Both surfaces of a cellophane sheet are coated with a mixt. which consists of polyvinyl alcohol and glycerin. The sheet is cut to obtain a separator useful for alkaline batteries.    Pref. the cellophane sheet is immersed into an aq. soln. contg. 2-10wt.% polyvinyl alcohol and 0.1-5wt.% glycerin.
The copolymer layer fixes the hydroxide layer to the base paper. The copolymer consists of 100 pts. wt. polyethylene and about 0.1-1 pts. wt. polyacrylate. The separator is adhered to a zinc anode plate. The separator prevents short circuiting between the zinc anode and cathode to improve discharge capacitance.    In an example, barium hydroxide powder is mixed with a binder. The mixt. is coated on a polyamide nonwoven cloth to form the hydroxide layer. The layer and the cloth are immersed in ethylene acrylate copolymer suspension to form the copolymer layer.
The copolymer consists of 100 pts. wt. of polyethylene and 0.1-1 pts. wt. of polyacrylate. The separator is stuck to a zinc anode plate. The particles of the hydroxide layer are covered with polyacrylate, giving adhesion to the base paper. The separator prevents short circuit between the zinc anode and cathode perfectly to improve discharge capacitance.    In an example, barium hydroxide powder covered with polyacrylate was mixed with a binder, and coated on a polyamide unwoven cloth to form the hydroxide layer. The layer and the cloth was immersed in ethylene-acrylate copolymer suspension to form the copolymer layer.
In a plate for alkali accumulator paste-like active material is coated on a porous base plate which is provided with non-porous portions at both ends. The non-porous portions are lead plates.    The paste-like active material consists of Cd oxide (100g), carbon (10g), single fibre (0.5g), polyvinyl alcohol (0.5g) and ethylene glycol (100 ml). The base plate made of 0,1 mm thickness has a number of openings of 3 Circle with diagonal line mm at the centre portion, and non-porous portions at both ends. The active material is coated on the centre portion except for both non-porous portions, and the thus-coated plate is dried and pressed. The plate is then cut into suitable width to give a cathode plate. Then, lead plates are spot-welded to the non-porous portions, respectively.    It is not necessary to remove the active material from the portions at which lead plates are mounted. The plate has good electroconductivity.
An alkaline battery comprising a positive terminal casing made of nickel plated metal plate which contains a positive terminal active material, a cellophane separator film covering the positive terminal active material, a cellulose unwoven cloth electrolyte retaining member for med with at least one hole extending the full thickness, thereof, a gel negative terminal zinc negative terminal composed of a mixt. of a gelating agent and an electrolyte, a negative terminal enclosure plate made of nickel plated metal for enclosing the positive terminal casing, and an insulating packing for sealing the space between the positive terminal casing and the negative terminal plate.    The number and size of the holes formed in the electrolyte retaining member is dependent upon the size and shape of the battery. Desirably, the holes have their total area in the range of 20% to 50% the area of the electrolyte retaining member in order to rapidly impregnate the electrolyte retaining member and to effectively prevent the electrolyte from scattering to adhere to the positive terminal casing and the insulating ring thereby preventing the electrolyte from leaking.
Process is applicable to an alkaline battery comprising a positive terminal casing which contains a positive terminal active material, a cellophane separator covering the positive terminal active material, and a cellulose non-woven cloth electrolyte maintaining member placed on the separator.    Process includes pressing the central portion of the electrolyte maintaining member to form a recess, charging alkaline electrolyte into the recess, placing on it a gel negative zinc terminal composed of a mixt. of an electrolyte and a material having a tendency to gel in presence of the electrolyte, and enclosing the positive terminal casing with a negative terminal plate fitted around it with an insulating ring.    This process is effective to prevent electrolyte from scattering upon charging it to adhere to the space between the positive terminal casing and the insulating ring thus preventing the electrolyte from leaking. Formation of the recess permits electrolyte to be rapidly impregnated into the member.
Battery comprises a metal casing as positive terminal which contains anode active material separted from negative material by Cellophane (RTM) separator and a cellulose non-woven cloth impregnated with electrolye.    Casing in enclosed by a steel enclosure plate having inner surface plated with nickel and outer surface plated with copper serving as the negative terminal casing is sealed by a moulded nylon packing and anaerobic adhesive is applied by vacuum impregnation into the narrow space between the packing and the metal enclosure plate to prevent leakage.
Fuel cell electrode is made by (a) depositing metal oxidising-catalyst crystallites on the surface of (partially) graphitised C support particles, (b) oxidising the surfaces of the support particles only at catalyst crystallite sites, (c) removing catalyst crystallites, (d) depositing Pt on the oxidised support particles, (e) mixing the supported Pt catalyst with fluorocarbon polymer binder and (f) depositing the admixt. onto a substrate, forming the electrode.    Use of a catalytically oxidised C support reduces the initial loss of surface area of supported Pt catalysts that occurs in fuel cells, esp. those operating &gt;120 degrees C in contact with liq. electrolyte, e.g. phosphoric acid.
Molten polypropylene or polyethylene resin is poured between a packing and a peripheral portion of a cathode casing, and between the packing and a peripheral portions of an anode closure. The peripheral portions of the cathode casing and the anode closure are then clamped to complete closing.    Typically, the cathode active material consists mainly of nickel hydroxide. Anode active material consists mainly of cadmium. The cathode active material is placed in a cathode casing of Ni-plated steel. A separator of nonwoven fabric of polyamide is interposed between the anode and cathode active materials. An electrolyte of a 30% caustic potash aq. soln. is absorbed by the separator and the active materials. A packing is interposed between a peripheral portion of the cathode casing of the anode closure. Low density polyethylene resins melted at 150 to 250 degrees C are poured into a half closed portion of the battery, and the clamping is carried out.
A sealed alkaline cell is produced by half-sealing a positive terminal can, a negative terminal can and packing material, pouring or painting low grade polymer (av. mol. wt. 500 - 1500) of ethylene chloride tri-fluoride between the end portion of the positive terminal can and the packing, and between the packing and the negative terminal can, and then completing sealing operation.    The low grade polymer of ethylene chloride trifluoride fills the space in the packing or the can, and electrolyte leakage is prevented.
Method comprising forming a porous silver layer on the surface of a cathode mixt. of silver peroxide by compressing and shaping silver powder and additive soluble an aq. or alkaline soln. to control porosity of the silver layer to &lt;40%.    The additive is high molecular material (e.g. carboxy methyl cellulose), inorganic material (e.g. aluminium hydroxide), or metal oxide (e.g. zinc oxide). The silver layer serves decreases high voltage and large self-discharge at initial discharge period.
Electric accumulator has positive Ni oxide electrodes made of pressed powder, and between each two electrodes is a negative electrode made of sintered Fe powder. Electrodes pref. have a metal mesh envelope, whereas electrodes have an internal supporting skeleton sintered in position, esp. of expanded Fe; and a plastic grid is used as a separator between the electrodes.    A welded plastic sleeve is used as the accumulator case.    Electrodes are pref. made by filling the holes in the expanded metal with an aq. dispersion contg. iron powder, a water-soluble filler, and a thickener, esp. methyl cellulose, forming a paste; after sintering of 600-800 degrees C the filler is dissolved out of the electrode. The Fe powder used pref. has a BET-surface of 0.15-0.25 m2/g, with most of the Fe particles &lt;30 mu m in size.    Used esp. for traction, e.g. electrically powered vehicles The theoretical power density of nickel-iron batteries is 260 Wh/kg, but conventional cells produce only 20-25 Wh/kg., i.e. the batteries have a hgh wt. which is a major disadvantage in electric vehicles. The invention produces 50 Wh/kg, i.e. twice that obtd. hitherto.
In a multicelled battery the cells are embedded in a porous mass of bound particles located within an outer casing. The mass has a porosity of 20% and is pref. made of particles of plastics bound with a solvent or an adhesive. Other particles suitable for use are clay, ceramics or wood chips. he individual cells are protected against shock and the porosity of the mass allows adequate venting of the cells.
Electric storage battery has a case to retain electrolyte up to a preferred level, a cover to retain the electrolyte within the casing and a probe for sensing the preferred level of electrolyte, mounted in a bore in the cover. The probe comprises a pin and a lead body with a number of substantially concentric annular projections of decreasing dias.    Probe is securely bonded to the battery cover to prevent leakage of electrolyte. Pref. the lead body is sealed in the cover, which is polypropylene, polystyrene or rubber, by an epoxy resin which engages in the annular projections of the lead body and a projection in the bore of the cover.
Polysaccharide, such as glycose, galactose, etc., having beta-1,3 bonds is mixed with manganese dioxide, acetylene black, and an electrolyte to make a mixt. The mixt. is moulded to obtain an anode mixt. and the mixt. is heated to gelatinise the polysaccharide.
Paste zinc electrode (1) of zinc-alkali secondary consists of 62 pts. wt. amalgamated zinc powder, 35 pts. wt. alkaline electrolyte, 2 pts. wt. zinc sulphide, and 1 pt. wt. polyacrylamide.
Separator for use in battery comprises an electrolyte insoluble inorganic porous sheet and polymer of ethylene and acrylic acid impregnated into it.    The separator is applied to an alkaline storage battery or an organic electrolyte storage battery. The separator is stable to the electrolyte. The separator perfectly separates a positive electrode and a negative electrode.
Flat-bodied battery uses a pellet of porous zinc amalgam as anode. The porous zinc plate is fabricated by mixing zinc powder and synthetic resin powder capable of being easily pyrolysed, compacting the mixed powder into a plate and sintering the plate.    A pellet is stamped out from the porous zinc plate and amalgamated.    Cathode mix consists of AgO, Ag2O or HgO and is placed into the cathode casing. Separator may be of cellophane and the electrolyte-holding material of cotton are placed on the cathode mix. The anode of the porous zinc pellet and an anode closure are placed on the electrolyte-holding material and a plastic packing is interposed between the cathode casing and the anode closure and serves both as insulator and sealing member.    By the proposed method, it is possible to fabricate a flat type battery with good yield and to increase the capacity of the battery by use of a porous zinc pellet and anode.
Vulcanising adhesive is interposed between rubber packing and metal closure which serves as a negative electrode. The rubber packing and the metal closure are joined together by the vulcanising adhesive.    Leakage of electrolyte due to electrocapillary action on the surface of the metal closure, which serves as a negative terminal can be prevented.    Steel closure has a Ni-plated layer on its outer surface and a Cu-plated later on its inner surface. A layer of vulcanising adhesive is formed over the metal closure. Packing consists of neoprene rubber and adheres firmly to the metal closure with the vulcanising adhesive layer. Cathode active material consisting essentially of silver oxide and graphite is placed in the cathode casing. Cathode ring consists of Ni-plated steel. A main separator and an electrolyte-holding separator are located on the cathode active material. The anode active material consists of amalgamated zinc.
Electric cell comprises a number of superposed layers including positive and negative electrode layers with an electrolyte permeable separator layer between them, and two outer layers. The separator layer consists of an electrically non-conductive, electrolyte permeable, inherently sealable, polymeric film material which extends beyond the peripheries of the electrode layers while the outer layers are inert, electrolyte impervious, electrically conductive material, which are sealed together by the peripheral portion of the separator layer.    Used in formation of flat multicell primary or secondary batteries.
A microporous material is prepd. by (a) forming a uniformly dispersed mixt. of unplasticised PVC, an organic solvent for the PVC and a removable ground particulate filler, (b) shaping the mixt.; and (c) coagulating by treating with 1 leaching agent for the filler, which is at least partially miscible with the organic solvent. The filler is simultaneously or subsequently leached out. The ratio filler to PVC is 6:1 to 20:1, pref. 8:1 to 13:1. The ratio of organic solvent to PVC si pref. 1:1 to 12:1, esp. 2.5:1 to 7:1.    The material has high vol. porosity and permeability with a low pore size, and is esp. suitable for battery separators. The pore size can be adjusted over a useful working vange.    The wt./no. mean particle size of the filler is pref. 5-400 (9-200) u and the filler is pref. NaCl or (NH4)2SO4. The average pore size of the material is pref. 0.5-45 um.
A moulded grid is formed by using a first half mould (I) having refractable blocking plates to block off some of the mould cavities and a second half mould (II) which forms enclosed mould cavities with two unblocked mould cavities of (I).    A first melt is then introduced into the enclosed mould cavities and allowed to partly solidify. (II) is then removed and the blocking plates retracted.    A third half mould 2 (III) is positioned on (I) to form a second set of enclosed mould cavities formed with the mould cavities which have been unblocked by the blocking plates. A second melt is then introduced into the second set of enclosed mould cavities.    Used for making plates for electrolytic batteries. A composite grid of different materials can be easily produced. The grid may include plastic therefrom making it lighter.
Galvanic cell comprises an open ended container with an inner disposed anode, a depolariser cathode within the container, a porous separator between the anode and cathode and electrolyte wetting the depolariser cathode and a current collector rod embedded within and projecting above the depolariser cathode. A flapper valve formed by a resilient deformable capped annulis is mounted on the current collector rod and has its peripheral edge deflected upwardly and contacting the container wall. Used as cell for flashlights, toys, etc. Vents gases from the cell while resealing to prevent drying out or the ingress of oxygen which would shorten the cell life. Pref. flapper valve is of neoprene, polyurethane, PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene or a copolymer of butadiene and styrene, and may of cellular form. The container wall can be provided with a film of sealant over the portion on which the flap valve engages.
Packing material for batteries consists of polyethylene and high styrene resin, made by mixing 100 pts. wt. polyethyelen, 10 pts. wt. high styrene resin (styrene:butadiene=80:20), and 4 pts. wt. carbon black and injection-moulding.
A gelling agent such as carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate, etc. is added to a polyvinyl alcohol spinning soln Polyvinyl alcohol fibres are spun from the mixt. and used to produce paper or felt shaped sheet, for separators of alkaline batteries and Leclanche cells.
Polyvinyl alcohol and acrylamide powder are dispersed and dissolved in water, and copolymerised. After homopolymer is removed from the reaction product, the fibre material is paper-made and laminated irregularly to make the separator.
The battery consists of a Pb current collector, PbI2 cathode, LiI-15% BaI2 or CaI2 electrolyte, Li anode, and steel anode current collector, polypropylene insulator, and air-tight casing.    The battery and good shelf life and charging properties (38-43 mA-hr at 20 chargings), and it does not overcharge.
A metal plate is coated with an active material which consists of cadmium oxide and cadmium carbonate to obtain a negative electrode for alkaline battery.    Since the utilisation rate of the active material is increased at the discharge state, negative electrodes having improved volume and weight efficiencies is obtained.    Typically 100 pts. wt. cadmium oxide power, 40 pts. cadmium carbonate, and 20 pts. wt. nickel carbonyl powder are mixed with synthetic resin fibres. (e.g. polystyrene fibres. CMC aq. soln. is added to the mixt. to make a paste. The paste is coated on a nickel net and dried at 80 degrees C for 2 hrs. The member is electrolytically reduced in 6N-KOH aq. soln. to produce a negative electrode.
A plate shaped battery comprises a flat casing made of thermosetting resin, a battery element included in the casing, and strip shaped cathode and anode lead plates. One lead plate is bent and fixed on one surface of the casing, and the other is bent and fixed on the opposite surface.    The battery is easily mounted on various small electronic devices such as portable tape recorders, small table computers, etc. The lead plate structure is applicable to primary and secondary batteries such as Mn dry cells, Ni-Cd cells. etc.
In an alkaline battery comprises a positive active material, a negative active material, and an alkaline electroylte. A gasket is made of hydrophilic plastic material.    The material prevents leakage of the electrolyte through the gasket. Alkaline batteries with high performance and long service life are provided.    The hydrophilic plastic materials are lower vinyl alcohol polymer, hydroxy lower alkyacrylate polymer, hydroxy lower alkylmethacrylate polymer, etc.    Typical material absorbing electrolyte is 2-hydroxyethylmethyacrylate-methylmethyacrylate copolymer.
The anode comprises an anode plate consisting of Zn activator and alkaline earth hydroxide and a film of translucent cellophane or translucent polyvinyl alcohol film having a layer of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer stuck to the film formed on a surface of the anode plate. The surface faces onto a cathode of Ni or Ag2O. The film used as a separator has a high alkali electrolyte resistance and a high oxidn. resistance at high temp.
The anode comprises an anode plate consisting of Zn activator and alkaline earth hydroxide and a film of ethylene acrylic acid copolymer contg. acrylate such as Na acrylate, formed on a surface of the anode plate. The surface is faced to a cathode of Ni or Ag2O. The film used as a separator has a high alkali electrolyte resistance and a high oxidn. resistance at high temp.
The anode comprises an anode plate consisting of zinc activator and alkaline earth hydroxide and a film consisting of synthetic fibre unwoven cloth having a layer of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer stuck to the cloth formed on a surface of the anode plate. The surface is faced with a cathode of nickel or silver oxide.    The film used as a separator has high alkali electrolyte, resistance and a high oxidising resistance at high temp.
The anode comprises a plate of Zn activator and alkaline earth hydroxide and a film of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer formed on the surface. This surface faces a cathode of Ni or Ag oxide.    The film, used as a separator, has a high alkali electrolyte resistance and high oxidising resistance at high temp.
The anode comprises an anode plate of Zn activator, an alkali earth hydroxide layer formed on a surface of the anode plate and a film of ethylene acrylic acid copolymer formed on the hydroxide layer. The surface is opposed to a cathode of nickel or silver oxide.    The film used as a separator, has a high alkali electrolyte resistance and a high oxidizing resistance at high temp.
The battery comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an alkaline electrolyte and a third electrode of an intermetallic cpd. of formula AB5 (where A is a rare earth element; and B is a transition metal). The third electrode absorbs hydrogen to form a metal hydride.
The packing, for an alkaline battery, a Leclanche cell or an air cell has a high stress-crack resistance and a high elastic characteristic.    In an example an alkaline manganese dry cell is described. A cathode activating member consisting of manganese dioxide and graphite, a separator of a polyvinyl alcohol paper, a paste shaped anode activating member consisting of amalgamated zinc powder, alkaline electrolyte and binder and a anode current collector are placed in a cathode case. The cathode case is sealed with the packing, covered with a sealing sheet of polyisobutylene. The sealing sheet is covered with an anode terminal plate connected to the collector. The packing consists of 95 wt.% polyethylene, 3% copolymer and 2% glass fibres.
The cathode comprises a plate consisting of silver peroxide, a porous silver layer, such as a silver foil or a silver powder layer, formed on the surface of the plate and a metal net formed in the porous silver layer.    In an example silver peroxide powder is placed in a cathode case. The powder is pressed to form the cathode plate Ag foil of 1 mu thickness and a stainless steel net of 10 mu thickness are placed in that order on the cathode plate 2. These plate, net and foil are then pressed. The surface of the Ag foil is reduced chemically to form a reduced porous silver foil. A separator of porous polyethylene and an electrolyte preserving sheet of cotton are placed in that order on the cathode. An anode plate of amalgamated ZnO and KOH is placed on the cotton sheet.
The separator placed between the anode and a barrier on the cathode comprises a thin layer of 0.1 to 0.6 wt.% of a gelling agent, water and an electrolyte of caustic alkali. The thickness of the layer is 0.03 to 0.1mm.    The separator preserving the alkali electrolyte prevents the drying state between the cathode and the barrier to decrease the internal resistance of the cathode and to improve the discharge capacitance of the battery.
The separator placed between the anode and cathode, consists of synthetic resin unwoven cloth, the surface of the cloth having been heat-treated. The separator is used as an electrolyte preserving member.    The fluffy surface of the unwoven cloth is converted to a flat surface by the heat-treatment. The separator prevents a leakage of an electrolyte.
The container e.g. for electrical cells for telephone or power station auxiliary use, is formed by bending two pieces of sheet into a channel section, assembling one inside the other to form a double-walled section providing bottom and side walls, securing to end walls, and filling the intervening spaces with foamed plastics.    The side wall tops are pref. covered by sections of inverted channel section or by bending outwardly or inwardly the tops of the inner or outer walls. The side walls are pref. provided with external horizontal ribs by folding or corrugating the outer sheet, and there may be reinforcement between the side walls. The walls and ends are e.g. of ABS.
A lithium-iodine prim. cell comprises an Li anode casing filled with a cathode material consisting of an organic charge transfer complex and I2. An LiI electrolyte is coextensively positioned between and contacting the inner surface of the anode-casing and the cathode material.    A cathode current collector has a lead coated with insulating material extending from the collector to a first terminal, the insulated lead being embedded in part of the anode-casing. An anode current collector is electrically connected to a second terminal.    The battery needs only a small amt. of plastic encapsulating material, and there is no void space, allowing more active material to be provided in a cell of given dimensions. Anode-cathode contact area is increased and internal resistance reduced. The cells are used for implantable prothetics, e.g. cardiac pacemakers.    The cathode is pref. poly-2-vinylpyridine.nI2 or poly-2-vinylquinoline.nI2, n = 2-15. A thin plastic sheathing (e.g. fluoropolymer) is pref. positioned over the outer surface of the anode-casing and anode current collector.
Rechargeable aq. metal-halogen cell has two electrodes and a microporous separator sepg. the electrode compartments, and an aq. electrolyte contg. ZnBr2 and/or ZnI2, and also contg. an additive of nitrobenzene in at least the positive electrode compartment. The nitrobenzene concn. is 1-90 wt. %. Electrodes have porous substrates, pref. of C and microporous separator is pref. a polyolefin or polyethersulphone.    Nitrobenzene forms an org. complex with the halogen which exhibits low water solubility and low halogen vapour pressure, and can be charged and discharged reversibly on the positive electrode. Rapid self-discharge of the cell is avoided.
Electrodes of electricity accumulators are produced by coating the pressed or rolled strips of active mass (oxides of Fe, Ni, Cd, Ag, Zn and Pb) with a polymeric binder. Separator material is applied on the electrode faces and subjected to heat treatment. In order to improve adhesion and completely utilise the inner volume of the accumulator, the separator material is chosen to be the same polymeric binder which is used for electrode prodn.
The process is simplified, the pliability of the product increased and the electrical resistance decreased if the sheet is formed from the mixed components with a thickness of 0.3-0.5 of the thickness of the final separator. The starch is swelled and the solvent removed by immersion of the sheet in water at 55-65 degrees C followed by heating at 90-98 degrees C for 1 hr. Then after hydrolysis of the starch in acid, the sheet is washed with water at a temp. of 0.75-0.95 of the temp. of the water used for swelling. The product allows assembly into a battery with increased efficiency. The battery has an increased capacity owing to the reduced resistance of the separator.
In prodn. of a separator for a storage battery fibrillate fibres of synthetic resin are dispersed in a solvent. The resulting solvent is poured onto a grating having a fine network and the resulting grating consisting of synthetic resin and contg. the fibrillate fibres is treated with a vibrating step and a drying step. Thus, synthetic resin grating sheet having porosity is obtd. Further, a liq. mixt. of the resin, and the solvent and another solvent which does not dissolve the resin is coated on the synthetic resin grating sheet and dried at a temp. below its softening point.    The separator has high mechanical strength and a chemical resistance.
A cellophane film is immersed in an aq. soluble monomer soln. and the cellophane film and the monomer are graft-polymerised. The graft-polymer is used as a separator for the dry cell.    The dry cell is a prim. cell or a type of Leclanche cell in which a C anode, a Zn cathode, an electrolytic soln. of NH4Cl and a depolariser of MnO2 are used. The Aq. soluble monomer is acrylamide, (meth)acrylic acid(ester), vinylsulphonic acid or vinyl pyrrolidone.    The graft-polymerised cellophane film separator avoids drawbacks of paper separators (e.g. increased internal resistance, poor ormosis of electrolyte, etc).
A separator for an alkaline battery comprises a film of swelling material formed on a surface of a porous synthetic resin sheet having a pore dia. &lt;20 microns and pores of the porous sheet filled with the swelling material. Pref. regenerated cellulose or polyvinyl alcohol is used as swelling material.
The separator comprises a film of ethylene acrylic acid polymers(co) formed in a substrate of cloth or non-woven fabric of synthetic resin fibre. A 50-100 mu thick non-woven fabric sheet of polypropylene fibre about 5-15mm in length was immersed in a condensation type active agent soln. contg. 0.1-0.5 wt. % of polyethylene oxide, so that lyophilic properties was given to the non-woven fabric sheet.    The non-woven fabric sheet was placed on a glass plate in a reduced press. container to remove the air present between fibres in the non-woven fabric sheet. Under a reduced press., an emulsion contg. 10-30 wt. % of an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer was dropped on the sheet. After the non-woven fabric sheet was covered with the emulsion, the air was introduced into the container. The non-woven fabric sheet was impregnated with the emulsion and thereafter dried at 60 to 90 degrees C. Operation from degassing to drying was repeated three to five times to fabricate a separator for a battery.
A metal net or perforated plate of Ag, Ni, or Ni-plated Fe is coated with paste-like active material. The paste is produced by kneading active material, graphite as electrically conductive material, a styrene monomer adhesive soln. contg. 10 to 40 wt. % of a styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer as a binder and an aq. sol. of carboxymethylcellulose as a solvent for pasting. The coated net or plate is dried and pressed.
Nickel hydroxide or cadmium oxide as main active material is kneaded with an aq. soln. of polyethylene oxide as a binder to prepare paste-like material. A perforated plate is coated with the paste-like material and dried. The perforated plate coated with the paste-like material is immersed in a phenol soln. to perform the polymerisation.
A metal net or perforated plate of Ag, Ni or Ni-plated Fe is coated with paste-like active material. The paste-like active material is produced by kneading active material, graphite as electrically conductive material, thermoplastic resin as a binder and a carboxymethylcellulose aq. soln. as a solvent for pasting. The paste-like active material on the net or plate is dried and hot-pressed.
The alkaline battery uses a Hg-Sn-Zn alloy as anode. The Hg-Sn-Zn alloy is produced by melting a Sn mass or Sn metal powder in metal Hg to prepare a Hg-Sn alloy and adding a Zn mass or Zn metal powder to the Hg-Sn alloy to amalgamate the zinc.    In an example 20 pts. wt. of Sn powder and 80 pts. wt. of Hg were mixed and amalgamated by shaking at room temp. for 3 hrs. 400 pts. wt. of Zn powder with 60-120 mesh was added to the Sn-Hg alloy and amalgamated by shaking for 4 hrs. The am algam thus obtd. was aged at 60 degrees C for 60 hrs. to prepare a Hg-Sn-Zn alloy. Powder of the Hg-Sn-Zn aloy was mixed with carboxymethylcellulose, polyethylene glycol or polyvinyl alcohol to form anode mixt.
Gas diffusion electrode consists of 20 wt. % of fine carbon fibres and carbon powder bonded with fluorocarbon resin, where 10 L/D 100, where L is the length of the fibre and D is the ia. of the fibre. The ingredients are mixed and pressed to form the sheet.    The electrode has a high mechanical strength and an improve ion transmittance. It is used in a fuel cell.
The separator comprises a fibre sheet consisting of synthetic resin fibrils, having an average dia. &lt;10 mu and a surface area 0.4 m2/g and hydrophilic fibres. The ratio L/D is 10, L is the fibril length and D is the fibril dia. The sheet has high mechanical strength and improved ion transmittance.    In an example, polypropylene fibrils of surface area 10 m2/g, average dia. about 5 mu and with L/D about 20, were dispersed in water with phenol-formaldehyde fibres of length 0.5 to 5 mm.
The separator comprises a board of fibrils of synthetic resin, with carbon particles attached to the surfaces of the fibrils are grooved. The surfaces of the board are grooved.    The separator is used for fuel cells, a high conductivity and is light. It preserves an electrolyte and gas used as an electrofode. In an example, polypropylene fibres were crushed to form a synthetic pulp of polypropylene fibrils. The fibrils were dispersed in water, and carbon black (30 wt. %) was added to the water. The water was heated to form a wet mixt. of pulp and carbon. The mixt. was filled in a mould; and pressed at 60 kg/cm2 at 170 degrees C for 15 minutes. The mixt. was then cold pressed at 250 kg/cm2 for 15 minutes. The mould of the cold press had uneven surfaces so that the pressed mixture had grooves on its surfaces.
Process comprises (a) providing a porous spongy type metal plate, (b) forming a suspension contg. activator powder; and (c) immersing the metal plate in the suspension to impregnate the activator powder in the plate at reduced press, to form the electrode.    The electrode is used in an alkaline storage battery. The suspension is uniformly impregnated in the plate to form a plate with improved discharge capacitance.
A porous sheet is made by forming a sheet from a thermoplastic, removable particulate filler and extractable org. solvent or plasticiser, removing solvent or plasticiser by extraction with a fluorohydrocarbon liq. at ambient temp. and of b.pt. &gt;45 degrees C at atmos. pressure, treating the extracted sheet to remove the fluorohydrocarbon and the extractable filler. The fluorohydrocarbon is pref. based on a 1-6C alkyl and certain Cl and is esp. dichloromonofluoro-difluoromonochloroethane. Pref. thermoplastic is PVC.    The sheets remain flexible and readily handled throughout the mfr.
Appts. for making electric storage batteries comprises a base for supporting a thermoplastics battery box, and a die carried by a support and receiving a member for attachment to the box. The die can move on the support parallel to the base, and a heater carried by the support can move in the same direction and perpendicularly to it.    For attachment, the member, e.g. for lifting or mounting the battery, is moved with the die to engage the heater, and the heater is tehn moved to engage the box. The heater is then removed and the member pressed against the box.
Galvanic cell comprises a negative Li electrode and an electrode made of a material which releases anions during discharge and forms an insoluble cpd. with the Li. The electrodes are sepd. by an electrolyte a salt which exhibits mainly anionic conductivity, esp. a tetraalkylammonium halide. The electrolyte is used at 0.1-1 mol. per litre of non-aq. solvent.    Passivation of the positive electrode does not occur as rapidly as the Li precipitates in the electrolyte. The cells are miniaturised and produce an average charge over ten hours.    An ion exchange membrane esp. otp. crosslinked 1-6C alkyl quaternatised polyvinylpyridine pref. separates the anodic and cathodic parts of the cell. The non aq. solvent is esp. propylene carbonate. The electrolytes are pref. gelled with polyvinyl-formal or -butyral. The positive electrode is made of CuS, Ag2S, CuCl2, AgCl or silver chromate.
Hybrid electrode for metal/air cells contains a water-repellent layer of plastic (I) on gas-side, an intermediate catalyst-contg. layer for O2-dissolution and, on electrolyte side, a metallic layer for O2 sepn, against an electrode frame of plastic (II).    The hybrid electrode is sealed by introducing a paste mixt. of (i) plastic corresp. to (II), dissolved in an organic solvent, and (ii) powdery water-repellent plastic corresp. to (I), between the electrode frame and the water-repellent plastic layer of the hybrid electrode.    Sealing prevents electrolyte leakage, even in continuous operation.
Cell comprises a negative electrode, an AgO/Ag2Odepolariser blend contg. up to 70 wt.% AgO, a separator between the negative electrode and depolariser mixt., an aq. KOH electrolyte and a continuous, electrolyte permeable Ag layer on the depolariser surface adjacent the separator.    The depolariser mixt. is stable in KOH. The cell has a max. open circuit voltage of 1.75V and a single voltage plateau during discharge. It can provide an average flash current 0.2A/cm2 cell cross sectional area.    The cell is useful as a button cell type power source for electronic watches, hearing aids etc. The Ag layer provides greater stability, i.e. less expansion on storage due to gassing, and higher flash current than cells without the Ag layer, e.g. cell .45 in. dia. with (without) Ag layer, 40% AgO, had a flash current of 0.69 (0.15)A, expansion in 4 weeks at 165 degrees F of 12.5 (21.2) mils.
Battery electrode has a number of parallel rods of metallic material carrying active material on part of their lengths with a tubular sheath of braided inorganic threads encompassing each rod to retain the active material. A number of spaced axial threads extend along the length of the sheath, forming crossing points with the braid. The axial threads are formed of a mixt. of 2 thermoplastics materials of different softening temperatures, the threads of the sheath being held together by adhesion at the crossing points with the thermoplastics fibres of lower softening temperatures.    Allows use of glass fibres for the sheath, which is very suitable but has to be locked to prevent distortion of the tube.
A battery terminal pin assembly comprises an elongated cylindrical pin, partially inserted into the battery; a header forming one end of the battery and having an opening (larger than the exterior part of the pin) through which the pin extends; a bracket mounted on and extending inwards from the header interior surface and having a diam. larger than the header opening; and a sealant mounted on the pin and having a diam. equal to that of the bracket, which is forceably enclosed about the sealant.    The assembly effectively prevents leakage from the battery, esp. in Li-SO2 systems with an Al pin (Al is incapable of withstanding temps. required for formation of a glass-metal seal). In an example, polypropylene sulphide contg. about 40 wt.% fibreglass and 20 wt.% PTFE fill effectively prevented leakage when used as a sealant around an Al terminl pin in a Li-SO2 battery.
A fixed position combination water electrolyser and fuel cell for selectively storing and supplying energy comprises (a) a horizontal pan contg. aq. electrolyte; (b) positive and negative electrodes selectively connectable to a d.c. source for charging and a load for discharge; (c) first and second confined regions contg. H2 and O2 respectively, including gas formed on charge.    O2 is supplied to a region contiguous with the exposed electrolyte surface. A porous positive electrode, comprising a thin, porous conductor having a porous, hydrophobic, non-conductive coating (pref. PTFE) on its upper surface is yieldably supported to float on the electrolyte with its pores (partly) below the electrolyte surface. Thus a large portion of the electrode surface contacts the electrolyte adjacent the electrolyte-O2 interface.    An H2 container within the pan communicates with the H2 supply. The container is (partly) formed by a nonporous H diffusion electrode having one surface contacting the electrolyte and the opposite surface communicating with the H2. The temp., current density, electrolyte purity and concn. on charge are maintained so that all H2 is formed within the H container in the pan. All the H2 is confined and kept separated from the O2.    Device is used for storing low cost off peak energy for peak supply requirements. The cell operates at intermediate temp. with good efficiency (50%) and long life tested over several hundred hr. without degradation.
Water soluble or water swelling paste is mixed with liq. which is capable of dissolving a part of the paste. The mixt. is coated on an ion permeable film e.g. polyvinyl alcohol film which is swelled by the liq. thereby forming a separator for dry cells.
A separator for a battery consists of a polymer of ethylene and acrylic acid. It is used in an alkaline battery or an organic electrolyte battery and is chemically stable to cathode and electrolyte. The separator also has excellent resistance to oxidn. By repetition of charging and discharging, no gas bubbles remain on the separator. Therefore, deterioration of the performance of the battery can be reduced.
Separator for a battery comprise protective films of a polymer of ethylene and acrylic acid formed on both surfaces of a semipermeable membrane of cellophane or polyvinyl alcohol. It is used in an alkaline battery or an organic electrolyte battery and is chemically stable to cathode and electrolyte. The separator also has excellent resistance to oxidn. By repetition of charging and discharging, no gas bubbles remain on the separator.    Therefore, deterioration of the performance of the battery can be reduced.
Packing material for a battery consists of a mixt. of polyethylene and an ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer. Material is used to seal an opening portion of a battery e.g. an alkaline battery, a Leclanche' cell or an air cell. The packing amterial has adequate flexibility, good resistance to stress and cracking, and excellent resistance to bending fatigue.    As an example, in packing material, the amt. of ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer is less than 10 wt.%. When the amt. of the ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer exceeds 10 wt.%, packing material is frequently sheared at opening edge of a cathode casing or a zinc casing. In the case of an alkali manganese battery, packing material is used consisting of 95 pts. wt. low density polyethylene, 3 pts. wt. of an ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer and 2 pts. wt. of glass fibre.
Packing material for a battery consists of a mixt. of polyethylene and an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. Material is used to seal an opening portion of a battery e.g. an alkaline battery, a Leclanche' cell or an air cell. It has adequate flexibility, good resistance to stress and cracking, and excellent resistance to bending fatigue.    As an example, in a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, the amt. of vinyl acetate is 10-40 wt.%. When the amt. of vinyl acetate is less than 10 wt.%, stretch modulus of packing material is low. When the amt. of vinyl acetate exceeds 40 wt.%, tensile strength of packing material is decreased. In packing material, the amt. of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer is less than 10 wt.%. Pref. packing material consists of 97 pts. wt. low density polyethylene and 3 pts. wt. ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.
The Ni electrode is prepd. by coating conductive porous substrate with an activator powder and a bonding agent mixt. and immersing the coated substrate in a soln. of cobalt salt and acid to impregnate it with the salt and the acid. The substrate is impregnated with alkali soln., the salt is e.g. cobalt nitrate, cobalt acetate and cobalt hydroxide and the acid is e.g. nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid and formic acid.    The electrode contains the salt, the acid and the alkali, so that the discharge properties of the electrode are improved.
The sintered electrode plate mfr. comprises mixing metal powder with an organic binder to form a slurry. The slurry is used for coating the supporting member to form a substrate. The substrate is dried. This is followed by spraying it with wetting agent and sintering the sprayed substrate to form the electrode plate.    The wetting agent improved uniformity of the substrate sintering. It has a high mechanical strength.
The anode electrode of the alkaline storage battery comprises an anode collector and an anode activator sheet consisting of an anode activator and a bonding agent of polyethylene elastomer contg. halogen.    The anode activator is bonded to the anode collector with the improved bonding agent of the polyethylene elastomer, this reduces the resistance of the anode.
Injection process is used to produce a acking, which is fitted between an outer core of a cylindrical case having a diameter of about 1 cm. and its top head cover. The case is that of a secondary electric cell. The shape of the packing is annular. The packing is made of a flexible plastic material.    A moulding die for injection moulding of the packing consists of an upper member, lower member, and core, which are assembled to form a cavity. The core has a truncated, circular cone shape. The cavity is formed around the side and bottom walls of the core, but the lower section of the cavity communicates with a hollow space. After moulding of the packing, the core is lowered together with the lower member down to a position, where the moulding can be released from the upper member, and the core is released from the moulding.
The surface layer of a gas electrode is composed of an active carbon fibre cloth contg. a water repellent agent and a catalyst serving as an electrone collector. The centre layer of the gas electrode may be composed of a nickel net.    The gas electrode has stable characteristics for a long time.
An alkaline cell has an electrolyte reservoir comprising a natural fibre nonwoven fabric and a synthetic resin fibre nonwoven fabric. The natural fibre may consist of cotton. The synthetic resin fibre may consist of polyamide resin.    The alkaline cell is used in an electronic watch, camera and an electronic calculator. The alkaline cell has an improved cell capacity.    An alkaline cell has a stainless steel anode. The anode mixt. of Zn amalgam, a cathode mixt. of Ag O, AgO, HgO, etc., a separator of cellophane, a synthetic resin fibre nonwoven fabric electrolyte reservoir, a natural fibre nonwoven fabric electrolyte reservoir and a packing.
Electrode for electrochemical cells, comprises a porous fibre substrate, 0.1-3 mm. thick, made of organic polymers (1), and fitted with a conductor grid in contact with electrochemically active material (2) deposited to provide 0.1 g. of material (2)/cm.2/mm. thickness.    The polymers (1) are pref. polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, PVC, polyvinylidene chloride, vinyl acetatechloride copolymer, an acrylic polymer, PTFE, or regenerated cellulose.    The conductors may form a complete grid using a cross-section of 0.03-7 mm.2 or an incomplete grid extending over 15-85% of the electrode may be used. The edge conductor on the grid pref. has cross-section 0.1-4.5 mm.2. The conductors can be made by casting molten metal onto the substrate with rapid cooling to prevent damage to the polymer.
A tubular cover of fabric material consists of closely packed parallel tube cells separated by strips which are narrower than the diameter of those tubes, the fabric being impregnated with a thermoplastic polymer to have a permeability to air of 0.5-20 litres/min./cm.2/cm. head of water, the m.pt. of the polymer is 1 20 degrees C. below the m.pt. or carbonising temp. of the fabric, alternatively the composite is deformable at not less than 20 degrees C below the melting or carbonising temperature of the fabric.    The material is partic. suitable for accumulators or liquid or gas filters.
The finned electrode has a number of elongated spacer bars of uniform width and thickness mounted in parallel with the longer side the titanium bar.    A number of elements which have wider bottoms than and are contained between the spacers are made from iron, copper, cobalt, nickel (alloys). A prefabricated diaphragm envelops the finned electrode and maintains contact with the fins.    Easier assembly of prefabricated diaphragms is possible. The cathode and diaphragm membrane are preassembled and from a unit which can easily combine with anodes to form multi unit cells.
A zinc electrode for an alkaline storage battery comprises an electrically conductive resin layer formed on a metal core body, and a zinc active material layer formed on the electrically conductive resin layer. The electrically conductive resin layer consists of an alkali-resistant resin contg. powder of electrically conductive material having higher hydrogen overvoltage than the zinc active material.    As an alkali-resistant resin, polyvinyl alcohol, polystyrene or epoxy resin is used. As electrically conductive material having higher hydrogen overvoltage than zinc active material, bismuth, silver, indium, cadmium, metal amalgam, carbon black or acetylene black is used.    In an example, a perforated copper plate is used as a metal core body. A terminal of silver foil is fused to the plate. The plate is coated with an alkali-resistant resin produced by dispersing 3 g of Bi powder in 10 ml of a 5 wt. % polyvinyl alcohol aq. soln. to form an electrically conductive layer. Zinc active material is produced by mixing 10 g of 10 wt. % amalgamed Zn, 70 g of zinc oxide and 10 g of calcium hydroxide and kneading the mixt. with 30 ml of a dispersion soln. contg. 20 wt. % of polytetrafluoroethylene. The zinc active material layer is formed on the electrically conductive resin layer.
A cathode mixt. consists mainly os silver peroxide (AgO) formed into a body. The surface of the body is reduced to form a layer of silver oxide or a mixt. of silver oxide and silver. The body is then compacted into the surface of the compacted body is reduced to form a silver layer.    In an example, AgO powder contg. 3% of fine powder PTFE was compacted at a press. of 4 ton/cm2 into a pellet of dia. of 10.5 mm and height 1.3 mm. The pellet was immersed in an aq. soln. contg. 1% of potassium sodium tartrate for 24 hours to reduce its surface. The pellet was washed and dried. The pellet was placed in a cathode casing. A stainless steel net is put on the pellet.    The pellet was pressed at a press. of 8 ton/cm2. An aq. soln. contg. 25% of potassium sodium tartrate as a reducing soln. was poured into the cathode casing, so that a silver layer is formed on the pellet by redn.    Self-discharging is decreased during preservation and a discharge voltage is stable because a dense silver layer is formed on a cathode mix consisting mainly of AgO.
The base e.g. paper, glass and plastics is coated with compsn. contg. light sensitive macromolecular cpds. of formulae (I) or (II). where the content of residual OH gps. must be at least more than 5 mol %. Comps. comprises 5-30 wt. % light sensitive macromolecular cpd., 10 wt. % sensitizer, 0-10 wt. % plasticizer and 60-95 wt. % solvent. Sensitizers are e.g. Michler's ketone, paranitroaniline, 1,2-benzanthraquinone, 5-nitroacenaphthene and the like. Plasticizers are e.g. non-ionic surface active agents such as polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate and so on. Light insensitive polymers are e.g. vinyl acetate resins, epoxy resins, vinylidene chloride resins and other synthetic polymers. Solvents are e.g. ketones such as acetone, methylethyl ketone or cyclohexanone, and cellosolves. Sheet obtd. can be applied to mask material for photographic plate-making, second original, printed wiring and mask for making IC.
A porous fluorine resin film is formed on an active reaction member whic consists of metal and contains a catalyst and a water proofing agent to make a gas diffusion electrode. A solvent having affinity for fluorine resin is permeated into the periphery of the electrode. The periphery is coated with an adhesive while the solvent is wetting. Thereafter, the solvent is evaporated and removed from the periphery of the electrode. The periphery is then coated with an adhesive, such as epoxy resin, which does not contain a solvent. The gas diffusion electrode is fixed to a battery casing through the adhesive to produce a fuel cell.    Since the adhesive is coated on the periphery of the electrode which contains the solvent, the electrode is impregnated with the adhesive to increase the adhesion strength. Epoxy resin is further coted on the adhesive areas to increase the adhesion strength of the electrode. Therefore, gas diffusion electrodes having long life are obtd. Suitable solvents include acetone, ethanol, methanol and tetrahydrofuran.
A positive active material composed of nickel hydroxide and graphite is mixed with a binder of thermoplastic or thermosetting organic material together with a milling agent of gelatin aq. soln. to make a paste. The paste agent of gelatin aq. soln. to make a paste. The paste agent on gelatin aq. soln. to make a paste. The paste is coated on a porous metal plate and dried.    Since the paste type plates are easily produced as compared with pocket or sintering type plates, the fabrication cost is low. In add., the active material is not separated from the metal plate to provide the positive plate having high mechanical strength.
Heat and frost-resistant sealing mastic for a storage battery used at (-)50-(+)80 degrees C comprises: rcycled rubber, petroleum bitumen, polydiene (I), antioxidant (II) and mineral oil. It does not crack at very low temps. and retains its structure during casting at high temp.    (I) is a divinyl-styrene thermoelsatoplastic dielectric rubber-like material which cecomes soft at 80-90 degrees C and melts at 180-200 degrees C. It retains its elastic properties at-50 degrees C and mixes well with other components. IT is resistant to ozone, acids and alkalis. IT is prepd. by polymerisation of divinyl with styrene in the presence of organo-lithium catalyst.
3-10 mol.% of polyvinyl alcohol is modified with maleic acid base of formula (I) (where M is Na or K) or crotonic acid base of formula (II), and 80-90 mol % of polyvinyl alcohol is saponified with (I) or (II) at the same time.    A paste is mixed with the binder of polyvinyl alcohol together with Kraft pulp to produce a fibrous material. The material is treated by a paper making machine to obtain a separator.
3-10 Mole% of polyvinyl alcohol is modified with maleic acid base (1) or crotonic acid base (II), and 80-90 mol.% of polyvinyl alcohol is saponified with the maleic acid base or the crotonic acid base at the same time. A paste is mixed with the binder of polyvinyl alcohol, and the mixt. coated on paper to make the separator. (where M is Na of K)
Cup-shaped separator, for negative and positive plates, is filled with a caustic potash electrolyte. A mixture of zinc powder and carboxymethylcellulose is added to the electrolyte to produce a paste.
The membrane comprises ion semipermeable layers adhesively connected to each other. The interface of one ion permeable layer defines the interface of the other permeable layer. Vinylon film made by acetalising polyvinyl alcohol serves as an ion semipermeable film in a Zn acid alkaline storage cell. The film is permeable to K zincate, but is resistive to Zn acid ion and Zn metal.    By increasing the number of interfaces the resistivity is improved to prevent formation of zinc dendrite.
Cell comprises a composite anode of zinc coated with a layer of alkaline earth metal hydroxide, and a semipermeable film on the surface of the hydroxide which is not permeable for zinc acid ion, an electrolyte absorbing body, and a cathode. The total amt. of electrolyte soln is limited to about 2.3 to 4.0 ml per 1 AH discharge capacity of the anode.    The cell uses nickel oxide or silver oxide as a cathode active material, zinc as an anode active material, and KOH soln. electrolyte. Improved discharge property is obtd. without causing hydrogen gas at low temp. discharge or at high efficiency discharge.
Separator between a positive and negative electrode consists of laminated unwoven fibre cloths of polypropylene andpolyamide. Polypropylene fibre cloth is in contact with the positive electrode.    The separator is not dissolved by oxygen generated by the anode and the alkaline storage batter has a high discharge characteristics.
The accumulator uses an alkaline electrolyte and 1 winding made from an anode strip and a cathode strip sepd. on both sides in the winding by two inert porous foils retaining electrolyte; the foils project beyond both edges of the strips, i.e. the foils are wider, and the anode and cathode substances on both sides of the strips react with the electrolyte during change and discharge.    Pref. a row of five boxes is used, each contg. one winding on a central conductor, both edges of each winding resting on a layer of hardenable plastic or a rubber adhesive; foils are pred. non-woven polyester. The pref. anode substances is Co2O3, but iron oxide may be used; the anode strip is pref. Co, Cu, or plastic. The cathode substance is pref. AlF3 on Al strip; and the electrolyte is pref. calcium perchlorate with water, NaOH, and a few drops of HCl.
A stabilised fuel cell electrode is made by (a) forming a uniform aq. suspension of catalyst particles and hydrophobic polymer particles, pref. PTFE, (b) adjusting pH to 1.5-6 or 10-12 to form an electrocatalyts/polymer flocculate and (c) fabricating the flocculate into an electrode.    The catalyst/binder distribution is more uniform, improving electrochemical performance and decay characteristics.
A water-soluble paste is mixed with Zn powder to make a gel. The gel is coated on one surface of a conductive sheet which consists of a high molecular cpd. e.g. polybutene, and carbon powder. The coated sheet is dried and divided into desired shape.
A negative plate after forming is immersed into an alcoholic (I) of nylon or an emulsion thereof. After the negative plate is instantaneously dried, it is immersed into the alcohol soln. and dried.    (I) is a methanol soln. contg. copolymer of nylon 6,66 or 610.
The electrolyte consists of zinc chloride not contg. solid ammonium chloride, and the separator is formed by a polyvinyl alcohol film whose surface is rendered partially insol. by boric acid radicals.    Dry cells with high discharge and long performances are provided.
The plastics box-like case of a storage battery is provided with carrying straps moulded integrally with opposite upright walls. Each strap is connected to the wall by an integral hinge and can be swung to an upward position in which it forms a carrier handle.    Each strap is hinged so that it can be swung downwards to a storage position, where it is releasably held by complementary retaining devices on it and on the case.    This is economical to make as the handle forms an integral part of the moulded box.
Interconnected multi layer sheaths for battery electrodes are produced by forming an inner layer of fibrous material around a number of adjacent mandrels and covering the layer by an outer layer of material. The layers move along connector sections of the mandrels of elongate cross section, where the inner and outer layers are bonded together to form interconnected tubes, and then along mandrel sections of different cross section to reshape the tubes to the desired final cross section.    Used for forming tube electrode sheaths for used in lead acid batteries. Forms all the sheaths for the tube electrodes of a battery plate in one coherent piece. The elongate cross section of the connector section of the mandrels facilitates joining the sections of the sheath to obtain a good bond between them.
Pb, Pb cpds. and plastic material are recovered from scraps storage battens by crushing the battens, adding the crushed material to an aqueous suspension of magnetic granular particles to separate inert and plastic material from Pb and Pb compounds, magnetically separating the granular material and then separating plastic from inert material.    Up to 95% Pb values and plastics can be recovered.
A synthetic resin sheet is coated with a synthetic resin soln. which consists of synthetic resin, a solvent, and a non-solvent. Short fibres are electrically planted into the coating and the volatile components removed from the sheet to provide the separator.
Openings with dia 1-5mm are formed in an acid resistant plastic plate to give a degree of openings of 40-60%. The plastic plate is fixed to a lear or lead alloy frame to provide an anode for lead storage batteries.
Magnesium oxide is mixed with an electrolyte gelatiniser together with a binder to make a pate mixt. The mixt. is coated on one or both surfaces of a microporous alkali resistant synthetic resin sheet to make a separator for alkaline batteries.
Prepn. of an electrocatalyst comprises (a) treating refractory inorganic oxide with a pyrolysable org. cpd. so as to form at least one monolayer of carbonised pyropolymer on the refractory oxide surface; (b) impregnating the mixt with a soln. contg. 1 catalytically active metal; (c) heating the mixt. to a temp. high enough to remove the solvent (b) reducing the mixt. in a reducing atmos.; and (e) recovering the catalyst.    Used in cm electrochemical cell either as a fuel cell (esp.) or a gas-metal cell, or in a cell in which electrolytic reactions are being effected. The electrocatalyst may be used to catalyse cathodic or anodic reactions. The catalyst can be prepd. at temps. which do not modify the capital dimensions of the metal and hence these can be held within given limits.
An accumulator chassis with two insulating end plates joined by 2 insulating side members fixed to them and providing apertures for the batteries, is supported by two metal bars parallel to the side members and having their ends bent at 90 degrees to form uprights attached to each end plate. The bars may be metal strips, the side members wood and the end plates of plastics e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS copolymer of PVC opt. with perforations for holding. Pref. &gt;1 tie bar unites the side members near the centre.    Used for heavy, high capacity accumulators, e.g. for transport. The metal supports give improved shock resistance and earth through the cell walls is prevented by attaching the metal to the insulating end plates.
A non-dendritic zinc layer is formed using a deposition soln. contg. a Zn cpd. and 0.001-10 wt.% of a non-ionic surfactant of formula: CF3(CF2)m-SO2-NR-CH2- CH2(OCH2-CHR1)n-OH (I) (where m is 3-15; R is 1-10C alkyl; R' is H or CH3; n is 0-30) of mol. wt. 550-1500. The layer is formed by positioning a pair of electrodes in the soln., applying a current and depositing the layer on the negative electrode.    The additive is stable to redn. and oxidn. and is effective in small amts.
A cathode for an alkaline battery comprises an active material layer formed on a metal core. The cathode active material is prepd. by mixing cathode active material powder, electrically conductive agent powder, fluororesin and thermoplastic alkali-proof high polymers.    In an example, 60 g Ni(OH)2 and 20 g NiOOH as cathode active material are mixed with 10 g nickel carbonyl as an electrically conductive agent to form mixed powder. 6.5 g polytetrafluoroethylene as a fluororesin in water and 1 g polyvinyl alcohol as thermoplastic alkali-proof high polymers are mixed with 40 cc water. The mixed powder and the aq. soln. are mixed and kneaded. A sheet-like cathode active layer is formed by repeated rolling of the mixt. The sheet-like cathode active layer is deposited on a Ni plated porous iron plate having a Ag foil as a terminal.
Manganese dioxide is heat-treated at about 400 degrees C for 10 hr and then quenched in demineralised water at 0 degree C.    After filtering, the MnO2 powder is dried at 50 degrees C for 16 hours to obtain MnO2 having deformed crystalline structure.    Cathode is fabricated by fusing compacted mixt. consisting of 90 pts. wt. MnO2 active material, 6 pts. wt. acethylene black as conductive agent and 4 pts. wt. polyethylene binder.    Since MnO2 is produced with a large quantity of crystal defects, cation (Li+) can be easily diffused in the MnO2 particles. Since the MnO2 is formed as fine powder by quenching, the surface area, i.e. reaction area, is increased.
The catalyst comprises a base, a noble metal, such as Pd, on the base and a water-proof layer consisting a uniform mixt. of silicon resin and F-contg. polymer, such as trifluoride-chloride ethylene resin.    The catalyst is placed in the battery jar and the H2 and O2 generated when the battery is charged. The bonded H2 and O2 are refluxed to an electrolyte of the battery. The catalyst has a high acid proof property and stable catalytic action.
The insulating packing which seals the cases of alkaline storage batteries consists of polycondensed polyamide resin prepd. by polycondensn. of hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid. The insulating packing is used in batteries, such as Ag batteries, Hg batteries or Ni-Zn batteries. The packing prevents leakage of alkaline electrolyte from the case.    In an example a metal case of Ni- plated steel plate is used as a cathode. A cathode activator sheet consisting of a mixt. of Ag oxide and graphite is placed in the case. A separator is placed on the cathode activator sheet. An electrolyte impregnating sheet of porous fibres and a gel type anode activator layer are placed in order on the separator. The anode activator layer is covered with a Ni-plated steel cap used as an anode. The insulating packing ring is sandwiched between the cap and the case closely.
The battery consists of a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an improved electrolyte. The electrolyte consists of a solute and a solvent consisting of cyclic ether which is polymerised by a polymerising agent.    In an example the cyclic ether was THF. The solvent consists of 80 vol. % of the THF and 20 vol. % of propylene carbonate. Lithium perchlorate (1 mole) and AlCl3 (2 g) were added in the 1 litre of solution. A positive electrode and a Li negative electrode are sepd. by a Ni disc. These electrodes are stuck to the disc. The discs are laminated to form the battery. The electrolyte is placed between the discs.
The method comprises (1) inserting a flexible electrode sheet, such as a cathode sheet, contg. an activator in a battery case, (2) pressing the sheet to adhere it onto the inside wall of the battery case and (3) inserting another electrode and a separator in the case to form the battery.
The zinc electrode comprises a collector, which is covered with an insulating layer, and zinc electrode activator covered on the collector. The size of the collector is larger than the electrode size.    The battery is free from so-called "deformation phenomenon" which means the decrement of the zinc active material at the end portion of the zinc electrode caused by the edge effect of discharge, and the swelling of the central portion of the zinc electrode caused by moving the zinc melted out from the end portion of the electrode at the discharge to the central portion of the electrode, when charged. Service life of the battery is prolonged.    The collector consists e.g. of silver net which is insulated with a polyvinyl chloride sheet. The zinc activator is impregnated in the collector. The electrode is used as a negative electrode of a zinc-air sec. battery.
Electrode support for a battery, esp. a lead accumulator is claimed. The novelty is that the support consists of a sheet of glass fibre felt reinforced with metal wire which is a good conductor of electricity, the wire being arranged so the electrode has uniform conductivity across the entire surface of the sheet.    The wire(s) are pref. Cu, Cd, Cr, Sn, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn, or their alloys, esp. Cu coated with Pb or Sn, and pref. form a grid or trellis between two glass fibre mats sewn together, or glued by spot glueing. The thread used in sewing is pref. PVC, and the assembled mats are pref. provided with contracts by pressing, esp. PB or Pb alloy contacts.    In one pref. mfg. process, the glass fibre mats and wires are fed from spools through a sewing station where PVC threads sew the assembly together.    Used in mfr. of electrode supports which have low wt., corrosion resistance, and electric conductivity, without the prodn. problems involved with conventional mfg. methods.
The performance of halogen cells and batteries is improved by adding to the electrolyte an ether additive of formulae (I)-(V). (R-X-R')mz (I) Z -(R-R-X-R'-)nZ' (II) Z'(-R-XR'-)nZ(-R-X-R'-)n'Z(-R-X-R'-)n"Z'. (III) Z (-R-X-R'-)nZ' m (IV) (-R-X-R'-)nZ m (V)    In the formulae R and R' are 1-8C aliphatic gps. n,n', and n" are 1-100, m is 1-6, Z and Z' are gps. which do not render the additives halogen complex crystalline at 30 degrees C and are incapable of irreversible combination with halogens and X is O, HC-OR", and R'" -C-OR" where R" and R'" are 1-6C aliphatic gps. Pref. Z and Z' gps. are alkyls, amides, carbocycles, carboxylates, halocarbons. halides, hydrogen, phosphonates, siloxanes, sulphonates, sulphones and sultones, or halogen complexing gps. such as ammonium.    The additives eliminate the necessity of a depolarizer or a specially fabricated electrode, and provide increased halogen complexing ability, enhancing the shelf-life and capacity of cells and batteries.
A mixt. of water-soluble or water-swelling powdery binder and thermofusible resin powder is mixed with particles of active substance (such as zinc powder) which is previously heated at higher than the fusing pt. of the resin. followed by fusing, and the resultant is used as binder for binding the powdery binder with the active substance.
One end of a tube having two open ends is contacted with the cathode case and in the bottom portion of the separator which separates cathode from anode is formed an ion-permeable or non-permeable film made of polymer which is soluble in water and coagulated by alkaline material. The polymer includes polyvinyl alcohol, etc.
The sealed alkaline storage battery comprises a positive electrode of nickel hydroxide, a negative electrode of Fe, Zn or Cd and an alkaline electrode, which are separated by an improved separator, comprising composite sheets of a polyamide unwoven cloth and a polypropylene unwoven cloth, which is contacted with the positive electrode. the improved heat resistance separator permits the battery to be used at a high temperature of about 35 degrees C.
Nickel hydroxide powder (70 wt. %), graphite powder (15 wt. %), stainless steel fibres of 0.1 to 1 mm length (3 wt. %), carboxymethyl cellulose (2 wt. %) and polyvinylidene fluoride (10 wt. %) are mixed with water to form a paste. The paste is coated on the both surface of a nickel net. The coated net is pressed at 300 to 500 Kg/cm2. Then it is heated at 180 degrees C to 200 degrees C.    A nickel electrode of high capacitance is thus cheaply mfd. and used as an anode in nickel cadmium batteries.
The silver oxide battery comprises a negative electrode, a positive electrode having an activator of silver oxide and an alkaline electrolyte. A tungstate is added to the negative electrode, the positive electrode or the electrolyte. The tungstate prevents diffusion of Ag ions into the negative electrode. The battery has a stable discharge voltage.
The battery comprises a cathode of light metal, an anode and an organic electrolyte. The anode comprises a copper oxide (CuO) plate and a copper thin layer formed on the surface of the plate.    The organic electrolyte battery has a stable discharge voltage.    In an example, the anode consists of a pressed CuO plate. The copper is deposited on the plate with a vacuum deposition. The anode is placed in a battery jar. A separator consisting of a polypropylene unwoven cloth is placed on the anode. An electrolyte impregnating sheet of unwoven propylene is placed on the separator. The cathode of a Li disc is placed on the impregnating sheet.
The battery comprises a negative electrode having a light metal activator, a positive electrode having an activator of solid carbon fluoride and an improved electrolyte. The electrolyte consists of a solvent of propylenecarbonate and 1,2-dimethoxyethane and a solute of lithium born fluoride (LiBF4). The battery having the improved electrolyte has an improved discharge voltage.
A non-aqs. electrolyte battery uses V2O5 contg. 1 metal component selected from Li, Na and K as an anode active material.    The discharge efficiency of the active material vanadium pentaoxide is increased and the discharge characteristic of the battery is improved.    In an example V2O5 powder was dipped in an unsatd. aq. soln. of LiOH, NaOH, or KOH for about 20 hrs. and then filtered and dried at about 150 degrees C, 90 wt. parts of the vanadium pentaoxide, 15 wt. pts. of graphite (as a conductive assistant) and 15 wt pts. of suspension of ethylene polyfluoride (as a binder) were uniformly mixed and pressure-moulded to give an anode. As a cathode active material, Li, Na, K, etc. was used. As an electrolyte, a paper absorbed with acetonitrile, propylene carbonate and lithium perchlorate.
The battery uses Mo trioxide contg. 1 metal component of Li, Na, or K as anode active material.    In an example MoO3 powder is dipped in an unsatd. aq. soln. of LiOH, NaOH, or KOH for about 20 hrs. and then filtered and dried at about 150 degrees C, 90 wt. pts. of the MoO3, 15 wt. pts. of graphite (as a conductive assistant) and 15 wt. pts. of suspension of ethylene polyfluoride (as a binder) are uniformly mixed and pressure-moulded to give an anode. As a cathode active material, Li, Na, Mg etc. is used. As an electrolyte a paper impregnated with acetonitrile, propylene carbonate and Li perchlorate is used.
The battery uses MnO2 contg. 1 metal component selected from Li, Na and K as active anode material. The discharge efficiency of the material is increased and excellent discharge characteristic is obtd.    In an unsatd. aq. soln. of LiOH, NaOH, or KOH, zeta-MnO2 (av. particle size 10-30 mu) was dipped for 24 hrs. and then filtered and dried at 150 degrees C, 90 pts. wt. of the treated MnO2, 15 pts. wt. graphite and 10 pts. wt. ethylene -polyfluoride suspension were uniformly mixed. The mixture was pressure-moulded to give an anode. As a active cathode material, Li, Na, K, Mg, etc. was used. The non-aq. electrolyte was acetonitrile, propylene carbonate and lithium perchlorate mixted soln. immersed in an absorption paper.
A membrane is formed over a standard diaphragm cell foraminous electrode by (i) suspending a matting material in a fluid medium, (ii) inserting a foraminous electrode into the suspension, (iii) vacuum forming a layer of the matting material over the surface of the foraminious electrode so that its porosity is reduced, (iv) applying to the covered surface a layer of thermoplastic material including Nafion particles (RTM; fluorinated copolymer having pendant sulphonic acid gps.) in the sulphonyl fluoride form, (v) baking the electrode with the layers in place until the thermoplastic material is fused into a thin, uniform film on the surface of the matting material which is impermeable to hydraulic flow, and (vi) hydrolysing the Nafion particles to change the sulphonyl fluoride form to the cation exchange sulphonic acid form.    Standard diaphragm electrolytic cell equipment can be converted to a membrane electrolyte cell. The resultant cell will yield a high current density, a lower NaCl concn. in the resultant NaOH soln. cf. the standard cell, a higher resultant NaOH concn., good utilisation of existing cell space, longer lifetimes for the cell, and a lower potential.
Thermopile assembly suitable for a microwatt thermoelectric generator used for surgical implantation comprises semiconductor thermoelectric elements bonded to a substrate by sputtering and annealed at 250-450 degrees C. Elements are pref. p- and n-type Bi telluride and the substrate is pref. insulated metal or plastic. Annealing heat-treatment is pref. carried out for 2-18 hrs.    The thermopile is small but has good voltage output and does not need to be placed under compressive forces.
An impregnating agent for a capacitor or storage battery) comprises 50-70 wt. % of diester (e.g. dioctyl-phthalate, diphentyl-phthalate or dibutylbenzyl-phthalate) mixed with 50-30 wt. % of polybutene (e.g. n-butylene isobutylene or their mix.) An anti-oxidant such as 3.5-tertiary butyl-4-hydroxy anisole is opt. added to the mixt.    Small size capacitors can be produced using the new impregnating agent.
98-80 wt. % petrolactam or vaseline is mixed with 20-2 wt. % polyethylene of mol. wt. 500-1,500 to form a sealing agent of m.pt. 60 degrees C. The dry cell has long durability.
A mixt. is formed of 80 wt. % paraffin wax m. pt. 80 degrees C with 20 wt. % polybutene of av. mol. wt. 2,500 giving a sealing agent of softening pt. about 79 degrees C and liquid at 130 degrees C. The sealing agent is filled in a zinc container through a separator medium; a carbon rod is vertically placed in an anode mixt. and the opening of the zinc container is sealed with polyethyleneresin.    The dry cell has no leakage of liq with a creeping of the electrolyte soln.
Prodn. of a separator for a dry cell is claimed in which a kraft paper (50 mu thick) is dipped in an soln. contg. cros-linked etherified starch and dried. One surface at least of the resulting kraft paper is coated with the same starch i.e. etherified crosslinked starch or a different kind of starch i.e. crosslinked starch.    The separator is free from pin holes and is inserted between an anodic mixed material and a zinc cathode.
A dry cell is claimed in which (1) a separator consisting of (a) PVA film having DP 500-2,500 and a saponification degree of 94 to 99 mol. % (b) a barrier paper and (c) a paste layer is inserted between an anodic mixed material and a zinc cathode so the paste layer confronts the zinc cathode. An aq. compsn. of ammonium chloride (10 wt. %) zinc chloride (15 to 30 wt. %) and water (balance) is used as the electrolytic soln.    The separator inhibits migration of the electrolytic soln. into the anodic mixt.
A synthetic resin sealing plate is fixed between a positive electrode and an end portion of a metal casting. A ring-shaped insulating thin plate made of synthetic resin, synthetic rubber, etc. is inserted into the positive electrode through a metal terminal and disposed on the end portion. The insulating thin plate is heated and adheres to the metal terminal and the end portion.
A carbon rod, an anodic material and a separator are inserted in a zinc can container. The zinc container is tightly sealed with a flange and a metal terminal as a sealing lid. Molten synthetic resin e.g. polyethylene, polystyrene or PVC is filled in all the slits to seal the container.
A carbon rod, an anodic material and a separator are inserted in a zinc can container acting as a cathode. The zinc container is sealed with a sealing lid. Molten synthetic resin, such as polystyrene of polyethylene, is used to seal the container around the lid.
Pulp is swollen by dipping it in an aq. zinc. chloride soln. and the swollen pulp is rinsed with water. It is reacted with an aq. soln. contg. orthophosphoric acid and urea. The reaction cpd. is dissolved in an aq. caustic soda soln. and centrifuged. A small amt. of insoluble component is removed and the supernatant soln. is mixed with ethanol to ppte. sodium cellulose phosphate.    The sodium cellulose phosphate is added as a gelling agent to the electrolyte soln. The dry cell has a high water conservative effect at high temp., and a long durability.
Drycell in which (1) distilled water contg. suspended crystalline cellulose powders is reacted withan aq. acrylamide soln. in the presence of sec. cerium ammonium nitrate as a redox catalyst, to form a cellulose graft polymer, and (2) the cellulose graft polymer is added as a stabiliser to an electrolytic soln.    Further, the cellulose grafted polymer is coated on a kraft paper to form a separator, inserted between a zinc cathode container and an anode.
Powdered paste material, i.e. natural prods. (e.g. corn starch or potato starch) and/or synthetics (e.g. methyl-cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose or polyvinyl alcohol) is mixed with a heated molten synthetic resin (e.g. polystyrene or polyethylene) and the resulting mixt. is moulded to a sheet. The sheet is used as a separator inserted between the anode and a zinc cathode.    Dry cells able to generate 0.85 V for 30 mins. discharge period are obtd.
Dry cell in which an electrolytic soln. contg. a satd. amt. of ammonium chloride and 13 wt. % zinc chloride is blended with a paste agent from polysaccharide e.g. glucose or galactose and/or a complex polysaccharide having beta-1.3 bond as a main bond.    The paste agent is prepared by mixing Carrgeen (product of Chondrus crisp, kind of seaweed) with corn starch and polyvinyl acetate emulsion. The dry cell has a long durability.
The air battery is prepd. by (1) sintering limestone to form calcium hydroxide powder, (2) packing the powder in several porous sacks and (3) placing the sacks in the air battery.    In an example, calcium hydroxide powder of 300 mesh is packed in the porous sack of polyamide unwoven cloth. An opening of the sack is sealed with a bonding agent. The sacks are placed in the bottom of a battery jar filled with an electrolyte of KOH.    A cathode of porous active carbon rod and zinc anode are placed in the jar consisting of ABS resin.
Electrode consists of (a) an active material composed of N cpd.(s), (b) an electro-conductive material; and (c) a synthetic resin binder. The binder is styrene-butadiene rubber, nitrile-butadiene rubber, polybutadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, or natural rubber latex.    Used partic. in Ni-Cd storage batteries. The electrode has moderate flexibility, so that a spirally arranged electrode can be easily obtd.
Process comprises (a) filling a paste consisting of lead oxide and dilute H3SO4 in a frame contg. lead alloy collector; (b) drying the paste-filled frame to make its surfaces semi-dry so as not to adhere to each other; (c) convering the paste-filled frame member with a protecting cover of active material composed of heat-shrinkable synthetic resin and having acid resist and anti-oxidn. properties to cover its peripheral openings.    Process further comprises (d) clamping both surfaces of the central portion of the cover by a rivet made of thermoplastic synthetic resin; and (e) heating the arrangement at a temp. greater than the shrinking temp. of the synthetic resin.    Suitable resins are polyesters, PVC, polypropylene, etc. The rivet is made e.g. of polyester, PVC, polyethylene, etc. In comparison with conventional clad-type lead storage battery plate, the prodn. is simple and the effectiveness of the storage battery is improved.
In a manganese dry cell, polyacrylic acid soda is added to an electrolyte or in a separator. The amount of corrosion products formed on the zinc surface in the dry cell is reduced, so that improved stability is obtd.    In an example, in an electrolyte consisting of ammonium chloride and zinc chloride, 30 wt. % of starch and 1-3 wt. % of polyacrylic acid soda is mixed. The paste mixt. is charged in a zinc can, and carbon rod embedded in an anode moulding is inserted into the centre portion of the can. Alternatively, a paste soln. contg. about 40 wt. % of starch and about 1 wt. % of polyacrylic acid soda is coated onto a craft paper and dried to give a separator. The separator thus obtd. is inserted into a zinc can in a manner that the past-coated surface contacts the inner surface of the zinc can. Then, an anode moulding in which carbon rod is embedded is charged in the zinc can. As a cathode active material, manganese dioxide is used in both cases.
An alkaline battery is described, in which a surface of a cathode collector which contacts with an amalgamated zinc cathode is composed of iron.    Battery has good preservation characteristics and liquid-leakage is reduced.    Typically battery comprises a metallic container made of nickel-plated iron or stainless steel, and an anode of silver oxide and graphite is inserted in the container at the bottom portion. A cathode comprises amalgamated zinc powder bonded by gellated alkali electrolyte contg. unswollen carboxymethylcellulose particles. A separator is made of a multilayer cellophane. A sealing packing is made of thermoplastic resin (e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.). A cathode collector penetrating through the central convex portion of the packing is welded to an inner surface of a sealing plate. An electrolyte-leakage preventing layer is provided made of adhesives, binders, etc.
A process comprises adding an electroconductive agent (e.g. carbon black) and a binder (e.g., fluorine resin powder) to an active material; and moulding the mixture material. The active material is produced by forming a manganese dioxide film obtd. by heat-decomposition of manganese salt on the particle surfaces of carbon fine powder.    Active material is formed as a film with core of carbon particle, so that it has large reactive surface area. The manganese dioxide has smaller electric resistance compared with conventional manganese dioxide, so that an amount of electroconductive material to be added can be reduced.
Each plate includes a positive electrode of Ni hydroxide sheet, a negative electrode consisting essentially of Zn, and a separator (I) disposed between the electrodes through a polypropylene non-woven sheet impregnated with an electrolyte.    (I) consists of heat shrinkable microporous film of polypropylene, and is wider than each electrode. The electrodes are wound by (I), so that both ends of (I), are extended therefrom. Porous sheets of water repellent polypropylene non-woven cloth are placed at both ends of the plates. The extended portions of (I) are thermally attached to the porous sheets at positions after the battery is filled with an electrolyte specific which partially covers the electrodes through the sheets.    Unwanted dendritic growth on the plates is avoided and rapid discharge performances and electrolyte leakage resistance are improved.
Separator consists of a microporous polypropylene film, an ion conductive cellophane (RTM) film, and a porous alkaline non-woven cloth. They are joined by applying a pressure, stronger at the periphery to make (dis)continuous recesses.    Separator is pref. for a button type silver battery. Since the periphery of the separator is mechanically deformed to fix respective members, the Cellophane film is not deformed by the hygroscopic property, and adheres to the other members. Button type silver batteries obtd. have increased discharge performances and low internal resistance, and are easily assembled.
In prodn. of a button-shaped alkali cell, an anode agent is produced by filling Zn powder and a highly soluble paste powder such as poly(Na acrylate), carboxymethyl cellulose or ethylene oxide into an anode terminal plate, then pouring an alkaline electrolyte soln. into the anode plate to render the electrolyte in the anode plate uniformly paste-like and disperse the Zn powder uniformly. Pref. the Zn powder is wetted with water or an alkali soln. of low concn. and then the paste is added. An alkali cell having stable performance and good leak resistance can be made using the anode agent.    Since the electrolytic soln. is rendered paste-like after it has been filled into the anode plate, it does not adhere to the edge of the anode plate and therefore does not induce leakage. The amts. of Zn powder and paste powder used are constant, and alkali cells of constant quality can be obtd.
A non-resilient polyisoprene with a high trans content is produced by polymerising isoprene in the presence of a catalyst obtd. by mixing a metal hydride, TiCl4 or TiBr4, methyl iodide and an ether. The metal hydride is LiAlH4 or LiBH4. The mole ratio of hydride:TiCl4 or TiBr4 is 1:1 to 6:1. The mole ratio of hydride to CH3I is 1:0.5 to 1:50. The metal hydride conc. is 0.5-20% and the ether conc. 1-30% based on monomer. The ether is diethyl ether or di-n-butyl ether.    The high trans polyisoprene is elastic, thermoplastic and tough. It is used for wire and cable insulation, battery casings and golf ball covers. In an example, to isoprene in cyclohexane were added LiAlH4 in diethyl ether, CH3I and TiCl4. The mixt. was heated to give 25% conversion to high trans polyisoprene.
Non-aq. sec. cell has a positive electrode comprising 90 wt. % Nb tetraselenide; balance is pref. Nb triselenide. Pref. cell has Li negative electrode and an electrolyte of LiClO4 dissolved in propylene carbonate. Cell may also contain tetraglyme.    Positive electrode may also contain C to increase conductivity and polyethylene powder to increase cohesiveness. Nb tetraselenide has formula NbSe4+x where x is 0-0.5.    Cell has high energy density and is extensively rechargeable; cell also exhibits constant voltage over much of its discharge curve.
The preposed separator has increased electric strength, ensured by conversion of the separator material with porophore into a fluidised state with electrode preheating to 150-160 degrees C.    Heated electrode is immersed into a bath of fluidised polyethylene powder and to make the coating porous, porophore is added to the polyethylene powder. Polyethylene sticks to the heated electrode, and the porophore is converted into a gas by high temp. leaving pores in the material applied to the electrode. Alternatively the porophore can be of the type dissolved in the electrolyte.    Separator material thickness obtained in one operation can be 0.5-0.8 mm. The layer has uniform thickness and porosity over the whole electrode surface.
The material which finds use in the mfr. of accumulator separators, is obtd. more cheaply and efficiently when PVC is modified with a finely dispersed (1-100 microns) chelate and/or sulphate of Ni, Co or Cu, taken in amounts of 0.01-0.1 pts. wt./100 pts. PVC.    Tests show that use of metal diacetylacetonate and/or sulphate increases the rate of sintering of the PVC powder by 10-15. and reduces the electrical resistance of the material by 18-22%.
A gas electrode for a battery comprises a porous sheet formed on a gas side of an electrode substrate, the porous sheet consisting of PTFE resin and graphite fluoride. Fine-powder of PTFE resin may be interposed between the porous sheet and a porous reactive layer.
A grease-like mixt. is coated on a carbon cathode rod which is exposed from a cathode mix layer in order to seal the gap between the rod and a closure member, the grease-like mixt. consists of polyolefin, oligomer and silicate powder(s) selected from aluminium silicate, magnesium silicate and silicates of alkali earth metals.
Storage battery has improved gelatinised electrolyte consisting of mixed soln. of KOH and LiOH soln. and a water soluble monomer of acrylamide, the mixed solutions then being polymerized.    As the electrolyte is gelatinous, it does not leak from a cell.    In an example, KOH (20 pts. wt. and LiOH (10 pts. wt.) are dissolved in water (80 pts. wt). The acrylic amide and methylene bisacrylic amide are added to the KOH and LiOH soln.. To the KOH and LiOH soln; the polymerizing agent of potassium peroxide and triethylamine is then added. Then the electrolyte is poured into a batter jar of the alkaline storage battery. An anode and a cathode are placed in the storage battery. The electrolyte is polymerized in the battery jar.
The separator comprises a nonwoven cloth, on which is formed an inorganic filler layer of silicates and which is impregnated with synthetic resin.    The separator is made by (1) coating the inorganic powder at 15 - 70 g/m2 on the unwoven cloth, (2) coating a synthetic resin soln. on the unwoven cloth and (3) drying the coated cloth to remove the solvent of the soln.. The separator has a high corrosion resistance separates an anode and a cathode perfectly.
Method comprises: (1) forming a mixt. of glass fibre having dia. &lt;10 mu synthetic resin and 1 solvent, (2) impregnating the mixt. into a porous sheet and (3) drying the porous sheet to remove the solvent to form a separator consisting of a glass fibre layer and a resin layer. The separator separates an anode from a cathode perfectly.    In an example PVC resin is dissolved in THF to form a 4% soln.. Glass fibres of average dia. 1 mu and about 0.5 mm length are mixed into the soln. A polyester unwoven cloth of 0.1 mm thickness is immersed in the soln. to coat it. The unwoven cloth is dried to form a mixed layer of 0.3 mm thickness consisting of PVC and the fibres on the unwoven cloth.
A cation exchange membrane is formed from a terpolymer (pref. with Tg 70 degrees C) of (a) CF2=CF-O-CF2-(CFXOCF2)a-(CFX')b-(CF2OCFx")c-A (I) (where a = 0-3, b = 0-6, c = 0-4, and either a or c is not O,X,X' and X" are F or a 1-5C perfluoroalkl gp. and A is CN, SOF, COOH, COOR1, COOM or CONR2R3, in which R1 is 1-10C (1-3C)alkyl, R2 and R3 are H or 1-10C alkyl, and M is an alkali metal or a quat. ammonium gp.) (b) CF2=CF-Od-(CGY)e-A (II) (where a = 0 or 1, d = 1-6, and Y is F or a 1-5C perfluoroalkyl gp) and (c) CF2=CZZ, (III) (where Z and Z' are H, Cl, F or CF3).    The terpolymer is opt. hydrolysed. Used partic. in cells for the prodn. of a halogen and d an alkali metal hydroxide by electrolysis of an alkali metal halide. Other uses are in electrolytic redn. in fuel cells, in electrodialysis, and in diffusion analysis. The membrane has high activity, is resistant to Cl2, to oxidn. and to alkali, and retains its stability and mechanical properties for logn periods. The ion-exchange capacity is 0.5-2 (0.9-2), esp. 1-1.1 equiv/g of dry polymer. Very pure alkali hydroxides are obtd. in high concn. (&gt;40 wt %), at high curent yields (&gt;90%).
A negative inter separator (I) for an alkaline electrolyte cell comprises (a) 50-95 wt. % inorganic titanate material (e.g. K or Na titanate) (b) inorganic fibrous matrix material (e.g. chrysotile asbestos) having suitable length and flexibility to form a matrix of the titanatate; and (c) pref. a thickening agent inert to the alkaline conditions to increase the viscosity of the slurry from which the negative inter separator is formed. (b) or (b) and (c) provide the balance of 100 wt. %.    (I) is located between the negative electrode and main separator in a cell also contg. positive electrode and an electrolyte contacting electrodes and separators. It reduces ion migration and dendritic growth and provides uniform electrode wetting for uniform current density and min. electrode shape change. In tests with cells cycled to 100% discharge, 50% overcharge, cells having a titanate (Pellon (RTM)) inter separator 6.5(5) mil thick went 105 (20) cycles to 50% original capacity and 120(25) cycles to short circuit.
A separator for a cell is prepd. from synthetic resin emulsion consisting of particles of water insoluble, oxidn. resistant alkali resistant synthetic resin such as polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene or copolymers of these and water, the particles being dispersed in the water. A solvent such as dioxane, benzene or ethyl acetate is added which swells the water-insoluble synthetic resin particles, to form an emulsion synthetic resin mixture. An inorganic powder such as silica and titanium oxide is added to the synthetic resin mixt., and a fibre mat is immersed in the mixt. or the mixt. is deposited onto the mat. Theprod. is then dried.    A porous thin separator having can be easily obtd. The separator has an improved durability and an improved acid and oxidn.
Method comprises (a) mixing a synthetic resin emulsion consisting of water and acid-and alkali resistant water-insoluble synthetic resin particles e.g. PVC, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene and their copolymers) with a colloidal silica consisting of 70 to 150 pts. wt. of fine powder of silica and 100 pts. wt. of water to prepare a synthetic resin emulsion colloidal silica soln.; (b) adding a solvent which swells or dissolves the resin particles to the mixt. solution to prepare a raw soln.; (c) immersing an acid and alkaline resisting fibre mat in the raw soln. or depositing the raw soln. on the fibre mat; and (e) drying it.    A thin porous separator is obtd. having improved durability and acid- or oxidn. resistance.
Method comprises (a) preparing a synthetic resin emulsion consisting of particles of water-insoluble, acid-and alkali-resisting synthetic resin (e.g. PVC, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene and their copolymers) dispersed in water; (b) adding a solvent (e.g. dioxane, benzene ethyl acetate etc.) which swells or dissolves the resin particles to prepare an emulsion synthetic resin mixt.; (c) adding a nonsolvent (e.g. alcohols) which does not swell or dissolve the particles and which is soluble in the water and the solvent, to the mixt. to make a mixt. soln.; (d) immersing an acid and alkaline resisting fibre mat in the mixt. soln. or depositing the mixt. soln. on the fibre mat; and (e) drying the mat.    A thin porous separator is obtd. which has improved durability and improved acid- or oxidn. resistance.
Method comprises preparing a synthetic resin emulsion consisting of particles of water insoluble, acid resistant alkali-resistant synthetic resin such as PVC, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene (copolymers) etc and water, the particles being dispersed in the water; adding a solvent such as dioxane, benzene or ethyl acetate which swells or dissolves the water insoluble synthetic resin particles to make an emulsion synthetic resin mixt. soln.; immersing an acid- and alkali-resistant fibre mat substrate in themixt. soln. or depositing the mixt. soln. on the substrate; and drying it.    A thin porous separator for a cell can easily be fabricated.
Cell has a separator of cellulose films, such as Cellophane (RTM), which face cathode mixture contg. water or electrolyte above the equilibrium water content.    Since the Cellophane sheet contains excess water or electrolyte, lack of water or electrolyte in the cathode mixture is avoided and the cell has low internal inner resistance.
Alkaline battery has an anode-active material and a cathode-active material. The novelty is that the anode-active material is an Hg-In-Zn alloy. The pref. method of mfg. the battery includes shaking In with Hg so the In dissolves in the liq. Hg; powdered Zn is then added and the mixt. amalgamated. The powdered Zn pref. has a sieve mesh size of 60-120, and the Zn powder amalgam is pref. heated 1 hour at 60 C.    The Hg-In-Zn alloy or the amalgamated Zn powder is pref. mixed uniformly with CMC, sodium polyacrylic acid polyethylene-glycols or PVA.    The battery has a constant discharge voltage, e.g. 1.56 V until the Zn is exhausted; at this point the small amt. of In is effective as an anode and provides a constant lower voltage, e.G. 1.34 V. This redn. in voltage is easily detected and indicates that the battery must be replaced.
Electrolytic resistor has a tube made of an electrically-insulating material in which an aq. alkaline soln. circulates. The soln. contains a meral in suspension and a hydroxide of metal in soln. the positive end of tube is provided with a grid, made of conducting material, which can hold back the suspended metal particles.    The negative end of tube is pref. provided, from the bore outwards, with an insulating, water-attracting, and porous ring separator, followed by a ring electrode consuming O2 from the air and generating OH ions; and with an outer, conducting ring grid. Tube (1) is pref. made completely or partly of PTFE, in the latter case with an outer sheath of insulation; and metal (2) is pref. zinc.    Used esp. in air-zinc batteries for driving vehicles via electric power. Prevents the deposition of Zn, the sepn. of gas, and corrosion, all of which interfere with battery operation and/or cause an explosion due to H2 liberation.
Porous material of high capacity is produced by sintering a mixt. of powdered PVC and per 100 pts. wt. PVC 0.05-5 pts. wt. powdered PVA of dispersion 1-100 mu.    The material is used in cigarette filters and in batteries.
In an example, the silver peroxide particles are immersed in a 40% KOH soln. at 60 degrees C for 24 hrs. to reduce the surfaces, to form silver oxide layers. The particles are washed with water and dried to form the cathode activator. The cathode activator is placed in a case, and a cellophane separator placed on it. On the separator is an electrolyte impregnating layer of polypropylene unwoven cloth contg. an alkaline electrolyte and an anode activator consisting of amalgamated zinc powder. The case is covered with a metal cap.
The battery has an improved cathode activator consisting of a depolariser of MnO2 and further contg. 0.4-2wt.% of polycarboxymethylene which gelatinises the alkaline electrolyte.    The electrolyte is easily gelatinised by the polycarboxymethylene, so that the cathode activator and the alkaline electrolyte are secured firmly with each other.
The battery has an alkaline electrolyte gelatinised by an improved gelatinising agent of polycarboxymethylene.    The polycarboxymethylene has formula -(CH(COOH)-CH(COOH))-.    The gelatinising agent easily gelatinises the electrolyte. The gelatinised electrolyte does not leak from the battery cell.    The polycarboxymethylene is prepd. by interaction of diethylfumarate and benzoylperoxide. The alkaline electrolyte consists of an aq. soln. of 40 wt. % KOH. The polycarboxymethylene powder (2 wt.pts.) is added to the alkaline electrolyte (35 wt.pts.) to form the gelatinised electrolyte. An anode agent consisting of amalgamated Zn powder (62 wt.pts.) of about 50-100 mesh is dispersed in the gelatinised electrolyte. The electrolyte and the anode agent are placed in the battery cell with a cathode consisting of MnO2 to form an alkaline Mn battery.
Alkaline battery has improved cathode activator consisting of a depolariser of MnO2 and further contg. 0.4-2 wt. % of carboxymethylcellulose which gelatinises an alkaline electrolyte.    The electrolyte is easily gelatinised by the carboxymethylcellulose so that the cathode activator and the alkaline electrolyte are bonded firmly with each other.    In an example, the MnO2 (90 wt.pts.), graphite (10 wt. pts.) and an acetylene black (5 wt.%) are mixed. An aq. soln. (20 wt.pts.) dissolving the carboxymethylcellulose (5 wt.%) having a degree of polymerisation of about 500 is added to the mixt. The mixt. is fully mixed. Then the mixt. is granulated to form granules. The granules are dried at about 50 degrees C. The granules are pressed to form the cathode activator. The cathode activator and the alkaline electrolyte are placed in an alkaline Mn battery cell.
Zinc electrode prodn. comprises (1) adding 2-15 pts. wt. vinylidene fluoride resin and 1-20 pts. wt. KOH to 100 pts. wt. active material mixt. of ZnO and metallic Zn; (2) making the mixt. paste-like using a soln. contg. paste; (3) coating the paste on a metallic collector followed by drying and pressing; and then (4) heat-treating the prod. at 170-300 degrees C. An example of the soln. contg. paste is an aq. soln. contg. 5wt.% polyvinyl alcohol.    Roughening of particles of the active material of the zinc negative electrode is prevented, and the Neumann effect, i.e., oxygen gas absorbing effect, is improved. The service life of the zinc electrode is prolonged.
The battery comprises: (1) positive electrodes in which nickel oxide is the active material; (2) negative electrodes each having a larger capacity than that of (I), in which zinc is the material; and (3) electrolyte-impregnated members contacting (2).    The battery further comprises (4) sepg. members comprising (a) thin microporous polyethylene films contg. KOH, and contacting (1), and (b) thin microporous polypropylene film having polyvinyl alcohol coating layers and disposed between (3) and the polyethylene thin films; (5) alkaline electrolyte which is regulated by (1), (2), (3) and (4); and (6) a vapour phase reaction catalyst disposed in the cell and which combines hydrogen and oxygen.    Pref. the alkaline electrolyte consists of a mixt. of an aq. soln. of potassium hydroxide and lithium hydroxide.
An alkaline storage battery has one anode terminal for low current discharge and the other anode terminal for a high current discharge both contacting divalent silver oxide and arranged and insulated. The battery has high capacity and energy density, and is useful when high maintenance voltage at a high electric current discharge is required.    In an example, the anode consists of AgO active material, and a silver plated layer is formed on a surface of one anode terminal for low current discharge made of nickel-plated iron. The other cylindrical anode terminal for high current discharge is made of nickel-plated iron whose bottom portion is closed with the other anode terminal via an insulating and sealing ring made of polyethylene, etc. The cathode is of Zn active material, and the separator is made of a polyethylene thin film and cellophane.
An anode is produced by heat-treating manganese dioxide as an active material at 400 degrees C in an oxygen atmosphere, (oxygen content &gt;50%).    Drop of intial discharge voltage is inhibited, and capacity of the anode plate is increased.    In an example, a lithium rolled plated is used as anode; electrolyte consists of propylene carbonate and lithium perchlorate; and polypropylene nonwoven fabric separator is used.    Manganese dioxide is heat-treated in an oxygen atmosphere at 275 degrees C for 20 hrs. The manganese dioxide is mixed with electroconductive material and a binder, andt he mixt. is pressure-moulded.
The battery consists of a Li anode, Li+-conducting solid electrolyte, and a metallic sulphide cathode.    In an example, a 90:5:5 CuS-acetylene black F-contg. resin mixt. was pelletised at 2.5 tons/cm2 and dried at 150 degrees under reduced press. to obtain 10 mm.-dia. pellets for the cathode. The pellets, a LiI-CaI2 solid electrolyte, and the Li anode were placed in a case and compacted to obtain a solid-electrolyte battery. The battery had a discharging time of &gt;30 hrs. at &gt;2V. In contrast, the voltage of a conventional solid-electrolyte battery with a AgI cathode dropped to &lt;1V after 10 hr. discharging.
An electrochemical battery for a high vapour pressure has on th eopen end of a steel cylinder an aluminium ring which is sealed on the outside and carries a flexible aluminium disc which is spot welded to it. A dimple in the centre is coated by epoxy resin and covered by an aluminium cap with radial arms which are spot welded to the disc. A steel cap in contact with the side walls forms the electrical terminal.    Any excessive vapour pressure can be relieved by deflection of the aluminium disc or at worst by bursting a spot weld. The battery has a long shelf life and eliminates galvanic reactions between steel and aluminium.
Gas diffusion electrode, esp. air cathode for cells contg. an acid electrolyte, consists on the gas side of a 0.2 mm thick, gas-permeable, hydrophobic, electronically conductive layer (pref. hard carbon particles in PTFE) having an average pore size of 1.8 mu, and on the electrolyte side a 0.3 mm-thick, hydrophilic layer (average pore size 0.08 mu) contg. a catalyst (pref. Pt on active carbon) in an acid-resistant plastic (PTFE, polyethylene or the like). An additional, hydrophilic layer (pore size &lt;5 mu) can be opt. provided on the electrolyte side.    The potential of the electrode is increased compared with the known air electrodes, it is practically independent on the humidity of the air. The stationary potential is rapidly restored when the current is switched off. The performance of this electrode operated as an air electrode is only slightly inferior to that of an oxygen electrode.
Porous collector is introduced from a roll into a hopper which is filled with an anode mixture of Cd power, CdO powder, calcium hydroxide, a conductive material, and a binder. The anode mixture is coated on both surfaces of the collector and is pressed by rollers to a desired thickness. The pressed collector is then heated in N2 at 200 degrees C, rolled and cut to obtain Cd negative electrode plates.    Cd powder and CdO powder are mixed in a ratio of 3:7 by wt. 10wt.% ni powder, 1-5 wt.% calcium hydroxide powder, 0.5 wt.% single fibres of vinyl chloride acetate copolymer, and 10 wt.% vinylidene fluoride resin powder are added to the mixture to form the anode mixture.    Cd cathodes having high binding strength are mfd. at relatively low cost.
A storage battery uses as an anode a Ni-Mg alloy capable of contg. hydrogen. Energy is generated by electrochemical reaction of oxygen and hydroen in the anode and extracted as electrical energy.    In an example, high purity Mg and Ni were placed in a H.F. melting furnace and melted in an Ar atmos. The melt was crushed in an Ar atmos. and placed in a high pressure reaction vessel. Gas was removed from the vessel. Hydrogen gas was introduced into the vessel. The pressure of hydrogen gas was maintained 5 to 30 kg/cm2. The Mg-Ni alloy powder was heated at 300 to 350 degrees C in a H2 atmos. to perform hydrogenation. The hydrogenated Mg-Ni alloy powder was sifted to a grain size of about 3-13 u.    Thermally decomposable material e.g. soda sulphate, soda phosphate or polyvinyl alcogol was added to the powder. The mixt. was compacted into a formed body. The body was sintered at 600-700 degrees C in vacuum to form a porous alloy. the porous hydrogenated Mg-Ni alloy body as an anode was immersed in an alkaline electrolyte and a Ni plate as a cathode was immersed therein.
The closure plate is made by coating a base plate of Fe with a layer of metal, e.g. Cu, Sn or Cd capable of forming an amalgam with Hg to fabricate a closure plate. The metal layers of two closure plates are contacted with each other and completely or half melted to unite them as one body.    In an example, an outside closure plate comprises a Ni layer formed on an outer surface of an Fe plate and a Cu layer formed on its inner surface. An inside closure plate comprises Cu layers formed on both surfaces of an Fe plate. The outside plate is placed on the inside plate and the whole heated at 100 to 1050 degrees C in a H2 atmos. The plates are united as one body by melting some of the Cu layers. The anode consists of amalgamated zinc; the separator is of cellulose and a porous polypropylene separator; the cathode consists of silver oxide placed in a casing; and the packing consists of high density polyethylene.
An alkaline battery comprises a separator interposed between an anode and a cathode. The separator comprises a TiO2 film formed on one side of a polypropylene substrate and PVA fibre sheets formed on the TiO2 film and the other side of the substrate.    Because a TiO2 layer with a good hydrophilic property is formed on a finely porous polypropylene substrate, the resistivity is low in the alkaline solution and zinc ions are prevented from permeating the separator. PVA fibre layers have good capability of holding an alkaline electrolyte.
The method comprises (1) charging a depolarising agent layer withcorona discharge, (2) electrostatically sticking the depolarising agent layer onto a cathode collector plate formed on a zinc cathode plate, (3) laminating a separator paper and a anode zinc plate in that order on the depolarising agent and (4) impregnating an electrolyte between the separator and the Zn plate.    The depolarising agent layer is firmly stuck to the cathode collector plate.
A solid separator of phosphorus tungstic acid or silicon tungstic acid is strengthened with fluororesin, such as, tetrafluoroethylene. The method comprises mixing the acid used as an ion conductive material with the fluororesin, and shaping the resulting mixt.    The solid separator can be used in fuel cell or concn. cell or in prodn. or purificn. of ion conductive material, such as, oxygen or hydrogen.
Separator comprises 2 films joined by hydrophilic adhesive, such that the directional fine perforations are at right angles to each other.    Low transmission coefficient for zincate ions is obtd. and deposition of zinc is thus prevented, to improve cell life. Separator is of polyolefin resin, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, proided with fine holes by chemical treatment which are then expanded by mechanical treatment to give directional anisotropy. Adhesive is PVA in MeOH.
Method comprises the preparing cathode mixt. powder consisting of silver (per)oxide and adding dustproof mesh-like PTFE finely divided powder, placing the mixt. powder on a film of PTFE, nickel or stainless steel, rolling the mixt. on the film, removing the pressed mixt. powder from the film and stamping out cathode mixt. disc from the pressed film.    A small size cathode mixt. body uniform thinner thickness is effectively mass produced at low cost. Highly accurate small size alkaline cells are obtd. for use in cameras, wrist watches, or small size electronic instruments.
Cathode material (MnO2, graphite and carboxy methyl celluose) in a hopper is filled into the ring-shaped space between a core and a die. The mixt. is pressed by a push rod and a receiver rod and is kept in this state for a predetermined period. Paths for exhausting air are provided at the side wall of the push rod.    Air is exhausted through the channel at pressing, and a highly dense body may be obtd. Mechanical property is also improved.
The cell comprising a foamed amalgamated zinc anode, a cathode, and alkaline electrolyte soln. Metal zinc is foamed to a pure dia. of 0.08-3 mm. and porosity 90-98%. A high surface area to unit volume of 2500-15000 m2/m3 is obtd. giving a small sized silver oxide-zinc cell.    In an example, a silver oxide zinc cell included a cathode of a shaped mixt. of silver oxide powder and graphite powder, a foamed amalgamated zinc anode, a separator of cellulose material, an impregnated mat of cellulose, a nickel plated steel cathode case, a metal ring, a sealing plate and a nylon gasket.
Lithium-bromine battery cell comprises a solid Li anode, solid LiBr electrolyte, and a cathode including bromine and a charge transfer complex of organic electron donor cpd. such as a vinylpyridine polymer, esp. 2-vinylpyridine.    The cell produces a high voltage and exhibits a high energy density.
Positive active material comprises a macromolecular polymer of formula CXY-CX'Y' n (I) or (II) where in (I) and (II) X and X' are Cl, Br, I, CO3 or SO4, these gps. being shared between 2 C atoms of the polymer, and in (I) Y and Y' are R, Cl, Br, I, CN, NRR' or OR, R and R' being H or (m)ethyl, while in (II) Y' is H, Cl or Br.    Pref. in (I) Y and Y' are both H, or Y is CN, and Y' is Cl or Br. Pref. in (II) X and X' are Cl or Br.    The battery has high discharge potential (about 3 volts relative to Li for polyvinylchloride or bromide) and a high theoretical electrical capacity per unit mass (550 and 290 mAh/g in a one-step potential, for (-CHCl-CHCl-)n and (CHBr-CHBr-)n respectively and 650 mAh/g in a two-step potential for (C-CCl2-CCl2-)n.
Electrode, contg. a porous body at least partly made from particles to obtain one or more catalytic- and/or electron conducting- zones, plus an electron collector. The porous body permits the diffusion of gas(es) and a liq. electrolyte; and the surface(s) through which the electrolyte travels possess a porous protective layer (I).    The novelty is that (I) is obtd. from 1 organic polymer in a solvent or solvent mixt. distributed as fibres on the surface(s). The solvent(s) are pref. organic. (I) is pref. obtd. from a soln. of 5-30 wt. % vinyl polymer in tetrahydrofuran or a mixt. of cyclohexanone and tetrahydrofuran, esp. using (all wt.) 15% vinyl polymer, 15% cyclohexanone, 70% tetrahydrofuran. The polymer may be PVC or a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate.    Used as a gas diffusion electrode suitable for a zinc/air battery. The electrolyte is pref. aq. layer (1) being made hydrophilic by a wetting agent added to the organic solvent.
In a AgO-Zn battery with Zn as negative active material (I), an electrolyte (II) and a positive active material (III), (III) contains AgO and a Mn oxide, pref. MnO2, pref. in an amt. of 0.3-10 wt. %.    (II) is aq. alkali hydroxide, pref. a mixt. of KOH and NaOH. (I) is gelled in (II) to form a single layer. There are separators between (I) and (III), pref. with a layer of polyvinyl alcohol on the (I) side and a layer of polypropylene on the (III) side. There can also be a third layer, impregnated with a (II) soln., in contact with (III). Other suitable Mn oxides are MnO, Mn2O3 and Mn3O4. The cell has the high cell capacity of AgO.    In an example, the time for the voltage of a cell of this type to stabilise at 1.55 V was 50.0 h for (III) contg. 99.7% AgO and 0.3% MnO2, 1.0 h with 96% AgO and 4% MnO2 and 0.3 h. with 88% AgO and 12% MnO2.
An electrode for interacting with electrochemically active halogens in an electrochemical cell comprises a matrix, serving as a current collector, and a polymer, contg. quat. ammonium, phosphonium or sulphonium sites, bonded to the matrix.    The electrode is produced by forming a high surface area matrix having high structural integrity and then reacting a monomer of mol. wt. 100-350 (contg. the reactive sites) with the matrix to form a polymer bonded to the matrix. The polymer does not react irreversibly with the electrochemically active halogen, but instead reversibly complexes with it. The polymer remains as a separate phase from the electrolyte throughout charge and discharge. The polymer may comprise e.g. a polymethacrylate.    The electrode enables the construction of a primary or secondary Zn or Cd halide cell or battery in which the problem of halogen migration is greatly reduced; the amt. of halogen which remains available in the cell as polyhalogen is increased; internal resistance (measured by voltage loss at constant load) is significantly decreased; self-discharge is reduced (hence shelf life enhanced); rate of discharge is increased; and capacity is increased, all compared with prior art cells.
A high-mol wt. block copolymer is used as activator and O2-inhibitor for the electrode active masses in Ag/Cd alkaline accumulators. A typical material is a polyethylene-oxide/polypropylene-oxide block copolymer used in an amt. 0.1-1 wt. % of electrode active material.
Battery has an electric tank, having an air electrode fitted on a lateral wall of the battery and is divided into three chambers using porous separators. An iron electrode is mounted in the central chamber and a nickel electrode for use in charging is mounted in the most remote chamber. The electrolytic tank is filled with an aq. alkaline soln. The porous separator has strong magnetism and consists of barium ferrite, strontium ferrite or cobalt ferrite and a binder such as PVC, polybutadiene or polystyrene.
The electrode is prepd. from a mixt. comprising 60-99.5 wt. % Zn metal and/or ZnO powder mixed with 1 of Bi, Tl, Sn, Se, Te, In, Pb or oxides of these metals in the presence of water contg. boric acid or alkali metal cpds. together with polyvinyl alcohol.    The liq. mixt. contg. borate, is compressed and bonded onto a collector.    The electrode (esp. cathode) has reduced internal resistance on charging or discharging.
Aq. electrolyte contains lithium hydroxide and has a specific gravity of 1.09 Anode terminal is also a safety valve cap and the separater is of polyamide.
A micro-porous sheet of polyolefin system hydro-carbon having alkaline and acid resistances, e.g. polyethylene, is surface-treated with a surface active agent, 1-3 wt. % methyl cellulose is dissolved in 2.5-7.5 wt % polyvinyl alcohol aq. soln. One or both surfaces of the sheet is coated with the mixt. and is dried to form separators.    Separators with high mechanical strength and high hydrophilic property are provided. Zn alkaline batteries with improved discharge performances and long life are obtd.
Manganese nitrate is pref. heated at 60 degrees C and resin powder binder such as PTFE, is dispersed in the melted manganese nitrate, and pulled from it. The binder is heated in air at 180 degrees C to thermally decompose manganese nitrate and coat the surface of each binder particle with manganese dioxide.    Since particles of the resin binder are covered with manganese dioxide film, the water repellent property of the binder is controlled to improve the wetting property of the active material against the electrolyte.
Cell comprises a positive terminal cup provided with an insulating thin film on the inner bottom surface and the inner side surface, a bivalent silver oxide (AgO) layer on the insulating thin film, and a monovalent silver oxide (Ag2O) layer covering the bivalent silver oxide layer.    A cellophane separator, an electrolyte impregnated film, an amalgamated zinc powder negative electrode and a negative cup are arranged on the monovalent silver oxide layer.    By using bivalent silver oxide (AgO) as positive main active material, electric capacity is increased, inner resistance decreased and a small and light electric cell obtd. The cell is used as a button type cell in a camera, an electric calculator, a pocket bell or an electronic wrist watch.
Cell comprises a positive terminal cup provided with an electric insulating thin film on the inner bottom surface thereof, a mixt. of bivalent silver oxide (AgO) and conductive material placed on the inner bottom surface of the cup. A monovalent silver oxide (Ag2O) layer surrounds the mixt. and a bivalent silver oxide layer is interposed between the mixt. and the monovalent silver oxide.    A cellophane separator, an electrolyte impregnated film an amalgamated zinc powder negative electrode and a negative terminal cup are arranged on the mixt. pellet.    By using bivalent silver oxide (AgO) as positive main active material, electric capacity is increased, inner resistance decreased and a small and light electric cell obtd.
A layer of alkaline earth metal hydroxide is formed on an ion-permeable film and a layer of zinc active material is formed upon this. A current collector is embedded in the layer of zinc active material to fabricate a zinc plate. The zinc plate is bent in a U-shaped configuration so that the zinc active material layer is on the inside. As a result of bending, a space is formed in a central portion of the zinc plate and the current collector is arranged in the vicinity of the space. A cathode is placed outside the zinc plate.
A cathode casing of nickel contained a formed body of a cathode mix consisting of silver peroxide and 3% of tetrafluoroethylene. A first reducing soln. consisted of 3.25% of sodium-potassium tartrate, 0.2% of ammonia and 96.55% of distilled water. The first reducing soln. was poured into the cathode casing. The surface of the formed body was reduced at a rate of 0.42 mA at 30 degrees C for 12 hours. A second reducing soln. consisting of 13% of sodium potassium tartrate, 0.5% of ammonia and 86.5% of distilled water was poured into the cathode casing. The surface of the formed body was reduced at 0.1-5 mA at 70 degrees C for 4 hours to form a porous surface silver layer.
Porous electrode contains reduced sintered particles (I) of an active electrode material, such as Fe. (I) are sintered to porous coherent electrode with a structure accurately defined by the ratio of the average pore size (De) in the electrode and that (Dg) of the granules, this ratio being over 1:1 and pref. not over 40:1 esp. 2-40:1. The claims also cover the prodn. of the electrode and of porous metal powder and the use of the electrode in an electrochemical cell.    Used in metal-air cells. The electrode combines high density and porosity with good reproducibility of the charge-discharge cycle and good lifetime. The powder densification and sintering properties are also good.    De is pref. 5-20 mu m and Dg is pref. 0.-1.5 mu m (0.5-2.5) mu m. The electrode also contains max. 10, pref. 2-7 wt. % sintered C particles. In ane xample an electrode produced from alpha-Fe2O3 with 60% total porosity and De/Dg = 5:1 had a capacity of 1-1.2 Ah/cm3 on discharge of pure Fe to FE (OH)2 in 6 M KOH at room temp. The charging properties were also very good.
Electrode is prepared from active material reinforced by a porous framework of plastics with an adjustable degree of porosity. A loose mixture of active material, plastics a plasticizer and if necessary a -pore promoter is homogenised and rolled on to the current collector.    Typical active Cd powder is mixed with powdered PTFE and some ethyl alcohol then coated onto an expanded Fe strip.    This saves the expenses for the inclusion of active material in metal pockets or the pores of a nickel structure. The methodnis very suitable for mass prodn. and is not labour intensive. The porosity can be readily adjusted. The greater active contact results in a higher current capacity.
The seal ring has a square or diamond-shaped double sided profile and is made from a soft corrosion-resistant metal such as gold or aluminium.    Used for pressure-tight jointing between ceramic and metal, esp. for the construction of alkali-sulphur or polysulphide electric cells. Joint can be of soft metal such as 99.9% aluminium, copper or nickel for alkali-sulphur cells, or aluminium or gold for alkali-polysulphide systems. Provides cheaper construction than soldering or metal bonding is resistant to corrosion and gives long life in service.
A liq. and gas-tight housing for an electrochemical element with organic electrolytes. The housing is flexible and very suitable for electrode material of high energy density in contact with the organic electrolyte. The inner chamber of the container is hermetically sealed from atmosphere.    The housing is made from a chemically inert plastic. The outer surface is covered with a gas-tight layer made from a metal. Electrical contacts are sealed at the contact points of the housing sections. The outer metallic coating can be deposited or can consist of a foil. A metal such as aluminium is used and the sealing sections are made from polyethylene.
A polyethylene foil is brushed with a sensitiser soln. and crosslinked by irradiation with UV light. Polyethylene foil is then arranged in packets of consecutive layers of foil sepd. by filter paper, coiled on a cylinder and grafted with a COOH gp. -contg. vinyl monomer, while heating, pref. to 60-90 degrees C.    Pref. polyethylene foil is 25-60mu thick. Sensitising is pref. with a 1-10% soln. of benzophenone in an organic solvent. Irradiation is effected with a UV source having power 1-2 kw/m2 of foil, at 10-50 cm for 5-10 mins. Crosslinked foil is pref. grafted in methacrylic acid, esp. in a soln. of methacrylic acid in an organic solvent.    Irradiation time and energy are reduced. A cheap appts. can be used. Process takes place at ordinary press. in atmospheric air. Grafting takes place without irradiation.
Thin planar battery formed of a number of discrete layers includes continuous frame-type insulating sheet seals each having an opening along the inner border and bonded on a first surface to the dedge of each conductive layer. The sheet sheals extend outward from the edge of each layer to form a continuous border seal. Sheet-type separators are placed between the conductive layers and extend beyond the inner opening but within the border sealing portion and are bonded at the edges to the seal surface opposite the first surface. The frame-type insulating sheet seals are pref. of PVC and the sheet separators are pref. of Kraft paper.    Esp. for use in compact, automatic camera. Cells have good reliability and long shelf life.
An extruded seal material comprises (a) 10-40 wt. % of a fibrillating PTFE, (b) 30-50 wt. % halogenated oil stable in phosphoric acid 400 degrees F, having low volatility 400 degrees F and is liquid at a range from room temp. to 400 degrees F, (c) 0-5 wt. % halogenated, pref. fluorocarbon solvent and (d) balance of particulate filler selected from non-fibrillating PTFE (pref, Si carbide and/or graphite. The material is rope like and the PTFE fibrils are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the rope.    The seal material is esp. suitable for use in a phosphoric acid fuel cell.
An active material nad a conductive material are mixed together with a binder of fluorine resin dispersion to make a mixt. One surface of an electrode core is filled with the mixt. by using a pair of rollers. After drying the mixt. the other surface is filled by using a pair of rollers.    The thickness of the active material is freely controlled and the core is placed at the centre of the electrode.
An upper frame of a base member is covered with a covering body having at both sides annular projections and annular depressions.    End portions of active material retainers are placed in the depressions and embedded by heating and melting the annular projections of the covering body. The annular projections and the annular depressions are melted and united as one body. The width of the covering body is the same as the outer dia. of the active material retainer.    An active material retainer is secured to a covering body of thermoplastic resin e.g. polyethylene covering an upper portion of a base member of a Pb alloy. By pushing and softening annular projections of the coveving body end portions of the active material retainer are embedded in the depressions. Active material is packed between the base member and the active material retainer. A lower frame of thermoplastic resin e.g. polyethylene is formed at a lower portion of the base member.
A sealed type nickel cadmium storage cell comprises (1) a cathode terminal case, (2) an anode cell case, (3) a cathode plate made by preparing a porous sintered nickel plate impregnating nickel chloride, nickel sulphate, or nickel nitrate soln. into the plate, and electrolytically reducing the plate in alkaline aq. soln. such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide aq. soln. to form a hydroxide active material, (4) an anode plate made by adhesively depositing slurry-like cadmium oxide on a porous nickel plate, and electrolytically reducing the plate in a aq. alkaline soln. to form an active material plate,and (5) an alkali-resistant separator plate of a unwoven cloth of nylon or polypropylene.    The capacity of the anode is about 1.5 - 2.5 times as large as that of the cathode. And the width of the anode plate is about 1.5 - 1.6 times as large as that of the cathode plate. Increase of cell case inner pressure caused by gas at charging is prevented.
Silver peroxide is mixed with 1 of ethylene tetrafluoride, ethylene tetrafluoride-propylene hexafluoride copolymer and ethylene trifluoride chloride, and silver powder, and granulated.    The mixt. is filled into a metal cathode can and shaped under pressure with an alkaline soln. and oxidation resistant metal net, such as nickel or stainless steel.    Porous silver layer is formed on the cathode cell and an insulating packing introduced made of a separator of porous synthetic resin film and reprocessed fibrous film, an electrolyte-impregnating material of cotton, and an insulating packing of nylon. Electrolyte of zinc oxide - satd. aq. caustic alkali soln., amalgamated zinc, carboxy methyl cellulose, and poly acrylic soda are formed into a gelled anode mixture, which is formed in a metal anode.    After electrolyte is filled into the cathode half-cell, it is combined with the anode half-cell and sealed by crimping.
An alkali electrolyte contg. a polycation and a C5-8 monohydric alcohol is used in a sec. battery with a Zn anode. The electrolyte prevents dendrite deposition during charging.    In an example, a Ni grid was coated with ZnO paste, dried, and electrolytically reduced to obtain a Zn anode. The anode was assembled with a metal-C composite O diffusion cathode, a Ni grid supplementary electrode for charging, and a cellophane separator into a sec. battery. The battery electrolyte was 10N KOH contg. 1% poly(hydroxyethyl-1-methylenetrimethylammonium chloride and 0.5 % cyclohexyl alcohol. No short-circuit of the battery was observed after 100 charging-discharging cycles.
A nuclear battery includes a radioisotope heat source a heat, sink, and a thermoelectric converter between the source and the sink.    A support for the converter includes thermally conductive alignment caps between the converter and sink, and between the converter and source. The caps have relief surfaces which slide or rock under shock or vibration.    A spring device is positioned between the heat source and the adjacent cap to provide additional shock protection.    The battery may be used in a device implanted in the human body, such as a cardiac pacer. Shocks occurring both before and after implantation are withstood so as to maximise reliability of the power supply.
The bulk a coated negative electrode used in alkaline accumulators consists of CdO together with activating additives. The electrical characteristics of the electrode are improved by the further addition of 0.5-4 wt. % Sb2O3 relative to the Cd content.    Typical active mass compsn. comprises (wt. %): 90.5 CdO, 5 Ni- (OH)2, 3 oil, 1 carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). 0.5Sb2O3; or 93 CdO, 5Ni(OH)2, l CMC, lSb2O3. When Sb2O3 is added to the bulk in quantities above 0.5%, it prevents completely the hydration of CdO is aq. suspensions over a lengthy time interval. The bulk is applied to the substrate either as a coating or by electrophoresis. The electrical characteristics of the electrodes so prepd. are 15-20% better than current products.
Positive electrodes used with an organic electrolyte are made by thermally treating and pressing a mixt. of Mo33, fluoroplast and C. The process is mechanised and better electrical characteristics are secured by igniting MoO3 from 700 degrees to 900 degrees C at a rate of 5-10 deg/min. milling and then preparing a mixture of fluoroplast, MoO3 and C in a vol. ratio 4:40:4 to 1:70:7. The ratio of component particle sizes must be 30:1:10 to 4:1:2. The blend is then fed to rollers.
The electrode plate comprises a clad tube contg. activator granules which comprise lead or lead oxide mixed with short fibres of acid proof and oxidn. resistance thermoplastic synthetic resin mixed. The short fibres are uniformly dispersed in the clad tube, so that an electrolyte can be fully impregnated into the granules.
The alkaline battery has an improved cathode, and comprises a cathode activator of silver oxyacid salt, e.g. Ag7-O8. NO3 or Ag7O8. So4, an anode activator of zinc amalgam and an electrolyte of KOH and/or NaOH.    The activator has a high discharge capacitance per unit volume, and long lasting stable properties. The silver peroxide battery is used in a camera, was electronic wristwatch or an acousticon.
Battery is provided with an improved battery case and an improved positive electrode activator. An acid and alkali proof insulating thin layer is formed on the inside bottom of the battery cause used as a positive electrode terminal. A positive electrode main activator consisting essentially of AgO is placed on the thin layer. A positive electrode sub-activator is coated on an inside wall of the battery jar, and it is contacted with the main activator.    Battery has a high discharge capacitance and is used in a camera, an electronic wristwatch or an acousticon.
The alkaline battery has an improved cathode, and comprises a cathode activator of silver oxyacid salt e.g. Ag7O8.-No3 or Ag7Og. SO4, an anode activator of zinc amalgam and an electrolyte of KOH and/or NaOH. The silver oxyacid salt is crushed to form particles of size 3-10 mum and the particles are pressed to stabilise the oxyacid salt.    The activator has a high discharge capacitance per unit volume, and long lasting stable properties. The silver peroxide is used in camera, an electronic wristwatch or an acousticon.
The cathode activator consists of silver peroxide and contains additives from silver polytetrafluoroethylene, copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoroethylene,. polyethylene powder and polystyrene powders, added to the silver peroxide at -20 degrees C to 10 degrees C.    The activator has a high discharge capacitance per unit volume, and long lasting stable properties. The silver peroxide battery is used on a camera, an electric wristwatch or an acousticon.
The cathode activator consists of silver peroxide and 0.1-2 wt. % of network polytetrafluoroethylene powder, added to the silver peroxide at -20 degrees C to 10 degrees C.    The activator has a high discharge capacitance per unit volume, and stable properties for a long time. The silver peroxide battery is used in camera, an electronic wristwatch or an acousticon.
Separator comprises a porous film or a woven cloth having a thickness of 10-200 mum and fine through-holes having a dia of 0.01 mu m, and a vinyl monomer graft polymerized with the film or the cloth. The through-holes are sealed with a branching polymer made from the vinyl monomer.    The separator has low electrical resistance and high water proof property. The separator separates positive electrode from negative electrode perfectly. The film or the cloth consists of polymers selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, PVC, polyacrylonitrile, polystyrene, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyvinyl alcohol and PTFE.
The separator comprises a porous substrate and polyvinyl alcohol contg. polycations impregnated in the substrate. The separator has low electrical resistance and high waterproof property. Specifically, the polycation is poly(N,N-N'N'-tetramethyl-N-trimethylene-N'-pentamethylenediammon- ium salt), poly(vinyldenzyltrimethyl ammonium salt) or poly(N, N-dimethyldiaryl ammonium salt).
The separator for use in the lead storage battery consists of acrylonitrile copolymer fibre having a swelling rate &lt;200%. The mfg. method comprises (1) dissolving acrylonitrile copolymer in a solvent to form a solidified material, (2) mixing the solidified material with other acrylonitrile copolymer(s), (3) spinning the mixed copolymers into fibres and (4) making a paper from the fibres to form the separator. The swelling rate (%) = water swollen material x 100/dried material. The acrylonitrile fibres are easily made into paper having a high mechanical strength.
The cell comprises an anode mixture such as amalgamated zinc, an electrolyte, a separator, and a cathode mixture containing powdery substance having an oxidn. resistance and an alkali resistance. The concentration of the powdery substance is different between the upper layer and the lower layer of the cathode mixture.    The cathode mixture may consist of Ag2O or AgO. The powdered substance may consist of PTFE, polyvinylidene fluoride, silicon resin, or metallic oxides such as TiO2, MgO, Al2O3 and ZrO2.
The cell comprises an anode mixt., an electrolyte container, a separator, and a cathode mixt. contg. a microporous plastic film or an ion-exchange plastic film. The cathode mixt. consists of Ag2O and graphite. The cathode mixt. may also consist of bivalent silver oxide. The anode mixture consists of amalgamated zinc.    The presence of the plastic film in the cathode mixt. increases the internal resistance when the end of cell life time approaches. Thus the discharge voltage is gradually reduced.    The cell is suitable for use in electronic wrist watches, cameras and heart pacemakers.
The cell comprises a cell casing including an alkaline cell element of a cathode mixt., separator, an alkaline electrolyte contained member, and an anode mixt., a metallic sealing member with a U shaped bending part serving as a negative terminal, an insulating packing, and a binding agent layer.    The binder such as synthetic resin, polybutene, and asphalt is placed in the U shaped part of the sealing member. By bending the edge of the cell casing inside, the binder is pressed out between the packing and the sealing member to seal off.
The cell comprises a cathode mixt. comprising a first active material layer, a second active material layer, and a microporous plastic film or an ion-exchange plastic film between the active material layers, the electric potential of the first active material differing from that of the second active material.    The cathode mixture may consist of bivalent silver oxide or monovalent silver oxide contg. powdered oxidn. resisting and alkaline resisting substance such as PTFE powder and titanium oxide powder. The amt. of the powdered substance in the first active material layer is less than that of the second active material layer.
Sealed type alkaline battery comprises an outer surface of a battery case covered with cellular covering material having a relation between thickness x(m) and thermal conductivity (K cal/hr. degrees C) of x/ 0.01 m. hr. degrees C/K cal.    Pref. cellular polyurethane, polystyrene or rubber may be used with closed cells, e.g. closed-cell soft urethane foam of density 0.04 g/cm3, and 1 mm thick.    By covering the battery case with closed cell plastics, dissipation of reaction heat is slight during overchange. Therefore, the temp. increases and oxygen gas generated from a cathode is effectively absorbed by the anode.
Coating of bonding paste is formed on a cathode plate which serves as a current collector. Powder of a depolarizer mix is dispersed on the wet coating electrostatically, and fixed to the bonding paste layer by pushing thereon. An electrolyte is poured into the depolarizer mix layer; a separator and zinc anode plate are successively placed on the depollarizer mix layer.    For example, the bonding paste consists of 19 wt. of acetylene black, 8 wt. % cellulose acetate butyrate and 73 wt. % ethyl carbitol acetate; the depolarizer mix of 77.6 wt. % MnO2 9.8 wt. % acetylene black, 2.3 wt. % ZnO and 10.3 wt. % NH4Cl; the electrolyte of 20 wt. % NH4Cl, 15 wt. % ZnCl2 and 65 wt. % water.
Battery uses Zn as a anode active material, an alkaline aq. soln. as an electrolyte and Ag oxysalt e.g. Ag7O8. NO3 or Ag7O8.SO4 as cathode active material. The cathode active material contains 1-5% of &gt;1 cpd. selected from tetrafluoroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoroethylene copolymers, and trifluoroethylene. A layer of Ag or Ag20 is disposed on the surface of the cathode active material which is to come to contact with a separator.    By using Ag oxysalt as cathode active material, it is possible to increase the electric capacity per unit vol. in a battery. By adding tetrafluoroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoroethylene copolymers and/or trifluorochloroethylene to the cathode active material, it is possible to suppress decomposition of the Ag. oxysalt and expansion of the battery. By disposing a layer ofag or Ag2O on the surface of a cathode mix which is to come into contact with a separator, it is possible to prevent generation of a two-stop potential due to the buttery action.
Electrolyte consists of 2 solvents and 1 solute; the solvents being propylene carbonate and 1,2-dimethoxyethane and the solute being lithium perchlorate.    Anode comprises a Li plate, in which a Ni net is embedded as a current collector. A cathode is fabricated by mixing fluorocarbon powder as active material, acetylene black as electrical conductor and fluororesin powder as binder in wt. ratio 10:1:2. and compacting the mixt. into a plate having a Ni net as a current collector.    The anode, cathode and a separator are placed in a polyethylene container filled with electrolyte, which consists of 1 vol. pt. propylene carbonate and 1-3 vol. pts. 1,2-dimethoxyethane and 0.5-2.0 mole/1 lithium perchlorate.
Mfr. of an electrode for a secondary electrochemical cell comprises (1) vibrating particles of active material in a porous and electrically conducting substrate, the particles being mixed with a thermosetting carbonaceous material and a volatile material to form a paste and (2) heating the paste at a temp. high enough to vaporise the volatile material and cure the thermosetting material forming a porous solid, (3) pulverising the particulate mass and (4) loading it into the conducting substrate.    Electrode is used in high energy batteries such as those for driving electric automobiles and storing energy for long periods before consumption. Method allows the electrode to be charged uniformly with uniformly porous particles leaving sufficient volume to permit variations in volume during the cyclic operation of the cell.
A battery separator comprises a microporus sheet consisting of a mixt. of two polymers, a plasticiser and a siliceous filler. One polymer is a polyolefin homopolymer of intrinsic viscosity &gt;3.0 and standard load melt index &lt;0.4 g/10 mins., and comprises polyethylene, polypropylene or a mixt. of polyethylene and polypropylene.    The second polymer is either (a) a copolymer of ethylene or propylene with 1-10 wt. % (based on the copolymer) of (meth)acrylic acid, or (b) a blend of (i) an ethylene or propylene homo- or co-copolymer of melt index &gt;10 and intrinsic viscosity &lt;2.0 and (ii) 1-10 wt. % (based on the blend) of a polymer of (meth)acrylic acid. The high mol. wt. olefin homopolymer comprises 30-60 wt. % of the mixt. of polymers.    The separator is formed by extrusion of the above mixt ., of which the siliceous filler comprises 10-90% and the plasticiser comprises 2-70% (sic). Up to 98% of the plasticiser is subsequently extracted by solvent from the extruded prod.    The separator may be formed easily in any thickness, has good electrical resistance characteristics (i.e. 15-50 m OMEGA/in2 for a 20 ml thick sheet), a very small pore size (i.e. 0.002-1.0 u), and good mechanical properties.
A fibre web of nylon having of size &lt;0.1 denier is dipped into a 1-3C diol contg. 0-50% water to activate only the surface of nylon fibres. The web is dried to make separators used for alkaline batteries.
A sintered substrate is impregnated with active salt e.g. Ni(NO3)2 for a cathode or Cd(NO3)2 for an anode. The substrate is treated with an alkaline soln., to change the active material salt into hydroxide. The substrate is then washed with water and dried. These steps are repeated several times.    In water-washing, the substrate is immersed in a water bath in which fine grains are dispersed. As fine grains, alumina powder or polypropylene resin powder may be used. The surface of the substrate is struck with the fine grains by agitating or circulating.    If deposits of hydroxide are deposited on the surface of the substrate, they close pores in the porous sintered substrate.    The deposits are removed from the surface of the substrate by the action of the fine grains. Therefore, it is possible to perform smoothly the step for impregnating the substrate with active material.
A Zn electrode structure comprises a conductive support and Zn active material contg. 1 - 10 wt. % Cd particulate material dispersed in it. The Cd material is metallic Cd having a particle size is not &gt;10 mu and a surface area is not &lt;1.0 m2/g and/or a Cd cpd. electrochemically convertible to metallic Cd of this size and surface area. The structure pref. includes a binder for the Zn and Cd materials, esp. PTFE.    The Cd material increases adherence of deposited Zn, allowing extended deep discharge-recharge cycling.
A bipolar electrode having AgO positive active material and Zn negative electrode material, for a pile-type AgOZn-KOH bipolar battery comprises (a) a porous Ag sheet, (b) an Ag metal grid sealed to each surface of the porous sheet, (c) beeswax filling the porous sheet, (d) positive active material applied to one grid layer and (e) negative active material applied to the other grid layer.    The porous sheet is pref. sintered Ag and polyethylene. The beeswax acts at a heat sink, maintaining battery temp. its m.pt. of 143 degrees F until it is completely molten. This avoids overheating at high discharge rates.
Electrolyte is prepd. by adding water-soluble peroxide (I) as initiator to a mixed soln. of dil H2SO4 and monomer, and further adding a polymerization promoter (II) of amine, sulphurous salt or sulphate to the mixt. to form a gel-like electrolyte.    Monomer is pref. 2- or 3-vinyl pyridine, vinyl acetate, (meth)acrylic acid, acrylamide, or (m)ethyl- or (iso)butyl acrylate (I) is pref. H2O2 or NH4-, K-, or Na persulfate (II) is pref. di- or triethylamine, dimethylamine or their sulphate or sulphite.
Anode active material consists of zinc and mercury in an anode casing. Cathode mix contains silver peroxide. Cellophane separator and an electrolyte-contg. layer are interposed between anode and cathode.    Active carbon powder is treated with a reducing agent, e.g. hydrazine, formalin, zinc or tin. In the treated carbon powder, an amt. of absorbed oxygen is decreased and an amt. of absorbed oxygen increased. The carbon powder is placed at the top, the bottom or the sides of the cathode mix or within the cathode mix.    When the carbon powder is treated with Zn or Sn, it may be interposed between separators or sheets of non-woven fabric.
Battery having organic electrolyte at least in the anode chamber, uses high purity sodium as anode active material obtd. by purificn. of commercial sodium by vacuum disnt.    In an example, commercial sodium of purity in 99.9% was purified by vacuum distn. at 400 to 500 degrees C to produce sodium having an impurity concn. &lt;100 ppm. This sodium was stable to organic electrolyte. The cathode active material may be sulfur, oxide or sulfide of heavy metal e.g. Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mo, Ag, Hg, Pb or Bi. The organic electrolyte was prepd. by dissolving sodium salt. e.g. NaClO4, NaSCN, NaPF6, or NaAlCl4 in an organic solvent e.g. propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, alpha-butyrolactone or 1,2-dimethoxyethane. A separator was used which consisted of polypropylene non-woven fabric.
The title ingredients are mixed and coated on a conductive core which is then sintered in a furnace in a reducing atmos. The conductive core is nickel plate or iron plate plated with nickel.    The nickel substrate has high discharge characteristics.
The title ingredients are mixed and coated on a conductive core which is then sintered in a furnace in a reducing atmos. The conductive core is nickel plate or iron plate plated with nickel.    The nickel substrate obtd. has high discharge characteristics, a wide surface (sic) and high mechanical strength. It is used as positive electrode of an alkaline storage battery.
The title ingredients are mixed to form a paste which is coated on a conductive core. The core is dried and then sintered in a furnace in a reducing atmos. The conductive core is nickel plate or iron plate plated with nickel.    The nickel substrate obtd. has high discharge characteristics, a wide surface (sic) and high mechanical strength. It is used as positive electrode of an alkaline storage battery.
Because the pyrolysed iron powder has a larger surface area, it is possible to increase the rate of utilisation of iron active material and capacity of the alkaline battery.    In an example, pyrolysed iron powder was produced by heating ferric oxalate at 110 degrees C for 30 mins. in an atmos. of gas obtd. by decompsn. of ammonia, 5g. of the pyrolysed iron powder was mixed with 5g. iron carbonyl, 2g. of a soln. of polystyrene and styrene monomer were then mixed in. The mixt. was press-moulded at 1 ton/cm2 into a formed body having a nickel net at its centre. The formed body was sintered at 850 degrees C in atmos. of hydrogen to form a sintered iron electrode.
The viscosity of the paste is greater than conventional paste, and the adhesion of the paste to a porous or netlike electrode plate is improved.    In an example, 10 g. vinylacetate resin was dissolved in 50 ml. water. It is then mixed with 140 ml. ethylene glycol heated at 100 degrees C to prepare a soln. (A). 6g. polyvinyl alcohol was mixed with 200ml. ethyleneglycol and heated at 140 degrees C to prepare a soln. (B).    1 Pt. wt. of soln. (A) was mixed with 1 pt. wt. of soln. (B) to prepare a mixt. A paste for an alkaline cell was composed of 3 pts. wt. o the mixt. and 10 pts. wt. of an active material consisting of 80 wt. % cadmium oxide and 20 wt. % powdered nickel.
The components are mixed and pressed on a conductive substrate with heating to obtain the cathode. The cathode is flexible, rapidly charging, and it has a long life. The discharge of the cathode is low, and the mfg. process is simple.    In an example, a mixt. contg. 150-200 mesh Ni(OH)2 80, graphite powder 5, polyethylene powder 10, and Ni fibres 6 pts was hot-pressed on a 0.2mm dia. 16-mesh Ni net to obtain (48.0 x 54.0 x 1.0mm) whose charge capacity was 1080 as compared to 900mA-hr for a conventional, sintered Ni electrode.    The cathode s. Hg/HgO potentials at c.d. 0, 10 and 20 mA/cm2 were is approx. 0.37, is approx 0.28 and is approx. 0.15 V resp. The resp. values for a conventional, sintered Ni cathode were 0.37, 0.3 is aprox 0.25 V.
The additive improves the charging-discharging characteristics and decreases the self-discharging.    In an example, a battery consisting of a sintered Ni cathode, a sintered Fe anode, and 7M KOH electrolyte contg. 10g. K2S/l. and 0.003g. poly(oxyethylene)dodecyl ether/ml. had no capacity change after 300 charging-discharging cycles.    When the battery was stored for 1 month, its self-discharging was is approx. 35% as compared to is approx. 65% when the poly(oxyethylene)dodecyl ether was not added.
In an example, battery storage life and charge capacity were determined for batteries (Ag-Zn, Ni-Zn and air-Zn) with or without PbS and/or Na lignosulphonate in the electrolyte and/or Zn anode. For any addn. combinations, batteries were discharged by 25% after 1-month storage, and charging capacity of the battery after 150 charge-discharge cycles was is approx. 120%. The resp. values for batteries without additives were 30-40 and is approx. 63% after 50 charge-discharge cycles.
A current collector or a coating of current collector for an anode of granular Zn dispersed in a Pb ion-contg. gelatinous alkali electrolyte comprises a metal or alloy having a larger ionisation tendency than that of Pb (except Fe). This increases the elec. contact of the anode with the electrolyte and hence increases the Zn anode utilisation efficiency.
The membrane used as a separator for an alkaline accumulator battery is mfd. by subjecting a thin film of plastic, metal, paper, glass, etc. to electrical discharges passing through the film.    Pref. the film is placed between two parallel conductive electrode plates, and between the plates is applied an alternating voltage which is high but less than breakdown voltage of the air. Alternatively the film may be placed between one of the electrode plates and an intermediate dielectric plate.    In an example, appts. comprises two stainless steel electrode plates 0.6 mm thick, with an air gap of 8.6 mm between them in which is a lead glass plate 1.6 mm thick. Polyethylene films 0.15 mm thick are placed between the glass plate and one electrode, and a voltage of 15,000 V is applied between the electrodes at a frequency of 50 Hz for 15 min. The resulting films have holes of average dia. 1 mu.
The separator of the galvanic primary cell consists of an inner helically wound layer and an outer absorbent, also helically wound layer, which are connected by an adhesive layer in the form of a plastics foil wound on the inner layer. This foil covers at least the region of adjacent edges of the inner layer.    Pref. the inner and outer layers are microporous foils. Alternately the inner foil may be non-porous. The adhesive foil is polyvinyl alcohol or cellulose derivate. In production the inner layer is wound on a mandrel, and the adhesive foil is wound over the same. The assembly is then wrapped in the absorbent outer layer, impregnated with a solvent.
A lead accumulator consists of several cells, each with a set of plates composed of electrodes and separators. The gaps between the outsides of each set and the adjoining cell walls are filled by an electrolyte-resistant plastic foam block. The foam is produced with the plates inserted and allowed to solidify.    Method provides a simple and economical way of supporting the set of plates against the cell walls. It makes the accumulator resistant to vibrations and supports the plates even if the gaps vary. The process can be easily automated. Pref. plastic is a polyurethane resin, which is thixotropic before application. It is introduced into the gaps through a cannula which is raised as the level rises.
Carbonyl Fe powder (10 g) and Al powder (5 g) were mixed. Monomeric styrene soln. (2 g) including 15% polystyrene was added as binder and kneaded. The mixt. was filled in a metal mould in which a nickel mesh collector was centrally placed and pressed at 2 t/cm2 to form. The body was sintered in H2 at 900 degrees C for 2 hrs., then immersed in aq. caustic alkali for elution of Al to obtain an iron electrode. A nickel-cadmium cell was constructed using the iron electrode as anode and nickel as cathode.    High temp. and long sintering may be possible by addn. and elution of Al giving large surface area porous iron body; utilisation efficiency of iron anode active material may be improved.
The separator consists of a micro-porous polypropylene thin film on the cathode side, a natural cellulose sheet on the anode side, and a laminated body between of an ion-conductive cellophane thin film and a porous alkali-proof unwoven cloth.    The micro-porous polypropylene thin film is stable for silver oxide in the cathode and prevents oxidation of the cellophane thin film, and the discharge property may be improved.    The natural cellulose sheet retains the electrolyte effectively and make starting operations smooth. Internal short-circuit is prevented and long-life service obtd.
Linear and flat-linked iron phthalocyanine polymers, with high conductivity, catalytic activity and acid resistance, are used as active catalysts on an activated carbon carrier, which is also coated with a carbon powder provided with hydrophobic basic surface groups; the catalyst interacts with the carbon powder.    The polymers may also be cobalt phthalocyanines or a mixt. or iron- and cobalt-phthalocyanines. Phthalocyanine polymers contg. two or more other metals per macromolecule may also be used.    The prods. are cathodes for fuel cells driven using oxygen or air in acid electrolyte solns. The cathodes contain no platinum, which is very expensive, but have a long working life.
The prim. cell comprises (a) an anode connected to a terminal on the cell casing, (b) a cathode comprising porous, semi-rigid globules of 40-99 wt. % C black and 1 wt. % inert, the remainder being graphite, (c) an electrolyte soln. including a cathode depolariser that is electrochemically reduced on the cathode surface during discharge, (d) a non-conductive porous separator between anode and cathode and (e) a cathode current collector connected to a second casing terminal.    The cathode collector consists of electrically connected layers of porous metallic material, the cathode globules being interposed between the collector layers so that the collector extends throughout the cathode material. The electrolyte soln. is diffused throughout the porous separator and the porous cathode collector through the spaces between the cathode globules.    The device can deliver high current densities for portable lighting equipment etc. without suffering from over-heating problems.
A cathode for a hydrazine fuel cell comprises (a) a conductive substrate with an electrocatalyst deposited on it, wet-proofed with 1.5-3mg/cm2 PTFE, (b) a semipermeable hydrophobic membrane applied to one side of the substrate, and (c) a hydrophilic microporous separator membrane applied to the other side of the substrate. The hydrophobic membrane is pref. microporous PTFE or polypropylene film. The hydrophilic separator membrane is pref. surfactant-treated polypropylene.    Catalyst flooding and electrolyte leakage are prevented by wet-proofing. The hydrophilic membrane controls hydrazine penetration, and, as it is pressed onto the substrate, prevents gas build-up between them. When the membrane is present, the detrimental effect of hydrazine in the electrolyte on cathode potential is considerably reduced. The cathode has a long life, showing only slight deterioration in over 2000 hr. operation.
Electrode comprises a zinc plate and a conductive filler coated on its surface comprising carbon powder is mixed with a low mol. wt. resin.    The carbon-zinc electrode is fine and flexible, has a high acid proofness and a low resistivity.
High oxidn. resistance separator is made from microporous plastic film, an ion-exchange resin film, plastic (un)woven cloth, bond to a cellophane film with a paste of carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium polyacrylate, polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene glycol. The separator is dried for 24-28 hrs. before stamping.    The battery is used in an electronic wrist-watch, camera or pocket bell.
In an example a nickel porous body of 96% porosity and 2mm thick and a having continuous fine holes (av. dia. 0.1 mm) was filled with paste of compsn. nickel hydroxide 100g cobalt hydroxide 10g, carbonyl nickel powder 25g, active carbon 5g, 3% CMC aq. soln. 50 ml, 60% Fluoric resin dispersion 5 ml. The body was dried at 90-100C for 2 hrs to form a cathode plate.    The cathode plate is used in a sealed type nickel-cadmium storage cell.
Cell has a top plate through which electrode poles extend. Mixtures of liq. synthetic rubber having functional gp. capable of copolymerising and resin having ring-disopening epoxy radical are filled or deposited between the top plate and the electrode poles.    (I) is e.g. liq. chloroprene rubber, liquid butyl rubber or liquid urethane rubber. (II) is e.g. epoxy resin of bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin. Cell is esp. Ni-Cd alkaline alkaline storage cell.
Cell is made by preparing a mixt. of thermoplastic synthetic resin powder, dil. sulphuric acid, and a filler of powder state or fibrous (in)organic material, burying a gp. of electrode plates into the mixt. heating the synthetic resin powder to melting and for binding partially cooling for solidifying to obtain a porous body contg. continuous bubbles, and at the same time impregnating the porous body with the electrolyte of dil. H2SO4.    In an example polyethylene powder (100 wt. pts.) dil. H2SO4 acid (500 wt. pts) and silicic anhydride (40 wt. pts) were mixed, and introduced into a vessel contg. a gp. of electrodes. They were heated at 110 degrees C for 90 mins and then cooled.    Formation of the porous body and impregnation of the electrolyte are carried out at the same time and the fabrication process is simplified. Initial discharge property is excellent.
Cathode active material contained in a battery case, iodine-added charge transfer complex with quat. ammonium radical liq. at room temp. A nickel mesh collector is connected to the case for high efficiency discharge. A lithium anode into which a nickel mesh is introduced is inserted in the cathode active material. A thin film electrolyte layer of lithium iodide is formed on the surface of the anode. An anode terminal is air-tightly sealed using glass an insulating plate and epoxy resin packing material.    The cathode active material is obtd. by mixing alkyl-ammonium iodide RNI and 12 to form complex RNIx (x &gt;1) e.g. N-methylpyridium iodide, 1-methyl-2H pyrolinium iodide etc. High energy density and wide operating temp. range may be obtd. without using complex construction.
The battery comprises a Zn anode, a cathode, and an alkali electrolyte. The anode-electrolyte system contains 1 cpd. of Sn, Pb, Te, Ga, or In, and poly(oxyethylene) dodecyl ether. The synergistic effect of the cpds. and poly(oxyethylene) dodecyl ether improve the charge and discharge characteristics of the battery.
Zn-alkaline battery is assembled from a Zn anode, a cathode, and an alkali electrolyte system contg. poly(oxyethylene) dodecyl ether and alkali earth cpds. The synergistic effect of alkali earth cpds. and poly(oxyethylene) dodecyl ether improves charge and discharge characteristics of the battery.    For example, a Ni-Zn alkaline battery (capacity 3 A-hr) was assembled with an electrolyte contg. KOH 30, Ca(OH)2 1.0, and poly(oxyethylene) dodecycl ether 5%. The battery was charged at 0.4 A to 150% of its capacity and discharged completely (1 cycle). The charge and discharge characteristics of the battery did not change after 100 cycles, whereas those of a battery contg. only 30% KOH electrolyte dropped after &lt;50 cycles.
The battery is produced from a Zn anode, a cathode, and an alkali electrolyte.    In an example, a Ni-Zn alkaline battery (capacity 3 A-hr.) was assembled with a 30% KOH electrolyte contg. 0.05 Na ligninsulphonate and 8% dimethyldodecylammonium chloride. The battery was charged at 0.4 A to 160% of its capacity and discharged completely (1 cycle). Its charge and discharge characteristics did not change after &gt;150 cycles, whereas those of a conventional battery decreased after &lt;50 cycles.
The battery has a Zn anode, a separator and an electrolyte contg. benzyldimethyldodecylammonium salt and an alkaline earth salt.    In an example, a battery consisted of a sintered Ni cathode; an anode contg. ZnO 100, polyamide fibres 0.6, Ca(OH)2 1, 2.5% PVA 40 pts., and a Cu grid support; a separator; and a 30% KOH electrolyte contg. 5% benzyldimethyldodecylammonium chloride. The terminal voltage of the battery dropped from 1.8 to -1.7 V after 4 hr. dischare. An -110% charge capacity after 100 charge-discharge cycles was observed as compared to -60% charge capacity after -30 charge-discharge cycles for a battery without Ca(OH)2 and quat. ammonium salt.
The Zn alkaline battery consists of a cathode, a Zn anode, and alkaline electrolyte. Poly(oxyethylene) dodecyl ether and lignosulphonate are added to the anode and/or the electrolyte. In an example, a paste contg. ZnO 100, polyamide fibres (length 2-3 mm) 0.6, and 2.5% PVA soln. 40 parts was applied to a Cu grid and dried to obtain an anode plate. A battery was assembled by using the anode plate, a sintered Ni cathode, a separator, and 30% KOH electrolyte contg. 0.05 Na lignosulphonate and 8.0% poly(oxyethylene) dodecyl ether. The battery capacity was not changed even after &gt;100 charging-discharging cycles.
An electrolytic depolarizer is deposited on a conductive resin current collector to obtain a button-type battery. The battery has good elec. contacts, low resistance, and a high discharge rate.    In an example, a depolarizer mixt. contg. MnO2, carbon black, 2% aq. soln. of poly(vinyl alc.), and acetone was deposited (0.3 x 50 x 60 mm) on a carbon black-contg. conductive resin. The voltage of a battery contg. this depolarizer mixt. and a 50 mu-thick Zn anode dropped from -1.5 to 1.1 V after 10 min. discharge over a 4-OMEGA load. The resp. discharge time for a conventional battery was 7 min.
Battery accumulator comprises an assembly of cathodes, anodes and separators between them, embedded in a continuous mass of polymer. The polymer is methyl cellulose, CMC, PVA, an acrylic polymer etc. esp. regenerated cellulose obtd. from a soln. of viscose. Each electrode is pref. an electroactive cpd. fixed in the polymeric matrix, a conducting element serving as current collector being set into the matrix and the polymeric chain being connon to the neighbouring electrodes and the separator.    The movement of soluble prodn. from one electrode to the other is prevented, thus avoiding short circinting. Thus the working life of the accumulators is prolonged.
The electrode comprises as active component an electronically conducting material and a coating binder of regenerated cellulose. The electrode is esp. Zn opt. amalgamated or alternatively, Cd, Ni, Ag or Ce. The electronically conducting malinal is esp. Ag and/or Cu.    The electrode is prepd. by mixing the electroctronically active inetal in the form of a powder with an electronically conducting material, impregnating the particles completely with a soln. of viscose, agglomerating and shaping the mixt. or rolling into sheet, incorporating a current collector into the body then coagulating the viscose to regenerate the cellulose.    The electrochemically active metal is prevented from migrating to the opposing electrode. Short circuiting is prevented and the working life of the electrode, and the generator is increased.
Battery separator esp. for a Zn electrode comprises a thin sheet of regelated cellulose charged with 1 component having a low electrochemical overvoltage for release of H2 or O2.    The component is active carbon having a high surface area. The metal is Pt, Ni, Ag, Fe, Co or C in a finely divided state and is used in granules of 0.1-2.00 (pref. K10)mu. The cellulose can be completely satd. with the electrolyte.
The strip is adhered to the separator films by means of a melt adhesion which is applied to the edge strip while it is still hot immediately after extrusion, at which stage the surface of the edge strip is still completely clean.    The nozzle from which the adhesive is applied to the edge strip can be integrated in the extruder nozzle which produces the edge strip, or it may be disposed between the extruder nozzle and the cooling bath. The edge strip together with the applied adhesive is subjected to cooling to prevent distortion. The edge strip may then be cut to the desired lengths which are joined to the separator films and bonded to them by application of heat.
Crosslinking agent such as epichlorohydrin, glycerin diglycidyl ether, etc. and a paste of e.g. starch or methylcellulose as mixed with pulp and mfd. into paper. One surface of the paper is coated with paste to provide a separator for paper-lined dry cells.
Separator prodn. comprises (a) moulding a mixt. of olefin resin, thermoplastic polymer such as ethylene oxide, polymer and powdery inorganic material such as silica powder to obtain a sheet, and (b) stretching the sheet to provide a separator having a porous layered structure.
A constant current cell comprises a hydrogen gas inlet, a hydrogen gas outlet, an anode chamber formed of a glass tube, an anode soln. consisting of phosphoric acid buffer soln. methyl viologen and hydrogenase, a glass carbon electrode, a salt bridge of polyacrylamide gel contg. conc. KCl soln. in a glass tube, a cathode chamber formed of a glass tube, a satd. calomel electrode, and leads.    The cell has improved constant current functions and operates at room temp.
Separator is made by fusing together polyvinyl alcohol films to form a bag-like film, and cross-linking the surface of the film. Used in alkaline cells e.g. Zn-air, Ni-Zn and Ag-Zn cells, having long service life.    In an example, 40 um polyvinyl alcohol film was folded double, and both sides sealed at 220 degrees C for 2 sec. to form a bag. The bag was immersed in a soln. contg. formaldehyde (3 wt.%), sulphuric acid (20 wt.%) and sodium sulphate (20 wt.) for 20 min. to cross-link the surface and form a separator.
Non-woven fabric is impregnated, sprayed or covered with a soln. of 4-9 pts. of PVC in 100 pts. of a mixt. solvent of one proportion of dimethyl sulphoxide and 0.2-1.1 proportions of ethylene dichloride or 0.3-5 proportions of dioxane and cooled into a gelled substance. The gelled substance is then impregnated with a solvent which is PVC insoluble and is miscible with the mixt. solvent to remove the mixt. solvent.    The produced porous sheet of PVC having fine continuous foam is a good separator for use in batteries. The solvent which is PVC-insoluble and is miscible with the mixt. solvent includes (m)ethanol, and, when the mixt. solvent consists of dimethyl-sulphoxide and dioxane, water.
Fibrous sheet of polyvinyl alcohol is laminated to one surface of a paper to make a separator. Pref. 75-90 mol. % polyvinyl alcohol is used. Paper-lined type dry cells with high performances are obtd.
One surface of a fibrous member contg. boric acid radicals is coated with polyvinyl alcohol, and the other with paste to make a separator, which is placed between a cathode mixt. and a paste layer. Dry cells with low internal resistance are obtd.
Thin metal plate having continuous pores is impregnated with a synthetic resin suspension, emulsion or soln. followed by drying.    After the procedures are repeated if necessary, the metal plate is treated with a liquid to dissolve it, leaving a porous resin film.    Process can provide a uniform, film of extremely high porosity even with resins that are extremely difficult to process conventionally e.g. polytetrafluoroethylene resin. In particular the resulting film is useful as a filter for corrosive liquids or as a separator for batteries.
Base plate is filled with a paste-like mixt. consisting of cadmium active material powder, a soln. of binder and lowm.pt. nylon powder. The resultant anode plate is dried and heated to a temp. above the m.pt. of the nylon.    As low m.pt. nylon, nylon-6, nylon-66, or nylon-12 may be used with a m.pt. of 140 degrees C. A cadmium anode plate having high performance is economically prepd.
Anode for an alkaline battery having excellent characteristics e.g. high-load and low-temp. and of simple prodn., comprises a layer of anode active material contg. as a binder a fibroid fluororesin net and a metal core member for supporting the anode active material layer.    Amt. of fluororesin used is small so that internal resistance of the anode can be reduced.
The process comprises coating a water repellent over an inner circumferential surface of an opened portion of the battery casing contg. an electricity-generating element. The water repellent consisting of low chlorine epoxy resin contg. no hardener, and then pouring an electrolyte into the battery casing.    The water repellent prevents the electrolyte wetting the inner surface, preventing leakage.
The material consisting of polyethylene with a melt index of 0.2-1 and polypropylene with a melt index of 0.2-1. A typical material consists of 48 pts. polyethylene with a melt index of 0.8, 50 pts. of polypropylene with a melt index of 0.8, and 0.3 pt. of carbon black.    By adding polypropylene to polyethylene, bending fatigue endurance of the packing material is improved at low temps., the softening point is increased and the thermal stability improved. The material is suitable for use in alkaline batteries Leclanche cells and air cells.
Material consits of a mixt. of polyolefin with melt index 0.2-1 and a small amt. of fibre material, such as carbon black or short glass fibre. In an example, comprised 48 pts. polyethylene (MI=0.8); 50 pts. polypropylene (MI=0.8) and 0.3 pts. carbon black.    The packing material may be used to seal alkaline, Leclanche or air cells. It has good resistance to stress cracking, adhesion and elasticity.
Battery comprises (a) a Li disc anode; (b) a cathode fabricated by mixing 100 wt. pts. cupric oxide, 5 wt. pts. electrolysed copper powder and 6 wt. pts. fluororesin binder and press-moulding into a disc; (c) a separator of non-woven polypropylene fabric; and (d) an organic electrolyte consisting of lithium perchlorate and an organic solvent of 50 vol. % alpha-butyrolactone and 50 vol. % tetrahydrofuran.
A lead-acid multicell storage battery has an inter cell connector bar passing through a slot in a partition top edge, and a combined closure and mould closing at least part of the unoccupied part of the slot up from the bar and consisting of an inverted U saddle with the bar fitting between the legs.    At least part of each leg is grooved or split into two sections to overlie opposite faces of the partition along the slot sides. The grooves or gaps communicate with openings through the saddle top for introduction of sealant. The battery casing, partition and saddle are all of polypropylene, and the battery has a polypropylene lide heat-welded to the saddle as well as to the casing and partition.
Metal-air cell has an inner metal pot (I) contg. electrode material (II) inside an outer metal pot (III). There is a polymer seal (IV) between (I) and (III), a catalytic electrode (V) between (IV) and (III) and a separator (VI) between (II) and (V). In addn., there is a press-sensitive coating (VII) on the outside of (I) between this and (IV), which consists of an alkali (KOH) resistant elastomer, which can be deformed by press. without tearing or forming cavities and gives a continuous seal.    Used as minicell, esp. for hearing aids. The cells are leak-proof. The use of stainless steel coated with amalgamated Cu for the anode pot minimises H2 evolution, so that the cell can be sealed during storage. The lifetime of the cell is lengthened by the use of a gelled Zn anode paste and a suitable (VI), whilst the use of a relatively cheap, air-activated (V) increases the capacity. (IV) pref. consists of a phenolic resin-modified butyl elastomer or acrylic resin press.-sensitive adhesive.
The compsn. comprises (in pts. wt.): hexafluoropropylenevinyl fluoride copolymer 100; o-dianisidine 3-30; solvent (e.g., acetone and dimethylformamide mixt.) 100-1900.    Membranes give stable reproducible potentials and high ion selectivity. Membranes are 70-200 mu thick with 20-500 m mu pore size can be prepd.
Prodn. of the cell comprises fitting a Li anode in a housing and sealing the housing with a filling device having a passage running from the inside of the housing to the outside. Bromine is then introduced into the housing through the filling device, which is then closed off.    Pref. the Li anode is covered with an electron-donor material which forms a charge-transfer complex on contact with Br2, esp. poly(2-vinylpyridine). The process is simple and employs Br2 in its natural form.
A layer of ester-type copolymerised condensate, such as ethylene glycol-isophthalic acid, and a layer of vulcanised synthetic rubber, such as acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, are in turn formed on one surface of a plastic film. A metal layer is made on the rubber layer by electroless plating.
The cathode comprises a cathode mix adhesively bonded to a current collector, the cathode mix consisting of cathode active material, electrically-conductive agent and halogen-contg. elastomer as a binder.    As cathode active material, nickel hydroxide, nickel oxyhydroxide or manganese (III) oxide is used. As electrically-conductive material, graphite is used. As binder, halogen-contg. polyethylene elastomer such as chlorinated polyethylene or chlorofluorinated polyethylene is used. This imparts flexibility.
Battery has a sheet, cloth or non-woven fabric interposed between the cathode and separator, which consists of acid-resistant fibre e.g. polyester, propylene or glass, and has a porosity of 20-70%.    Finely divided particles of active material are retained in the mat, and short-circuit resulting from particles penetrating the separator is prevented.
A lead storage battery is provided in which active material is prevented from dropping from the cathode during repeated charging and discharging cycles. The cathode is prepd. by coating a lead lattice with paste contg. acid-resistant fibre such as polyester or acrylonitrile then aging the resultant lead lattice member at a high temperature in a high humidity atmos.    The battery has service life twice as long as a conventional lead storage battery.
A separator for a cell pref. contg. caustic alkaline electrolyte soln. is obtd. by immersing cellophane into hot alkaline aq. soln.    The treatment prevents oxidising agents such as manganese dioxide, silver oxide or silver peroxide used as anode active material, oxidising ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, or triethylene glycol used as plasticiser to aldehydes, which reduce the anode active material thereby causing loss of cell capacity.
Separator consisting of graft polymerisation of ethylene-acrylic acid. The separator perfectly separates a positive electrode and a negative electrode of a battery.    Separator comprises a polyethylene sack having an opening. The sack is graft polymerised with acrylic acid. Separator is placed in a battery jar. A zinc electrode is inserted in the separator. In the jar, a positive electrode and an electrolyte of caustic potash soln are placed to form a zinc-air sec. battery. The battery using the separator has no short-circuit between the electrodes. The separator has a high acid-proof property.
Separator consists of a polyethylene sheet partially graft-polymerised with acrylic acid. The non-grafted parts are formed at the both sides of the sheet, centre being graft polymerised. Non-grafted parts are fused to form an envelope. Zinc electrode is inserted in the envelope and placed in a battery jar with a positive Ni electrode.    The separator prevents short-circuits between the electrodes.
The separator consists of a graft polymer of ethylene and acrylic acid, coated with starch or a decompsn. prod. of starch, obtd. by immersing the separator in aq suspension.    The separator is placed between the positive and negative electrodes of a battery which then gives no short-circuiting. The separator is highly acid-proof.
The separators for a lead-acid accumulator are made of thin carrier layer with large pores to which a solution of a resin, a solvent and a fluid miscible with the solvent has been applied and dried. Dimples are impressed into this foil to contact the positive plates with their points and the negative plates with their flate parts and to act as spacers, filled with electrolyte.    This results in separators of high mechanical strength by a partial closure of the micropores. The remaining pores act as filters for heavy metal poisons so that the battery life is lengthened. The separators ensure a high capacity for the accumulator.
The separator comprises a non-woven cloth of polyolefin-system fibre having an apparent density of 0.2-0.5g/cm2, and &gt;0.03 wt.% of non-ionic surfactant having a H.L.B. factor of 9-15, deposited on the cloth.
The method comprises mixing a pore forming agent with a mixt. of a thermoplastic fluororesin and a tetrafluoroethylene-propylene copolymer, forming the resulting mixt. to a film and removing the agent from the film to obtain a porous diaphragm.    The fluororesin is polymonochlorotrifluoroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer, or tetrafluoro-ethylene-perfluoropropylenecopolymer. 100 pts. wt of the fluororesin is mixed with 10-400 pts. wt of tetrafluoro-ethylene-propylene copolymer. The pore forming agent is anhydrous sodium sulphate, Na2CO3, LiCl-NaCl, Mg(OH)2, high grade alcohol, or fluorine system oil, 30-3000 pts. wt of the agent is mixed with 100 pts. wt of the mixt. of the fluororesin and the copolymer.    Used as a diaphragm of an (electrolytic) cell.
The secondary battery has an anode comprising an anode substrate and an anode paste preserved in the substrate. The anode paste consists of acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer latex and an anode activator.    The acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer has high elasticity, high acid-proof characteristics and high alkali-proof characteristics, so that the properties of the anode are not decreased in the alkaline electrolyte.    The anode is applied to a Ag-Zn battery or a Ni-Cd battery.
The battery comprises a negative electrode of a light metal (Li, Mg, Al and Na), an organic electrolyte and a positive electrode consisting of carbon fluoride, insoluble bonding agent (such as carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol or methylcellulose), and a solvent for the electrolyte. The positive electrode is impregnated in a porous electrode substrate of Ti or Al. The porous electrode is firmly preserved in the electrode substrate. It has low internal resistance.
The process comprises (i) sintering a mixt. of fluororesin and material electrochemically inactive to Zn (ii) crushing the sintered mixt. (iii) admixing powder produced and zinc active material, and (iv) sintering the admixt.    By mixing fluororesin and Zn inactive material Zn, e.g. Ca(OH)2, MgO, SrO, ZrO2 3r SiO2, the Zn anode is made porous. The bonding system becomes more dense and firm in the Zn anode. The Neumann effect continues after the charge-discharge cycle. Deformation of the anode is prevented and the Neumann effect of the battery is improved.
The separator is prepd. by making sheet-like material of thermoplastic synthetic resin fibres in such a manner that its change of thickness in sulphuric acid is 4% at a pressure of 5-20 kg/cm2.    In an example, propylene fibres with an outer dia. 25 m are dispersed in a dispersion medium with stirring. A felt-like fibre sheet is made of the propylene fibres by the use of a net. The felt-like fibre sheet is passed through a heating furnace to fuse points of intersection of the fibers to each other and cooled to room temp. to fabricate a mat of propylene.    The separator has almost the same service life as that of a conventional separator.
The battery comprises a cathode body, such as Ag2O or AgO, a separator over the surface of the cathode body and composed of a stick of cellophane and nylon, zinc anode on the separator, and cathode active material (I) on the surface of the cathode. (I) has excellent liq. contg. property.    Pref. (I) is silver oxide and carbon. The mfr. time for the battery is short. The discharge-holding voltage and discharge capacity can be increased.
A battery handle comprises a length of rope with a rigid elongate lug at each end, and a rope holder section integrally moulded with the battery case side, and having two laterally-spaced sets of two passageways each allowing passage of rope.    The area below the bottom opening of each passageway is unobstructed to permit lug removal from the bottom opening of one passageway. The lug is secured in the upper part of the other passageway, but if this fails a turning movement is exerted on the lug which is frictionally held in the lower part of the second passageway because of its greater length so that the rope is retained. The rope is pref. of polypropylene or polyethylene.
The prepn. of anaactive material for electric storage battery plates is by chopping a synthetic fibre and mixing the latter with the starting components of material. To simplify the technology of the process and to increase the mechanical strength of the plates, the fibre, prior to chopping, is subjected to supercooling to glass-transition temp.    A polymer fibre, held at glass-transition temp., passes over from a resilient-elastic state to a brittle-glass state. Supercooled fibre is easily chopped, thus sticking being eliminated. After chopping, the supercooled fibre is mixed with the remaining components. If after chopping, the fibre becomes heated to the resilient-elastic state then it must be recooled to the glass-transition temp. or near this temp., prior to using the fibre in the active material.
A fluid sealant for electrical accumulators contains reclaimed rubber, bitumen and oil. Heat- and frost-resistance are improved by adding 0.1-25% polyethylene filler relative to the combined wt. of the other components.    High density, low m. pt. polyethylene is mixed with 20-30% kaolin, 0.1% Ca stearate and 2% gas channel black. The latter acts as stabiliser, while Ca stearate assists corrosion-resistance. Stabilisation is necessary to prevent decomposition of the main reclaimed rubber component. The latter partially combines with polyethylene and improves the spreading properties of the seal.
Dry cell is mfd. from a container and a sealing body of medium-pressure polyethylene, (I). (I) has a water permeability of 1-1.5 g/m2/24 hr./0.1 mm and good mechanical properties. Mfr. may include HF welding.
A carbon rod, an anodic material contg. manganese dioxide and carbon powder and a diaphragm layer contg. electrolytic paste are housed in a zinc container. A grease having a mol. wt. of 1,000-7,000 or wax-like synthetic resin polymer is cemented between the carbon rod and the zinc container.    Drying of the anodic material and electrolytic soln. is inhibited.
The cell consists of a carbon rod anode, a cylindrical zinc container cathode and a diaphragm. A grease, of mol. wt. 1,000-7,000, or a wax-like polyethylene is cemented between the carbon rod and the zinc cylinder.    The cell prevents drying of the anodic material and liq. electrolyte, and inhibits a pin-hole formation at the shoulder of the zinc container.
An aq. soln. contg. 10-25 wt.% ZnCl2 is blended with aq. NH4Cl (90 wt.% satn), together with polyvinyl alcohol in an amt. of 1-10 pts. wt. w.r.t. 100 pts. of the aq. ZnCl2 and 1 starch paste. The resulting aq. mixt. is poured onto a solid surface and the film formed is dried.    The diaphragm does not adversely affect the potential of an anodic active material even if the dry cell is stored at high temp. for a long time.
Mercury oxide, silver oxide, manganese oxide, oxygen or air is used as a positive electrode. A caustic alkaline soln. is used as an electrolyte and zinc powders used as a gelled negative electrode. CMC having etherifying degree of 0.7-1.10 is used as a gelling agent to the gelled negative electrode of zinc powders.    The battery has a superior resistance to liq. leakage.
Method comprises packing with active material powder, a sponge-like porous body made of three-dimensional continuous metal, and then impregnating the body with a soln. of active material salt.    Electrode may be fabricated at low cost. Nickel may be pref. used as the porous body material. Nickel hydroxide powder, cobalt oxide, carbonyl nickel, graphite or mixts. may be used as the active material powder. Carboxy-methylcellulose aq. soln. may be used as the soln.
The process comprises mixing Cd(OH)2 and electroconductive thermoplastic resin powder, admixing this with an aq. soln. of an organic binder to form a mud or paste coating a corer with the admixt. and drying, etc.    Pref. the mud or paste consists of 100g Cd(OH)2 20 g Ni powder, 20 g tetrafluoroethylene contg. 25% graphite, and 70 g of 3% carboxymethylcellulose soln. The core member is 0.1mm thick, Ni-placed perforated steel plate. The cost is reduced by 5%. Treatment with solvent is unnecessary.
An alkaline battery comprises a gel-like viscosity-increasing agent (I) interposed between the cathode and a separator. Pref. a mixt. is employed which consists of (I) and a powdered oxide selected from those of Mg, Ti, Zr, Al and Be. (I) is methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol or sodium polyacrylate.    The alkaline battery formed has improved battery performance as a result of increased adhesion between the cathode and separator and adequate passage of electrolyte and ions.
Electrode consists of 50-90 pts. wt. zinc activator, e.g. zinc (oxide) powder, 1-20 pts. wt. hydraulic cpd., e.g. silicic or blast furnace slag, and 5-20 pts. wt. Ca(OH)2, ZrO2 or MgO. The electrode is bonded with e.g. methyl-cellulose or polyvinyl alcohol. The battery has a high charge-discharge capacity.
The alkaline storage battery has a paste-type anode dispersed in the uniformly electrolyte, which contains a gelation agent consisting of 30-70 wt.% carboxymethyl cellulose and 30-70 wt.% sodium polyacrylate.    The electrolyte is easily gelatinized at low temp., and the battery has an improved discharge property.
Alkaline battery with high discharge density, uses a depolarising mixt. (1) of AgO and Ag2O, and a separator between the negative electrode and mixt. (1). The electrolyte is aq. KOH. A porous layer of Ag is present on mixt. (1) adjacent to the separator. The mixt. (1) is stable in KOH. The max. open circuit voltage is 1.75 V, and only one voltage level is present during discharge. The cell immediately provides a current above 0.2 A/cm2 of the average cross-section of the cell.    The layer of Ag is obtd. by treating mixt. (1) with hydrazine; mixt. (1) contains by wt. 40-60% AgO.    Construction is used to make zinc/silver oxide button batteries. In conventional batteries, the initial discharge voltage is 1.82 due to AgO/Zn, but the AgO is converted to Ag2O and the voltage obtd. is then 1.6. This dual voltage cannot be tolerated when using the battery to supply some devices, and the invention eliminates this defect.
The separator comprises a polyvinyl alcohol film contg. boron. The film may be held on an alkali resistant porous support.
The resin is a copolymer of (A) a fluorine-contg. nitroso cpd. of formula (I) O=N-(CX1X2)N-COOH (n is 1-12; X1 X2 are Cl, F, -CF3) and (B) a fluorinated olefin cpd., e.g. ethylene tetrafluoride, ethylene trifluorochloride, propylene hexafluoride. Amount of (A) contained in copolymer is 1-50%.
In an example, an air-setting mortar of Ca(OH)2 is mixed with active material powder consisting of 75 g ZnO, 10 g Zn and 10 g BiO. The mixt. is kneaded with 7 ml of a suspension of a 43% PTFE-dispersed aq. soln. rolled to two sheets, and the sheets applied to both surface of a silver porous plate. The zinc plate is set at 40 degrees C in air for 3-7 hrs. to form a thin crystalline layer of CaCO3 on the active material, thereby hardening the surface layer. The plate has improved discharge and cycle characteristics.
Process comprises maxing lead powder, sulphuric acid and acid-resistant short fibres, and forming the mixt. into particles. As short fibres, thermoplastic resin short fibres are used of dia. 20-30 mu and length 5 mm. The amt. of fibre is 0.3% w.r.t. the lead powder.    In an example, lead powder and short fibres are premixed in a particle-forming machine. Sulphuric acid is poured into the mixt. during operation of the machine to form paste-like material. The paste-like material is formed into particles in the machine.    Active material for an electrode, is obtd. having high mechanical strength. A lead storage battery using this active material has long life.
The battery comprises light metal such as Na, Li, Mg or Al as an anode. CuO contg. Cr2O3 as a cathode, and an electrolyte consisting of an organic solvent such as propylene carbonate or gamma-butyrolactone and inorganic salt such as Li perchlorate or Li borofluoride.    In an example, the battery was made by (a) mixing CuCO3 and Cr2O3 so that the ratio of Cr to Cu is 97/3 to 90/10 (b) sintering the mixture and crushing (c) press-moulding the CuO powder obtd. by the use of a Ni net as a current collector to make a cathode, (d) interposing the cathode between to Li anodes and placing them in a battery container of polyethylene (e) adding to the battery container an organic electrolyte consisting of gamma-butyrolactone contg. 1 mol./l of Li borofluoride, (f) connecting lead wires to the anode and the cathode, and (g) thermally sealing a closure of polyethylene to the battery jar.    The cathode of CuO and Cr2O3 has a specific conductivity of about 4.5 x 10-2 ohm/cm2 and a large current capacity per a unit volume.
The porous electrode consists of a graphite fluoride layer and a polyethylene tetrafluoride layer which is placed about the electrolyte.    The electrode has improved water-proofness and is used in acid or alkali aq. electrolyte.
In an example 100 NI(OH)2 and 50 g of a mixt. contg. hexafluoropropylene-tetrafluoroethylene polymer 7, C 1 and graphite 5 pts. were kneaded with 100 g of 3% CMC. The paste was applied to a porous Ni-plated Fe sheet, dried at 150-70 degrees for 2 hr. and p eased at 200 degrees and 100 kg/cm2.    A battery assembled with his cathode showed higher discharge characteristics than the conventional Ni-Cd battery.
The plates are prepd. by applying pastes contg. active material, synthetic resin binder, H2O, and nonionic surfactant to plate supports such as Ni mesh, heating and chemical conversion treating.    In an example, a paste contg. CdO, (-50 mesh) 89, carbonyl Ni 5, CMC 1, powdered nylon 5, H2O 50, and a surfactant 0.1 g was added to a Ni mesh, followed by heating and chem-conversion treating to obtain an anode plate. Similarly a cathode plate was made from NiO.
Poly(oxyethylene) dodecyl ether is added to Zn anode active mass and/or electrolytes in Zn alk. batteries. The additives improves charging and discharging characteristics and extends battery service life. In an example, 8.0% poly(oxyethylene)dodecyl ether was added to a Ni-Zn alk. battery electrolyte. The Zn anode was made by mixing powd. ZnO 100, with polyamide fibres (2-3 mm) 0.6 and 2.5% aq. poly(vinyl alc.) soln 40 wt. parts, applying the resulting paste to a Cu grid, and drying. The service life of the battery was by a factor of is approx. 3 longer than that of a battery made without the additive.
Prim. cell has a negative electrode (1) of a strongly electropositive metal, a non-aq. electrolyte and a positive electrode (2) contg. a silver cpd. The novelty is that the electrochemically reducible constituent in electrode (2) is silver carbonate. Electrode (1) is pref. Li, and the electrolyte a soln. of LiClO4 in a mixt. of 70-85 vol.% propylene carbonate and 15-30 vol.% dimethyl carbonate. The positive electrode mass (2) is pref. mixed with 1-6 wt.% graphite and 0.5-1.5 wt.% of a binder esp. PTFE. The cell has a high yield of electrical energy and a high energy density e.g. above 700 wh/l. The high discharge voltage of the Li/silver carbonate system means that e.g. three of such cells can replace six Leclanche cells in a 9 volt battery.
The electrode for a secondary cell having a molten salt electrolyte comprises a solid matrix of thermosetting carbonaceous material, 50-65% porosity, having solid particles of a sulphide of Fe, Co, Ni or Cu uniformly embedded in it and exposed to its interstitial vol. The electrode is prepd. from a paste of liq. thermosetting material, sulphide particles and 50-65% volatiles. The paste is heated to form a vapour and cure the thermosetting material.    The electrode is simply made and retains its shape an and uniform distribution of active material during operation. Other active electrode materials may be embedded in a similar matrix, e.g. metal oxides, Li-, Ca-alloys.
A battery includes a probe sealed through its cover to sense pref. electrolyte level. The cover is moulded to include an annular boss having a bore with a cylindrical section (I) contiguous with the outer surface of the cover, a constricted section (II) and a bevelled section (III) tapering towards the undersurface of the cover.    An Sn-plated Cu pin is cast into a tapered probe having a flange dia. = that of (I), a head dia. that of (II) and that of (I) and mid and base portions dia. &lt; that of (III). The probe is manually inserted from the outer side of the cover until the head interferes with the intersection of (I) and (II) and a seal is formed between flange and boss.    Epoxy resin is applied to pts. of the cover engaging the case for sealing, and in section (III), which forms a reservoir for the resin. When the cover is inverted for sealing, resin flows between probe portions and adjacent bore portions until retained by the seal, forming an hour-glass-like resin seal between probe and bore. The probe is sealed in the cover with electrolyte-tight seal.
6-25 wT. % Amylopectic starch is added to 100 wt. % of starch composed of cross-linked and condensed starch and modified starch having hydrophilic radicals e.g. ether or ester radicals, to form a paste. The paste is used as a gelling agent for electrolyte.
The separator comprises polyvinyl alcohol film having 99.7-99.9 mol. % saponification. The separator is applied to dry cells using an electrolyte which consists of Zncl2 and contains no NH4Cl.
Epoxy resin contg. unreacted epoxy gps. is coated on a metal surface which is in contact with an alkaline electrolyte. The epoxy resin is applied to the surface of a negative electrode, opposing to a sealing packing (sic) in an alkali manganese cells.    Cells with high liq. leakage resistance may be provided.
Elementary dry cell units are laminated and the stack is coated with an unsatd. polyester resin. The resin is then cured by irradiation with a mercury lamp or fluorescent lamp and a cured film is obtd. The battery has a high capacity output and a long lifetime.
A styrene-butadiene or styrene-isoprene thermoplastic synthetic rubber is dissolved in an organic solvent such as n-hexane. The resulting soln. is coated on peripheral portions around the metal connected parts of the storage battery.    The coating sealing agent of thermoplastic rubber has electric insulating nature, resistance to the electrolyte, high elasticity and superior adhesiveness. A leakage electrolytic soln. is completely prevented.
The zinc surface of the cathode is coated with carboxylate ester of polyoxyethylene glycerol-borate of formula (I): where m and n are 1-20 and R is 15C alkyl.    The battery has superior resistance to liq. leakage and a long life.
A separator for isolating a cathode from an anode is impregnated with an electroyltic soln. having a low content of KOH wrt water; and a cathode contg. a high KOH content wrt water; carboxymethylcellulose, zinc oxide and a cpd. of calomel-zinc is used.    The cell can be easily assembled and has a superior discharging properties.
The battery comprises a porous unsatd. polyester resin (I) supporting dilute H2SO4 in the pores, (I) being made by injecting an emulsion of unsatd. polyester resin and water or dilute H2SO4 in a cell sealing and curing it.
The cell comprises an anode of a light metal (such as Li and Na), a cathode of carbon fluoride, silver chloride or silver chromate, and a nonaqueous organic electrolyte contg. cationic polymer with the cations in the side chains.
High temp battery used as power source for rockets and emergency power source for ships and transporters, contains, a heat-generating agent of great mechanical strength, high burning rate and improved antipollution properties.    The battery comprises an electrical energy source active at high temp. and a heat source for activating the electrical energy source.    The heat source comprises an oxidising agent (such as barium chromate), a reducing agent (such as zirconium powder) and a binder (such as copolymers of maleic anhydride and vinyl acetate, styrene and/or ethylene). The electrical energy source comprises a nickel cathode, CaCrO4 as cathode active material, a eutectic mixt. of KCl-LiCl as electrolyte, and a magnesium anode.
High temp. battery used as power source for rockets, and emergency power source for ships and transporters, contains a heat-generating agent of high mechanical strength high burning rate and generating increased amt. of gas. When the electrical energy source is heated at 360-550 degrees C by burning of the heat-generating agent, the electrolyte is melted and activated.    The battery comprises (a) heat source contg. an oxidising agent (such as barium chromate), a reducing agent (such as zirconium powder) and an acrylic binder (such as polyacrylic ester), (b) electrical energy source inactive at room temp. and active at high temp. and (c) a starter for igniting the heat source.    The electrical energy source comprises a nickel cathode, CaCrO4 as cathode active material, a eutectic mixt. of Kcl-LiCl as electrolyte, and Mg as anode.
Microporous films contg. 40-90 vol. % polyolefine with Mn 15000 and Mw 300,000 max. and 10-60 vol.% inorganic filler, wit pore vol. 30-75%.    Used as battery separators in lead accumulators, electrolytic separators, etc. They have excellent mechanical strength and flexibility, with electrical resistivity only 10% that of known microporous films, e.g. from sintered or extracted pvc    In an example, 15 vol. % fine silica, 61% dioctyl phthalate and 24 vol. % polyethylene with Mn 21000, Mw 85000 and melt index 1 are mixed, extruded to granulate and then then extruded into film. The DOP is extracted by immersion in 1,1,1-trichlorethane to give film with 58% pore volume.
The carbon fluoride cathode is stable and non-hygroscopic in normal temp. conditions, and specific capacity is raised 15-20% above the previous value of 0.85 amp.hr. The cathode material is of formula (CFx)n (where x is 1.0-1.5)    In an example, the carbon fluoride was powdered and mixed with a polymeric binder and an electrically conducting additive, such as an acetylenic carbon black, in the ratio 1:0.2:0.2, pressed onto a lattice at 100 kg./cm.2, then heated to the softening point of the polymer. The electrode was combined with the lithium electrode and made into a pack using polypropylene as the electrode divider, and impregnated with a soln. of lithium perchlorate in propylene carbonate.
Battery comprises a cathode an anode of zinc or zinc cpds a porous nonwoven cloth, formed on the cathode, an electrolyte support sheet, impregnated an electrolyte formed on the anode and a separator consisting of a porous synthetic film. The surface of the esp. cellulose film has hydrophilic radicals.    The improved separator, increases battery life and discharge. The porous non-woven cloth consists of polypropylene resin.
The battery comprises a cathode, an anode of zinc or a zinc cpd. a porous non-woven cloth formed on the cathode an electrolyte supporting sheet impregnating an electrolyte formed on the anode firmly, and a separator consisting of a porous synthetic film an a recycle cellulose film formed on the porous synthetic film. The surface of the cellulose film has hydrophilic radicals.    The battery may be a nickel zinc, storage battery. The porous unwoven cloth consists of polypropyelen resin.
The manganese dioxide positive electrode comprises a collector of a metal plate, a metal oxide layer such as MnO2 layer, prepd by the thermal decomposition of metal salt, such as manganese nitrate, formed on the metal plate, and a mixt. layer consisting of MnO2 particles conductive material such as carbon black powder, and abonding agent such as epoxy resin. The mixt. layer suitably consists of 1-5 wt.% of the bonding agent, 5 to 15 by wt.% of conductive material and 0.1 to 10 wt.% of beta-MnO2 and 70-90 wt. % of gamma-MnO2.    The laminated layers are pressed, so that they are bonded firmly each other. The electrode has a high discharge property.
The separator comprises a sheet or a unwoven cloth consisting of organic high polymer fibre, such as cellulose fibre, polyester, polyacrylonitrile, polypropylene or phenol resin, and a silica coating layer of 10-70 wt.% formed on the surface of the sheet or unwoven cloth.    The separator has low electrical resistance, high acid proof property, high oxidn. resistance and high mechanical strength. It also helps preserve the H2SO4 used in the battery.
Cell, comprises a negative electrode, depolariser mix comprising AgO, a separator between them and an alkaline electrolyte. The depolariser mixt. is surrounded by (a) a reduced layer formed by treating the mixt. with a mild reducing soln.; and (b) a layer of Ag on the surface of the reduced layer adjacent the separator.    The depolariser is stable in the alkaline electrolyte and the cell has a max. open circuit voltage of 1.75V and a single voltage plateau during discharge.    The cell is prepared rapidly, unlike previous stabilised and single voltage AgO batteries.
The process comprises impregnating a porous metal substrate with Cd salt, and neutralizing the Cd salt with an alkaline aq. soln. contg. lignin to change it into Cd(OH)2.    It is possible to produce fine crystals of Cd(OH)2 in the active material giving the battery high storage capacity.
An alkaline secondary battery uses an anode comprising a pastle-like mixt. deposited on a substrate such as a porous plate. The paste-like mixt. is produced by kneading anode active material such as zinc powder or zinc oxide powder and 1 binder selected from polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol.    Active material does not peel off from electrode substrate.    Decreases in the battery capacity are small. The internal resistance is low. Battery has low electric resistance and has long cycle of charge and discharge.
The separator comprises a un-woven or woven cloth made from yarns of mixed resin of polyamide or polypropylene. The cloth has an air flow rate of &gt;5cm2/cm2.sec.    The separator is placed between the anode and cathode to prevent contact between the two. The separator is impregnated with an electrolyte and has high mechanical strength and high heat resistance.
The binder contains a coal tar pitch 50-90 parts, contg. benzene or toluene insols. 25-40 and beta-resin (an arom. hydrocarbon with mol. wt. 1000-2000 insol. in benzene and toluene but sol. in quinoline) 20%, and coal for 10-50 parts. Electrodes obtained from pastes contg. the above binder have good flexibility, bending strength, and good spalling resistance.
The moulding of graphite with a controlled crystalline orientation and a density of 2.05 g/cm3 is formed from a mixt. of 3-12 wt % thermosetting resin and 88-97 wt % of a C powder contg. 50 wt % natural crystalline graphite. The graphite powder has an average particle size of 50-150 m mu and the binder is an epoxy or a xylenol resin.    The electrode has pref. an electrical conductivity of 4 x 1-3 ohm. cm. and a shear strength of 500 kg/cm2.
A galvanic cell with anode of light metal, partic. Li, a non-aqueous electrolyte and a metal oxide cathode has Pb3O4 as the reducible component of the cathode. Cell is used as a replacement for Leclanche cells, partic. when high energy density is required.    The invention provides an inexpensive system with high energy density, good storage stability and low raw material cost.    In an example, a cell having a cathode of Pb3O4 contg. up to 10 wt % graphite and 1 wt % PTFE binder, a separator of polypropylene or glass mat, an electrolyte of LiClO4 soln, in 4:60 by vol. butyrolactone: dimethoxyethane and a Li anode is proposed.
The cathode comprises a) a planar cathode current collector, (b) a first cathode stratum of dry patch type bonded to the current collector, comprising a dispersion of cathode active particles dispersed in a binder insol. in but permeable to aq. electrolyte and (c) a second cathode stratum coextensive with the first and adhered to it, comprising a slurry of cathode active particles dispersed in aq. electrolyte.    The battery comprises 1 cell but with anode active particles in (b) and (c), and a planar electrolyte-ion permeable separator between them.    The battery is esp. useful in cameras, where it provides high enough current drain capacity and recovery rate to power an electronic flash as well as meeting the demands of an automatic camera.
An ion permeable electrochemical separator is composed of (a) 10-15 wt. % alkaline earth metal oxide, (b) 30-70 wt.% asbestos fibres, (c) 20-40 wt.% unsintered PFTE fibres and (d) 5-20 wt.% fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer binder.    The material has high mechanical strength, improved mechanical and chemical stability and high ion permeability. Also, it is a resistant to penetration by zinc dendrites and it is readily and thoroughly wettable by alkaline electrolytes while having exceptionally high wet strength. It is esp. useful in secondary batteries having zinc anodes and in zinc-air hybrid fuel cells.
A fuel cell consists of a case contg. +ve and -ve electrodes. These are sepd. by a thin porous matrix to be satd. with electrolyte. The case is arranged for supply of fuel such as H2 to one electrode and oxidant, such as O2 to the other. The matrix is a compressible mat of randomly entangled microfibres made of a high mol. wt. thermoplastic polyacrylsulphone ether polymer.    The cells are used e.g. for building up banks of cells to give voltages from 100 to 1000 and power levels from 1kW to &gt;10 MW. The cell can be made quite narrow so that size of bank is reduced. Cells can be operated at 275-475 degrees F or more, compared with 225 degrees F. Less catalyst is needed. Absence hydrostatic pressure on the electrodes reduces wt. loss from the matrix. The cell has a much longer life.
Electrode comprises active material consisting mainly of zinc and 0.1 - 15 wt. % perovskite-type complex oxide having oxygen defects.    Growth of dendrite is prevented during charge and discharge. Electrode has long charge - discharge cycle life and high efficiency, and the rate of utilization of anode active material is improved.    In an example, a mixt. of 65 wt. % Zno, 8 wt. % metallic Zn, 8 wt. % bismuth oxide, 8 wt. % calcium hydroxide, 5.5 wt. % SrFeO.5CoO.503-2 and 5.5 wt. % polytetrafluoroethylene is kneaded and coated over a Cu or Ag net and dried to form an anode.
On connecting thermoplastic resin mouldings (A) and thermoplastic mouldings (B) by thermal fusion part of outer wall of moulding (A) deformed inwardly is pulled outward with the use of suction pad, and fused with heat while correcting the deformation.    Applicable in case of connecting electrolytic cell and lid, following encasing electrode plate group in each unit cell, in assembly of accumulators.
A method for adhesion of thermoplastic resin mouldings (e.g. of polypropylene) comprises heat-sticking thermoplastic resin mouldings (A) whose side wall is curved outwards to differ from the fixed shape, with a thermoplastic resin moulding (B) which sticks with the moulding A, while the outside wall of the moulding A is pushed so as to result in the fixed shape.    For example when a battery case and its cap are to be stuck together the side wall of the battery case is pushed inwards and melt-bonded by a heat plate. The battery cap and case are then stuck to each other after removal of the heat plate.    By using curved mouldings, the outside of the mouldings is completely stuck and the stuck substance of highly dimensional stability is obtained.
A C-contg. support (II), in which (part of) the C is in the form of polycrystalline graphite, is oxidised to form acid or base oxide gps. (III) on the surface. The oxidised (II) is impregnated with a soln. contg. cations or anions of a catalytically active metal (I) suitable for salt formation with (III). The impregnated (II) is dried and reduced to form a (I) layer on the surface.    The prods. are sed esp. for fuel cell electrodes (in which (I) is a noble metal), partic. for the electrooxidn. of MeOH. The catalysts have higher activity than various conventional catalysts.    The graphite can be integrated structurally in (II) or deposited in it in the form of a binder, filler or surface layer.    (II) consists of C fibre, esp. in the form of a mat or paper. Suitable fillers include pitch, C2H4 cracking residue, polyphenylene, PVC and epoxide resin. The acid (III) can be produced by electrochemical or chemical oxidn. or ion bombardment and the basic (III) by heating to high temp. in N2, followed by the action of O2 at ambient temp. (I) pref. is noble metal(s). opt. with the addn. of a gp. IVa or IVb metal.
The moulding compsn. comprises (a) a copolymer of 75-90 wt. % propylene and 10-25 wt. % ethylene and (b) 10-35 wt. % of a Feldsparic anhydrous alumina silicate (I), with oil absorptivity 12-30 lbs oil per 100 lbs. (I) and Moh' hardnesss of 5.0-6.5.    Mouldings with high impact resistance at low temps. and high heat stability are obtd. esp. battery containers. The presence of the silicate increases the moulding compositions thermal conductivity allowing faster heating of the compsn. and quicker cooling during injection moulding thus reducing the moulding cycle. The compsn. has excellent melt flow properties, reducing stresses during moulding, and the prod. does not absorb excessive amts. of battery acid.    A typical compsn. comprises 90 wt. % ethylene propylene copolymer and 10 wt. % of anhydrous Na-, K- and Ca aluminosilicate feldspar powder of mean particle size 9 mu and oil absorptivity of 18-19 lb./oil per 100 lbs. of the aluminosilicate.
Sealed type Ni-Cd cell comprises a separator of a non-woven fabric consisting of polypropylene fibre contg. 3 to 30 wt. % of nylon and glass fibre. It has improved heat resistance and a long life-time.
An electric accumulator case is made of thermoplastic structured foam material. The wall of the case is at no point thicker than 8 mm. The thickness of the foam core is 2-4, pref. 2.5-3.5 times the thickness of the solid skin surrounding the core. The case is made of (co)polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene or polyphenylene oxide. Its specific wt. is 0.5-0.8 pref. 0.65-0.75 g/cc.    The case is used for starter batteries for passenger or goods motor vehicles. Low wall thickness results in low wt. and space required for installation, without rigidity and mechanical strength being sacrificed. Good impact resistance.
Prodn. is from one or more strips of electrode material and strips of fibrous material contg. a dry, uncured thermosetting polymer, a polymerisation catalyst and a filler. The strips are advanced and puched or cut to form openings corresp. to chambers, channels and passages in the finished cells. The electrode strips are stacked with the strips of fibrous material and the assembly heated until the polymer becomes adhesive but not cured, and the product is cut into appropriate lengths.    The resulting elements are stacked with non-adhesive strips interposed to correspond to channels in the finished cells or batteries. The stacks are heated and pressed to cure the polymer. The non-adhesive strips are removed to form the channels, the necessary gas and/or liw. passages are introduced by drilling, milling or cutting, and the open ends of the channels are sealed.
A rechargeable electrochemical cell comprises a closed container holding a cathode, a gas generating and consuming anode, a separator and electrolyte storage material. It also contains a capillary mat electrolyte reservoir in transfer contact with separator and material to replace losses of electrolyte.    The reservoir, separator and material are pref. all of nonwoven nylon, and the separator and material between at least two cathode-anode pairs may be in contact with a single replenishment reservoir.
A rechargeable electrochemical cell comprises a closed container holding a cathode, a gas generating and consuming anode, a separator and electrolyte storage material. The container has a capillary mat lining to define a gas storage volume. The mat contacts the separator and a material so that any electrolyte vaporised will condense on the mat and the mat forms a condensate return path.    The mat, separator and material are pref. all of nonwoven nylon. The mat is no more than half the thickness of separator and material, so that the bulk of the electrolyte is stored between the electrodes.
Production process is simplified and wastage reduced by coating rollers with a material not adhering to the paste, e.g. nylon. The paste is applied on the grids, and rolling is carried out without sprinkling rollers with water. After rolling, plates are dried, formed and dried again.    The proposed method has the following advantages: reduction of liquid wastes of paste; reduction of consumption of scarce lead oxides by 0.5%; improvement of electrode pasting and rollin processes; reduction of water consumption by 15,000 m.3; reduction of the number of workers employed in difficult and noxious conditions, i.e. in operating rolling machines and cleaning equipment; improved working conditions in pasting shops.
Positive electrode for electric battery is prepd. more simply and has improved structure and electrochemical activity. It is prepd. by mixing silver powder and methyl cellulose to obtain a paste which is then rolled between two drum sat 40-400 mm./min. rate. The ratio of drum's dia. to the silver grain size is 1.5 x 103-6 x 103. The resulting strip is cut to obtain electrode blanks, which are then thermally treated at 160-400 degrees C., increasing the temp. at 2.8 degrees C./min. rate and at 400-600 degrees C. increasing the temp. at 10-12 degrees C./min. rate. After connecting wires for the current, the prod. is activated. The electrode has regular porous structure.
A paste for an electrolyte used for dey cells consists of single polysaccharides such as glycol, galactose, etc. or polysaccharides having beta-1.3 bonds as the main bonds.    Dry cells with high discharge performances and increased storage property may be provided.
Granular carbon material (A) is used as aggregate, and binder (B) is added, kneaded with the aggregate and moulded. The moulding obtd. is fired to graphitise it, and the resulting graphite material is impregnated with carbonisable binder (C). The resulting impregnated matter is refire.    (A) is petroleum and coal coake, natural graphite, carbon black, etc. (B) is pitch, tar, resin, etc.; (c) is phenol resin, fluorine resin, divinylbenzene, etc.
Inserts are installed in plastic mouldings by first moulding the material to feature a recess which matches the shape of the required insert, but with moulded lips which overhang the mouth of the recess. The insert is subsequently forced through the mouth into the cavity, where it is held captive by the snap fit recovery of the lips.    Used esp for enclosing threaded inserts such as nuts to provide means for assembly or anchorage of the mouldings by the use of bolts. specific reference is made insertion of standard hexagon nuts in the bodies of accumulator battery terminal caps. The recesses are formed by moulding tools with fixed models of the insert(s). Avoids tool loading and misalignment problems associated with in situ encapsulation of loose inserts.
A storage battery, partic. a multi-cell battery, comprises a container with a cover, and a vent well in the cover for external access and with an upstanding annular filler neck. A vent plug fits in the neck, and there is a one-piece sealing gasket between plug and neck to eliminate formation of conductive electrolyte paths due to creepage from the battery interior to an external point under different potential.    The gasket has a flange on the neck top, and a depending skirt surrounding the neck and spaced from the neck and cover. Pref. the gasket is of polyethylene.
Separator resistance is reduced by using 15-30 mu film produced from polyethylene melt mixed with metal sulphides. This separator in a cell with a silver electrode completely stops silver and ensures high capacity and voltage.    Finely dispersed zinc sulphide powder is introduced into low density polyethylene melt in a 10:1 ratio, and 15-30 u film is produced by extrusion. The film is irradiated in an electron accelerator, by rewinding it from one spool to another under an electron beam; radiation dose is 2-4 megarad. Irradiated film is immersed in a solution of methacrylic acid to cause copolymerisation for 2-3 hours at boiling soln. temp. Final polymer, with 60-80% of seeded monomer, is washed with 5% aq. soda, and dried.
The alkaline battery (such as an alkaline manganese or silver oxide battery/is characterised in that a paste-like anode is produced using both high substd. carboxymethyl cellulose and low substd. carboxymethyl cellulose as gelling agent for an electrolyte.    Liquid-holding property of gelling agent at low temp. is weakened by using both high and low carboxymethyl cellulose. Thus it is possible to maintain good ion conductivity at low temp. because the electrolyte is smoothly released from the anode.
The cell uses silver peroxide as depolarising agent. The improvement comprises forming an anode mixt. of silver peroxide as active material, and high molecular material such as polystyrene, polyethylene, PVA or polymethylmethacrylate added in an amt. so as not to lower the cell capacity.    Cell capacity is improved. Decompsn. of silver peroxide may be suppressed by adding high molecular material, and storage stability may be improved.
Electrode plate is prepd. for a lead battery in which active material does not fall from the electrode plate.    Method comprises preparing an electrode plate using a grid like plate and an active material, immersing the electrode plate in a soln. of acrylic nitrile styrene emulsion and silica sol., and drying the electrode plate.
The electrode plate is produced by charging a grid like plate with a pasty active material contg. a mixed soln. of acrylonitrile styrene emulsion and silica soln., rinsing in water, and drying.
A heat source includes a radioactive isotope encapsulated in a gas-tight container. The outside of the container is coated with a layer of refractory metal silicides. An outer protective layer provides a continuous coating of ceramic oxide when exposed to high temperature oxidising conditions.    The source forms part of a nuclear battery used in a medical service implanted in a human body.    The source is intended to withstand conditions encountered when a body in which it is implanted is cremated, without leaking radioactivity.
A heat sealing machine for joining thermoplastic parts includes a heated platen on a movable carriage for advance to a position between the parts to be joined. Replacement platens are mounted in a fixed slide track at right-angles to the direction of carriage movement. In retracted position of the carriage, a portion of the slide track on the carriage alignes with the fixed track, so that the fresh platen can be moved easily into position.    The machine is esp. used for joining covers to electric battery cases, e.g. of polypropylene.    Platens can quickly be changed to suit different batteries, without waiting for used platen to cool. Need for hot testing and possible readjustment of fresh platen in place, is eliminated. Total time of change is reduced from e.g. 7 hrs. to a few mins.
A fuel cell electrode/matrix element is made by (a) forming a printing ink by mixing an. aq. soln. of polyethylene oxide and matrix material, (b) printing ink through a screen onto a catalyst-contg. surface of a fuel cell gas diffusion electrode to form a hydrophilic electrolyte matrix layer and (c) heat treating to remove mst of the aq. soln. of polyethylene oxide.    The printed matrix is thinner and more uniform (see below) than matrixes formed by other methods. Polyethylene oxide is better than known glycol vehicles as it maintains a good dispersion of matrix material in the ink, avoiding screen clogging and need for washing. Any polyethylene oxide remaining after heating is not detrimental to the cell, so repeated heating steps are not needed.    In tests, cells, contg. the matrices operated for 15,000 hr without deterioration, and a life of at least 40,000 hr is expected.
A porous electrode plate is coated with fluorine resin to make it water-proof. A porous layer consisting of fluorine resin and carbon or metal oxide is fomed on one surface of the plate which is to contact an electrolyte. A second porous layer of resin, is then directly formed on the first porous layer.
The prodn. of an improved separator having uniform holes, a high mechanical strength and a low electric resistance for use in a storage battery is described.    The method comprises the steps of (1) mixing organic or inorganic porous powder B in an olefin resin A; (2) melting and pressing the mixt. to form a film or a sheet; and (3) rolling the film or the sheet to extend it.    The mixt. is formed from polyethylene resin powder of low melt index and an organic inorganic powder of high melt index, mixed with a bonding agent.    The separator has improved properties and it is easily made.
An improved separator having uniform holes, a high mechanical strength and a low electric resistance for use in an storage battery, is prepd. by (1) mixing organic or inorganic porous powder and an olefin resin, (2) melting and pressing the mixt. to form a film or a sheet and (3) rolling the film or sheet B and fibres such as glass fibres or cotton fibres, having a m. pt. higher than m. pt. of the olefin resin.    The resin is polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polybutylene, ethylene-propylene copolymer or ethylene-butene copolymer. The mixt. contains 5-70 wt.% of the powder.
An improved separator having uniform holes, a high mechanical strength and a low electric resistance for use in an storage battery is prepd. by (1) mixing organic or inorganic porous powder and an olefin resin, (2) melting and pressing the mixt. to form a film or a sheet and (3) rolling. The powder, such as NaCl, is soluble in hot or cold water. The powder elutes from the sheet using the water.    The resin is polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polybutylene, ethylene-propylene copolymer or ethylene-butene copolymer 5-60 wt.% of powder is added to the resin.
The method comprises mixing organic or inorganic porous powder (B) in an olefin resin (A); melting and pressing the mixt. to form a film or a sheet; and rolling the film or the sheet to extend.    The resin (A) is polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polybutylene, ethylene-propylene copolymer or ethylene-butene copolymer. From 5-70 wt.% of the powder is added in the mixt. The separator has uniform holes, high mechanical strength and low electrical resistance.
Cathode plate for an alkaline battery comprises a current collector coated with a kneaded mixture of active material consisting mainly of cadmium, a binder such as a 2% CMC aq. soln. a reinforcing agent such as short polystyrene, fibres, and NiO.    The cathode plate has a long duration of discharge. The rate of utilisation of active material is 68% in the cathode plate.
Mfr. comprises dissolving polyacrylonitrile or its copolymers in N,N'-dimethylformamide; adding to the resultant soln 20 to 100 pts. wt acetone to 100 pts. wt. non-woven fabric with the 4 to 12 wt.% resin soln. thus obtd.; and immersing the web in cooled water to deposit and solidify the resin in the cooled water.    Since a great number of micropores are formed uniformly electric resistance is low on impregnation with an electrolyte.
A high density polyethylene is mixed uniformly with a machine oil (one to one ratio). The mixt. is melted. The mixt. is formed (by calender rolls) into a film 0.2 mm thick. The film is fed into a hot machine oil at 110 to 120 degrees C and heat-set. The film is then cooled in cold water and treated with a solvent (such as acetone) to extract the machine oil contained in the film. The film is then dried to give uniform porous film of high mechanical strength.
The sodium cell comprises a cathode casing, an anode casing and a sodium ion conductive solid electrolyte, both anode and cathode casings contacting the electrolyte through plastic packing such as polypropylene, high density polyethylene and nylong. The peripheral part of the cathode casing is bent towards the anode casing through a rubber elastic member.
Synthetic resin strip is formed by supplying synthetic resin powder to a feeder having an outlet which feeds the powder onto the surface of a conveyor where it is formed into the required shaped by a profiling roller. The powder feeder has an arrangement for closing the powder outlet so that a head of synthetic resin powder can be built up in the feeder before the powder is allowed to flow from the outlet onto the conveyor.    Used partic. in prodn. of strip for use in mfr. of porous separators for electric storage batteries.
A lead accumulator battery is packaged in a container which is folded up to produce a first compartment in which the battery is held on its side and a second compartment in which the electrolyte is held.    The electrolyte is packaged in discrete quantities in plastic sachets, and the battery is arranged with its terminals adjacent the second compartment.    Transportation and storage of the batteries is simplified.
A fuel cell employing a pair of gas diffusion electrodes sepd. by a porous electrolyte matrix, and using phosphoric acid as the electrolyte is described. The novelty is that the matrix consists by wt. of 90% min, silicon carbide and 10% max. of a binder.    A fluoro-hydrocarbon polymer is pref. used as the binder esp. PTFE or fluorinated ethylenepropyl ene. The pref. matrix contains 2-5% binder, and 95-98% SiC in particle form, the SiC particles possessing a size below 25 mu m esp. below 10 mu m.    The SiC is inert to phosphoric acid, even after service up to 40,000 hours, so no materials are formed which might poison the catalyst.
A compsn. for the prodn. of microporous flexible separators for batteries contains (a) 10-16 wt. % of a thermoplastic resinous binder, (b) 4-10% of a platiciser, (c) 19-23% of a mineral filler, (d) 26-32% of a solvent and (e) 28-34% of a non-solvent.    The formation of cracks in the separator is prevented. The separator has tensile strength &gt;10.5 kg/cm2 elongation &gt;40% and electrical resistance &lt;0. u ohms/cm2. The pore dia. is about 1 mu and the porosity is is not &lt;50% in alcohol.    Pref. components are (a) (co)polymer of vinyl chloride, (b)dioctyl phthalate or adipate, (c) a SiO2 hydrogel, (d) cyclohexanone and (e) water. Typically a mixt. of 11.17% PVC, 6.67% dioctyl phthalate, 22.2% hydrated SiO2, 27.76% cyclohexanone, 32.2% water and 0.001% C black was extruded and calendered. The sheet was immersed in water at 70 degrees C and dried in air at 109 degrees C.
In mfr. of a low Ni-content Ni electrode for a secondary alkaline battery, a coagulum of Ni(OH)2, graphite and polyvinylidene fluoride binder is prepd. by (a) mechanically suspending a mixt. of up to 30 wt. % 0.5-5.0 mu graphite particles, balance Ni(OH)2 particles &lt;200 mesh, in a liq. which is not a solvent for the binder, (b) dissolving the binder in a solvent to form a viscous soln., the solvent being only slowly soluble in the liq. of (a) so that on agitation the soln. can freely mix with the suspension before dissolution occurs and (c) intimate blending the soln. the suspension and forming a coagulum by allowing the binder to slowly ppte. and coagulate uniformly throughout the mixt., entraining the particles.    The electrode is made by (d) forcing the soln. through a porous conductive electrode support, impregnating it with the coagulum, the binder having open celled reticulated structure with the cells filled with particles, (e) compressing at sufficient press to pack the particles together, enhancing the electrical contact between them and maximising % Ni(OH)2 utilisation, and (f) drying.    The electrodes provide a given A-hr capacity using only 1/2 the Ni required for sintered Ni electrodes. In tests on Zn-Ni cells, the electrodes were subjected to considerable electrochemical abuse without damage and were not the limiting factor in cell life.
A fuel cell with a negative metal electrode and a positive air (O2) electrode, separated by an electrolyte-soaked porous diaphragm, is so designed that the capillary pressure of the electrolyte in the porous diaphragm is greater than that of it in the porous air electrode and smaller than in the porous metal electrode. The diaphragm communicates with an electrolyte-filled storage system with a smaller capillary pressure of the electrolyte.    This absorbs the volumetric changes of the electrolyte during storage and operation. The porous metal electrode remains entirely filled with electrolyte and the contact between air electrode and electrolyte carrier in maintained. Differential concentrations of the electrolyte in the cell are eliminated.
Rigid tapes for closing the edges of open-topped pockets made from two layers of rectangular sheet joined by the tape about three edges. The tapes are preformed as a channel section. A combination of a plunger and a hollow mould is used to shape the tapes to the pocket profile.    Esp. useful for mfg. pockets for separating accumulator plates of differing polarity. The use of rigid tapes of self-supporting profile simplifies fitting of the borders of the pockets to the face panels.    The tapes are made of polypropylene or rigid PVC. The edges of the tape are notched so that they can pivot in one plane to form the corners at the base of the pockets.
The active material paste comprises at least one lead oxide in finely divided particulate form, a liq. vehicle and a polymer which is soluble in the liq. vehicle and which thickens the compsn. The paste has a density of not &gt;4.0 g cm-3 and an extrusion penetrometer penetration value (as defined) of at least 10.
The sealed container for chemical current generators is suitable for miniature batteries working at high pressures. It consists of a slotted housing and slotted lid whose slots are filled with polymer sealing material. Optimum results are ensured by making the slot depth and width to polymer seal thickness in the ratio of 0.1-0.3 and 7-12. This enables working pressures of the batteries to reach 35 atm. without bursting.
Method of making a long life gas electrode used in a metal-air battery such as fuel cell r air-zinc cell comprises impregnating a porous formed body of electrically conductive material with an organic solvent (B) contg. polymers (A), and removing the organic solvent from the porous formed body by drying to give it water-repellant properties.
Sealed alkaline batteries contain 5-6N NaOH-1-2N LiOH electrolyte. The battery has excellent high-temp. characteristics.    In an example, the anode and cathode plates were produced by impregnating sintered base plates in LiOH and Cd(OH)2, resp. Unwoven nylon separators were placed between the anode and cathode plates and rolled. The rolled assembly was inserted in a dry-cell battery casing and impregnated with the electrolyte contg. 5N NaOH and 2N LiOH. The dry-cell battery had higher high-temp. characteristics than a conventional battery contg.
Lignin and dispersing agents e.g. dinaphthylmethanedisulphonic acid, dialkylnaphthalenesulphonates and polymers of diisobutylmaleic acid are added to an anode active material. Addn. of lignin and dispersing agents improves the discharge capacity of the battery at low temps. By adding the dispersing agent, anode plates of even quality are produced from batch to batch.
A cathode and Zn anode in a battery are sepd. from each other by a semipermeable membrane, and a polycation of a quat. ammonium salt is added to the anode side. The polycation prevents the growth of dendrite during battery charging and the battery has long service life.
Cathode plate is subjected to activating treatment in an soln. contg. 4 N LiOH. An electrolyte is prepd. by adding 1-2 NiLiOH to an aq. soln. contg. 6-7 N NaOH. The cathode plate contains Ni as cathode active material, Co and Cd as additives.    It is possible to improve discharging characteristics of a sealed type alkaline storage battery over temp. range -10 degrees C-50 degrees C.
The cathode and electrolyte part of a fuel cell with a solid electrolyte, effective at high temp., has a gas-tight, O-ion-conducting body on a solid ceramic electrolyte with electron-conducting coatings). The coating(s) consists of a compact layer of a mixt., of doped In2O3 (I) and a ceramic material (II), which conducts O-ions at the operating temp., with a compact surface coating of a ceramic material (III), which conducts electrons and O ions.    The (I)/(II) layer is 1-200 mu m thick and contains 20-80 vol.% (I). (II) and (III) have the same chemical compsn. and consist of cubic crystals of Zr oxide and oxide(s) stabilising the cubic crystal structure.
The cation exchange resin membrane with an exchange volume of 0.5-2.0 milli eq./g dry resin is composed of a terpolymer from a fluorovinyl polyether cpd. of formula CF2=CF-O-CF2-(CFXOCF2)alpha-(CFX')beta-(CF2OCFX'')gamma-A (I), a fluorovinyl cpd. of formula CF2=CF-(CFY)zetaA (II), anda fluorinated olefin of formula CF2=CZZ' (III).    In the formulae 0 &lt; alpha &lt; 3; 0 &lt; beta &lt; 6; 0 &lt; gamma &lt; 4; alpha and gamma are not simultaneously 0; X, X' and X'' are -F or 1-5C perfluoroalkyl; A is -CN, -COF, -COOH, -COOR or -CON2R3 where R1 is 1-10C alkyl, R2 and R3 are hydrogen or R1, adn M is alkali metal or quaternary ammonium salt; 3 &lt; zeta &lt; 6; ad Y and A' = as specified above for X and A; Z and Z' = -H, -Cl, -F or -CF3)    The membrane is useful as diaphragm membranes in electrolysis of alkali chlorides, fuel cells, dialysis, etc. where the corrosion resistance is partic. required.
Catalysts are used, after sepn. without separate redn. Pref. the cations are derived from solns. of one or more salts or complexes of gp. IB and VIII metals and zinc, such as Ag, Au, Co, Cu, Fe, Ir, Ni, Os, Pd, Pt, Rh, Ru and Zn.    Process gives active metal on carbon catalysts in a simpler way than prior art processes; the treated carbon is easily sepd. from the treatment soln. Catalysts are useful in various heterogeneous catalytic and electrocatalytic processes, e.g. in hydrogenation reactions and in fuel cells.
Solid electrolyte battery for the conversion of chemical energy obtd. by the electrochemical oxidn. of a fuel gas contg. hydrogen and/or a gaseous H cpd. into electrical energy used a series of tubular cells, the sheathing electrodes of which are connected with an electrode of opposite polarity of the adjacent cell.    The cells are pressed flush at their smooth ends by spring(s). The Ni-contg. fuel electrodes extend over one end and the counter electrodes, which are resistant to oxidising and redusing atmosphere over the other end of the cells. At the contact points, the electrodes are gas-tight and conduct electrons.    The construction is simpler and cheaper and the operating properties are better than usual.
A deferred action battery arrangement includes a thermal battery with cells having electrodes sepd. by an electrolyte which only becomes active when heated. The battery is energised by igniting combustible material.    The battery is maintained in a functional state by moving a radioactive isotope heat source from a first position where it supplies little heat to the battery, into a second position where most of the heat from the source reaches the battery.    The arrangement may be used in an alarm, initiator or weapon system. The isotope heat source gives the battery an extended operating lifetime.
Fuel cells has first and second compartments sepd. by a microporous ion diffusion membrane and contg. respectively an anode and a cathode with liquid electrolytes in the compartments one electrolyte contg. a dissolved fuel and the other contg. an anti fuel.    A pressure differential is established between the electrolytes to provide a perssure gradient between the liquids in a direction to combat undesired transport of an ionic species contg. in one of the electrolytes which tends to poison the other electrolyte, or electrode of the other electrolyte compartment or to poison the membrane if transported.    Used partic. in a fuel cell where the anolyte contains aq. sulphide and the catholyte is a non metallic oxidising agent. The press. differential limits the possibility of free S formation in the catholyte or in the pores of the membrane.
The cell comprises thin porous and flat electrode plates, and the apparant path length of the continuous flow of the soln. is 200 times the thickness of the electrode pref. 200 times the thickness of the electrode pref. 20-25 times. This is achieved by the provision of inlet and outlet ports in the same electrode.    Each electrode consists of two carbon cloths, both opposed electrodes compressed to the cloths, and a separate membrane interposed between the cloths. The cell is used for synthesizing organic cpds., recovery of heavy metals, fuel cells, and electrodialysis.
The separator comprises a board of fibrils of synthetic resin, with carbon particles attached to the surfaces of the fibrils are grooved. The surfaces of the board are grooved.    The separator is used for fuel cells, a high conductivity and is light. It preserves an electrolyte and gas used as an electrofode. In an example, polypropylene fibres were crushed to form a synthetic pulp of polypropylene fibrils. The fibrils were dispersed in water, and carbon black (30 wt. %) was added to the water. The water was heated to form a wet mixt. of pulp and carbon. The mixt. was filled in a mould; and pressed at 60 kg/cm2 at 170 degrees C for 15 minutes. The mixt. was then cold pressed at 250 kg/cm2 for 15 minutes. The mould of the cold press had uneven surfaces so that the pressed mixture had grooves on its surfaces.
A fixed position combination water electrolyser and fuel cell for selectively storing and supplying energy comprises (a) a horizontal pan contg. aq. electrolyte; (b) positive and negative electrodes selectively connectable to a d.c. source for charging and a load for discharge; (c) first and second confined regions contg. H2 and O2 respectively, including gas formed on charge.    O2 is supplied to a region contiguous with the exposed electrolyte surface. A porous positive electrode, comprising a thin, porous conductor having a porous, hydrophobic, non-conductive coating (pref. PTFE) on its upper surface is yieldably supported to float on the electrolyte with its pores (partly) below the electrolyte surface. Thus a large portion of the electrode surface contacts the electrolyte adjacent the electrolyte-O2 interface.    An H2 container within the pan communicates with the H2 supply. The container is (partly) formed by a nonporous H diffusion electrode having one surface contacting the electrolyte and the opposite surface communicating with the H2. The temp., current density, electrolyte purity and concn. on charge are maintained so that all H2 is formed within the H container in the pan. All the H2 is confined and kept separated from the O2.    Device is used for storing low cost off peak energy for peak supply requirements. The cell operates at intermediate temp. with good efficiency (50%) and long life tested over several hundred hr. without degradation.
Water separating cell to remove the water of reaction from the electrolyte of fuel cell piles has a space for the liquid between membranes, and gas spaces between the membranes and cooled condensation areas. The liquid space is subdivided into an upper, larger part for the electrolyte and the lower smaller part for the condensate. The pressure in the gas spaces causes the condensate to enter this part through the porous membranes.    Arrangement eliminates the expenses for hydrogen which is conventionally used as medium for the condensate transport, and all risks of an explosion when H2 is discharged to atmosphere. No separate locks or ejector type of jet pump for the condensate discharge are needed.
The output compsn. from a selective oxidiser in a fuel cell system is controlled by sensing the operating temp. of the selective oxidiser and the current output of the fuel cell. The operating temp of the selective oxidiser is maintained within a narrow band selected to minimise H2 consumption and maximise the conversions of CO to CO2 by (a) controlling the flow rate of the air to the selective oxidiser as a function of the operating temp. of the oxidiser and (b) biassing the flow rate of air to the oxidiser as a function of the current output of the fuel cell.    When the operating properly, the output from the selective oxidiser ha the compsn. 61.5% H2, 0.1% CO, 14.9% CO2, 2% CH4 and 21.5% H2O.
The solid electrolyte working at temp. range 125-220 degrees C and increased ionic transference number comprises (mole %) BaS 40-57, ZrS2 60-43. Recommended molar % are BaS 40-50, ZrS2 60-50.    To reduce the working temp, range to 130-150 degrees C, 55-57 molar % BaS and 45-43 milar % ZrS2 are used.    To facilitate use, the alloy is produced in tablet form, using pressure of 5000 kg/cm2 and an exposure time of 1-2 min.
Prepn. of an electrocatalyst comprises (a) treating refractory inorganic oxide with a pyrolysable org. cpd. so as to form at least one monolayer of carbonised pyropolymer on the refractory oxide surface; (b) impregnating the mixt with a soln. contg. 1 catalytically active metal; (c) heating the mixt. to a temp. high enough to remove the solvent (b) reducing the mixt. in a reducing atmos.; and (e) recovering the catalyst.    Used in cm electrochemical cell either as a fuel cell (esp.) or a gas-metal cell, or in a cell in which electrolytic reactions are being effected. The electrocatalyst may be used to catalyse cathodic or anodic reactions. The catalyst can be prepd. at temps. which do not modify the capital dimensions of the metal and hence these can be held within given limits.
A combustible compsn. for a thermal battery comprises an intimate mixt. of finely divided metal oxide and finely divided metal capable of reacting exothermically with the oxide to form a conductive metal oxide reaction prod.    The thermal battery comprises 2 cells each comprising metallic positive and negative electrodes spaced by a normally inactive electrolyte that becomes active when heated. The combustible compsn. is disposed between and contacting the cells and, on ignition, forms a conductive ash providing electrical connection between cells.    The conductive ash provides the sole interconnection between cells, eliminating the need for attached or integral leads. The cell has low internal resistance, is rugged and simply constructed. Pref. oxide is WO3 and metal is Zr.
A fuel cell power plant comprises (a) series connected molten carbonate fuel cells, each having fuel and oxidant spaces, (b) a turbocharger including a first turbine driving a compressor, (c) a second turbine driving an electric generator and (d) a burner downstream of the fuel space burning fuel space effluent.    Conventionally, raw fuel is processed upstream of the fuel space and pressurised processed fuel is delivered to the fuel space. Pressurised oxidant from the turbocharger and fuel space effluent are delivered to the burner.    Efficiency is increased by (i) delivering burner effluent into the oxidant space, (ii) dividing oxidant space effluent into a first portion recycled through the oxidant space and a second portion delivered to the first turbine and (iii) delivering heat from the oxidant space effluent, including heat from the first turbine exhaust gases, to the second turbine.    Overall power plant efficiencies of 50% can be achieved compared with 40% for the most efficient current operational power plants.
Fuel cell comprises a porous cathode for supplying halogen, an active metal anode and an organic electrolyte comprising an anhydrous polar solvent (e.g. DMF, DMS, Etc.) contg. a dissolved halide of the active metal, and SO2. Electrolyte is pref. satd. with SO2. The halide is pref. a chloride, bromide, iodide, tetrachloroaluminate, perchlorate, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate or hexafluoroarsenate.    The presence of SO2 in electrolyte increases cell reaction prod. solubility and prevents cathode passivation by reaction prod. pptn., and protects the anode from cathodic materials in the electrolyte.
Steam-carrying hydrogen removed from a fuel cell via a conduit is fed to a condenser which converts the steam to water which is carried by a transfer line to a water storage tank with a continuously operating pump in the transfer lin. A vent line at least partially mounted within the transfer line is connected at one end to the water storage tank and at the other end to the condenser for equalising the pressure in the condenser and the water storage tank.    Use of the vent line ensures a constant pump head rise, economising on pump energy consumption and the vent line being concentric in the transfer line prevents freezing in the vent line.
Fuel cell intended for use as a storage cell in electric cars working at subzero temps. (e.g. -30) degrees C uses S2O5Cl2 as the oxidiser-electrolyte. Lid anode and Ni/Hg amalgams cathode. The cell is: (Hg-Ni): Li(S2O5Cl2)Hg. Cheaper Na can be ued instead of Li. The cell reaction is: S2O5Cl + Hg + 17 Li right arrow 17 Li+ + 2S-- + 50-- + 2Cl- + Hg-, and a thin film formed on the surface of Li anode on contact with the electrolyte acts as a passive membrane.    The cell has emf &gt;4. discharge current density &gt;0.1 A/cm2. capacity 7 Kw. hrs./kg., positive temp. coefficient, emits no gas suring discharge and has working temp. range of (-30) - (+180) degrees C. The cell can be stored indefinitely.
The battery includes positive and negative electrodes, a reversible electrode whose oxidn.-redn. potential is intermediate those of oxidn.-redn. potential of hydrogen and the oxidn.-redn. potential of oxygen, a gas reaction catalysts for bonding oxygen to hydrogen, and a gas disappearance electrode (sic) contacted to an electrolyte and electrically connected to the reversible electrode.
A mechanism for generating a high temp. type of fuel cell is provided in which hydrogen gas is produced from hydrocarbon in a steam reforming furnace. The high temp. type of fuel cell is housed in the steam reforming furnace and the hydrogen gas as a fuel is used for operating the high temp. type fuel cell at a very high temp. which is higher than the reaction temp. of the steam reforming furnace. As the hydrocarbon liq natural gas is used.    The mechanism for generating fuel cell is used in the combination with a plant for generating electric power by thermal power.
Catalyst is prepd. by a standard process. A mixt. of an Ru and a Pt cpd. is fused with NaNO3. Solidified mixt. is leached. Residual oxides are washed and dried and opt. reduced. Wt. ratios of Pt gp. metals is determined so that oxide catalyst contains, by wt. 90-99% Pt and 1-10% Ru.    Catalyst can be used for hydrogenation, hydrogenolysis and for electrochemical processes, e.g. in fuel cells. Catalysts have high reduction activity. E.g., in nitrobenzene hydrogenation, addn. of 7.3 wt.% Ru to Pt catalyst increased reduction activity from 38-89.
An extruded seal material comprises (a) 10-40 wt. % of a fibrillating PTFE, (b) 30-50 wt. % halogenated oil stable in phosphoric acid 400 degrees F, having low volatility 400 degrees F and is liquid at a range from room temp. to 400 degrees F, (c) 0-5 wt. % halogenated, pref. fluorocarbon solvent and (d) balance of particulate filler selected from non-fibrillating PTFE (pref, Si carbide and/or graphite. The material is rope like and the PTFE fibrils are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the rope.    The seal material is esp. suitable for use in a phosphoric acid fuel cell.
Electrochemical cell comprises thin electrodes of powdered catalyst material pressed against an interposed porous flexible supporting frame contg. an aq. electrolyte. The electrodes are pressed against the supporting frame by means of electricaly conductive nets or meshes.    The supporting frame has overall-uniform pores and is provided with an inlet and outlet for the electrolyte, and at least one of the surfaces of the frame in contact with the catalyst material is provided with a layer of asbestos paper which is ionically conductive and gas-impermeable when impregnated with the electrolyte.    Cell can be used as a fuel cell or as an electrolyser for producing H2 and O2 from H2O. The construction permits circulation of the electrolyte, which prevents concn. gradients and allows heat to be removed. The use of a supporting frame with different pore sizes is avoided.
The fuel cell comprises a hydrogen electrode, an oxygen electrode, a hydrogen ion conductive solid electrolyte sandwiched by the electrodes, an electrolytic soln. filled in a battery cell with the electrodes and the electrolyte, and a N-type semiconductive electrode placed in the electrolytic soln. and opposite the hydrogen electrode. The semiconductive electrode is irradiated to decompose water of the electrolytic soln. to generate O2 and H2. The H2 and O2 are used in the electrodes. The semiconductive electrode is GaP or TiO2. The cell is a very compact size.
A gas generating compsn. producing gaseous hydrocarbons or hydrogen isotopes consists of an intimate mixt. of 1 ammonium cpd. of formula (NR'R"R'"R'v)nX where R' to R'v are hydrocarbons or hydrogen isotope radicals with the proviso that 1 R is a hydrocarbon radical; X is an organic or inorganic acid gp. of valency n; and 1 hydride cpd. of formula Y(ZQ'Q"Q'"Q'v)m; where Y is a mono or divalent alkali(ne earth) metal capable of forming complex hydrides and m is the metal valency; Z is B or Al and Q' to Q'v are hydrogen isotopes, the above cpds. are present in about stoichiometric amts. or in amts. such that there is a stoichiometric excess of 1 of the cpds.    Hydrogen or hydrogen isotope mixts. or hydrocarbons or mixts. of hydrocarbons with hydrogen may conventionally be prepd. for use in laser fuel cell or nuclear reactions, especially in restricted and wt.- and vol- limited situations.    Typical ammonium cpds. are tetramethylammonium chloride and deuterated ammonium chloride. The anhydrides used are LiAl'H4, NaAl'H4, LiB'H4, NaAl2H4, LiAl2H4, and LiB2H4.
The process concerns regulating the operation of a fuel cell using a H-contg. fuel an O-contg. gas and an aq. electrolyte (I), in which (part of) the water of reaction is formed, which operates at a high temp. so that the water is removed from (I) more rapidly than it is formed. The steam is removed with the oxidn. stream leaving the oxidn. chamber. It is subjected to heat exchange to condense (part of) the steam, which is then recycled to (I) so that the water content of (I) remains constant.    The improvement involves removing part of the water directly from (I) in the form of steam and conveying this with the steam in the oxind. gas.    The rate of condensn. can be brought into equilibrium with the rate of escape of steam if the water from both streams is condensed in the heat exchanger or, if the rate of condensn. exceeds the requirement, the excess condensate can be discharged.    This cell has improved efficiency, since the temp. and (I) level can be regulated very accurately and opt. automatically.
A constant current cell comprises a hydrogen gas inlet, a hydrogen gas outlet, an anode chamber formed of a glass tube, an anode soln. consisting of phosphoric acid buffer soln. methyl viologen and hydrogenase, a glass carbon electrode, a salt bridge of polyacrylamide gel contg. conc. KCl soln. in a glass tube, a cathode chamber formed of a glass tube, a satd. calomel electrode, and leads.    The cell has improved constant current functions and operates at room temp.
A hydrogen fuel cell comprises a first metal hydride capable of generating hydrogen by addn. of water, a second metal hydride capable of generating hydrogen by heat of battery reaction, LiH, NaH, KH, CaH2, BaH2, NaBH4 or Al(BH4)3 may be used as a first metal hydride. MgH2 or Mg2NiH4 may be used as a second metal hydride.    The hydrogen fuel cell can be simply started by water-pouring operation even when an ambient temp. is &lt;0 degrees C because of the use of a first metal hydride having great hydrogen occlusion power and a second metal hydride capable of releasing hydrogen by chemical reaction independent of the ambient temp.
The resin is a copolymer of (A) a fluorine-contg. nitroso cpd. of formula (I) O=N-(CX1X2)N-COOH (n is 1-12; X1 X2 are Cl, F, -CF3) and (B) a fluorinated olefin cpd., e.g. ethylene tetrafluoride, ethylene trifluorochloride, propylene hexafluoride. Amount of (A) contained in copolymer is 1-50%.
High temp battery used as power source for rockets and emergency power source for ships and transporters, contains, a heat-generating agent of great mechanical strength, high burning rate and improved antipollution properties.    The battery comprises an electrical energy source active at high temp. and a heat source for activating the electrical energy source.    The heat source comprises an oxidising agent (such as barium chromate), a reducing agent (such as zirconium powder) and a binder (such as copolymers of maleic anhydride and vinyl acetate, styrene and/or ethylene). The electrical energy source comprises a nickel cathode, CaCrO4 as cathode active material, a eutectic mixt. of KCl-LiCl as electrolyte, and a magnesium anode.
High temp. battery used as power source for rockets, and emergency power source for ships and transporters, contains a heat-generating agent of high mechanical strength high burning rate and generating increased amt. of gas. When the electrical energy source is heated at 360-550 degrees C by burning of the heat-generating agent, the electrolyte is melted and activated.    The battery comprises (a) heat source contg. an oxidising agent (such as barium chromate), a reducing agent (such as zirconium powder) and an acrylic binder (such as polyacrylic ester), (b) electrical energy source inactive at room temp. and active at high temp. and (c) a starter for igniting the heat source.    The electrical energy source comprises a nickel cathode, CaCrO4 as cathode active material, a eutectic mixt. of Kcl-LiCl as electrolyte, and Mg as anode.
Method of measurement of rate of fall in volt-ampere characteristic of hydrogen-oxygen fuel element with liquid electrolyte, is based on periodic glowing-through of hydrogen chamber and fixing of potential to maintain constant current density. Increased accuracy and expediency of measurement is obtained at max. potential by maintaining constant temp. and concn. of electrolyte at levels exceeding normal work conditions.    In a specific case electrode with platinum catalyst operates in high purity oxygen with electrolyte consisting of KOH maintained at constant conc. and constant temp. by stabilisation of heater current. The observed fall of V/A characteristic equals 2.75 m V in 24 hrs. during 100 hrs.
Electrolyte system comprises, by wt., 40-70% Na-K-Li carbonate ternary mixt. and 30-60% Na-K-Li aluminates mixt. as inert carrier material. Latter is obtd. by reaction of finely-divided, SiO2-free reactive alumina of surface area &gt;400 sq. m./g. with an excess of the ternary carbonates mixt. at a temp. &gt; m.pt. and &lt; decompsn. pt. of ternary carbonates mixt.    Electrolyte has excellent stability; cells using electrolyte show no electrical deterioration and are esp. superior to those using magnesia as inert electrolyte material.
A fuel cell of the filter press type is formed of an assembly of unit cells each comprising two electrodes and an intermediate separator all the same size and thickness. Each electrode is made of an insulating frame enclosing a central part of electronically conducting material. One of each pair of electrodes is fed with fuel, the other with fuel over one face.    The separator comprises three components, i.e. two diaphragms sepd. by an electrolyte distributor. The centre areas of the diaphragms are made of an electronically insulating material which allows ion transfer, while that of the distributor is of an electronically conducting matl.    The cell exhibits excellent irrigation by the electrolyte ensuring high values of electrical characteristics. The components are readily obtained by calendering techniques and moulding at a moderate manufacturing cost.
A fuel cell consists of a case contg. +ve and -ve electrodes. These are sepd. by a thin porous matrix to be satd. with electrolyte. The case is arranged for supply of fuel such as H2 to one electrode and oxidant, such as O2 to the other. The matrix is a compressible mat of randomly entangled microfibres made of a high mol. wt. thermoplastic polyacrylsulphone ether polymer.    The cells are used e.g. for building up banks of cells to give voltages from 100 to 1000 and power levels from 1kW to &gt;10 MW. The cell can be made quite narrow so that size of bank is reduced. Cells can be operated at 275-475 degrees F or more, compared with 225 degrees F. Less catalyst is needed. Absence hydrostatic pressure on the electrodes reduces wt. loss from the matrix. The cell has a much longer life.
A C-contg. support (II), in which (part of) the C is in the form of polycrystalline graphite, is oxidised to form acid or base oxide gps. (III) on the surface. The oxidised (II) is impregnated with a soln. contg. cations or anions of a catalytically active metal (I) suitable for salt formation with (III). The impregnated (II) is dried and reduced to form a (I) layer on the surface.    The prods. are sed esp. for fuel cell electrodes (in which (I) is a noble metal), partic. for the electrooxidn. of MeOH. The catalysts have higher activity than various conventional catalysts.    The graphite can be integrated structurally in (II) or deposited in it in the form of a binder, filler or surface layer.    (II) consists of C fibre, esp. in the form of a mat or paper. Suitable fillers include pitch, C2H4 cracking residue, polyphenylene, PVC and epoxide resin. The acid (III) can be produced by electrochemical or chemical oxidn. or ion bombardment and the basic (III) by heating to high temp. in N2, followed by the action of O2 at ambient temp. (I) pref. is noble metal(s). opt. with the addn. of a gp. IVa or IVb metal.
A component in a thermoelectric converter includes a cloth tape formed of insulating threads interlaced with thermoelectric wires, having terminal ends. A ceramic insulator has over limited areas corresponding to the terminal ends, a coating of first metal which adheres to the insulator. A thermoelectric junction is formed of a second metal which wets the first metal and adheres to the terminal ends but does not wet the insulator.    For use in a cardiac pacemaker, The generator is rugged and shock resistant; has small dimensions; and is capable of large scale mechanised prodn. and testing.
A tape for a thermoelectric converter comprises a cloth formed of threads interlaced with thermoelectric wires. The tape also includes a layer of heat-radiation reflecting material extending over the cloth and insulated from the wires.    For use in a thermoelectrically powered cardiac pacemaker. The generator is rugged and shock resistant; suitable for large scale mechanised prodn. and testing and has small dimensions.
Water is removed from the electrolyte (KOH) by electrodialysis. The cells is subdivided into an anolyte and catholyte space, contg. a hydrazine anode and an oxygen cathode. The latter is coated with an asbestos membrane with a thickened fringe zone which is impermeable to the electrolyte and includes supply channels.    This cell is simpler to mfr. and has a simpler function because it requires no additional hydrogen electrode, additional fuel or elements.
Prodn. is from one or more strips of electrode material and strips of fibrous material contg. a dry, uncured thermosetting polymer, a polymerisation catalyst and a filler. The strips are advanced and puched or cut to form openings corresp. to chambers, channels and passages in the finished cells. The electrode strips are stacked with the strips of fibrous material and the assembly heated until the polymer becomes adhesive but not cured, and the product is cut into appropriate lengths.    The resulting elements are stacked with non-adhesive strips interposed to correspond to channels in the finished cells or batteries. The stacks are heated and pressed to cure the polymer. The non-adhesive strips are removed to form the channels, the necessary gas and/or liw. passages are introduced by drilling, milling or cutting, and the open ends of the channels are sealed.
A rechargeable electrochemical cell comprises a closed container holding a cathode, a gas generating and consuming anode, a separator and electrolyte storage material. It also contains a capillary mat electrolyte reservoir in transfer contact with separator and material to replace losses of electrolyte.    The reservoir, separator and material are pref. all of nonwoven nylon, and the separator and material between at least two cathode-anode pairs may be in contact with a single replenishment reservoir.
A rechargeable electrochemical cell comprises a closed container holding a cathode, a gas generating and consuming anode, a separator and electrolyte storage material. The container has a capillary mat lining to define a gas storage volume. The mat contacts the separator and a material so that any electrolyte vaporised will condense on the mat and the mat forms a condensate return path.    The mat, separator and material are pref. all of nonwoven nylon. The mat is no more than half the thickness of separator and material, so that the bulk of the electrolyte is stored between the electrodes.
Working temp. and electrolyte concn. in a crude gas/air fuel cell with an acid electrolyte are kept constant by a heat conduction system for the air. Before the air enters the cathode gas space of the fuel cell, it is heated to the working temp. and passed to the cathode gas space with a predetermined degree of water vapour satn.    Method removes only the water, formed by chemical reaction on the cathodes, and keeps the electrolyte concn. constant. There is therefore no electrode output reduction or damage to the matrix substance.
Strongly electrically conducting metal oxide compsn. has the formula (L1-xMx)Q1-yRy)O3-gamma (in which L is an element of at. no. 57-71, pref. La, Pr, Nd, Yb, Gd or Lu. M is Ca, Sr or Ba. Q and R are different and are Zr or elements of at. no. 21-30, pref. Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni or Cu. O &lt; y &lt;1 pref. 0.2 y &lt;0.8.    O x &lt;1, pref. O x &lt;0.5).    For use as electrode materials for fuel cells and MHD (magnetohydrodynamic) transformers. Compsns. have excellent thermal stability, with very little vaporisation loss even near the m.pt., which is 1500 degrees C.    Pref. the metal oxide is (Pr1-xSrx)(Zr1-yMny)O3; La1-x-Cax)(Cr1-yNiy)O3; (La1-xBax)(Fe1-yTiy)O3; (Yb1-xCax)(Fe1-yCoy)O3; or (Nd1-xSrx)Ni1-yCuy)O3. Gamma is a factor depending on the degree of imperfection compared with the perovskite structure and approaches O. In an example, for (La1-xCax)(Cr1-yNiy)O3-gamma, the wt. loss in 200 h at 1800 degrees C was at a min. if y = 1/3 and the spec. resistance was under 10 ohm. cm at this point. Variation of x had little effect on this loss but a great effect on the spec. resistance.
A hydrophilic electrolyte matrix layer is screen printed onto the surface of the catalytic layer of a fuel cell gas diffusion electrode. The matrix material is mixed with a suitable linking vehicle, and the resulting ink printed through screen onto the surface. The matrix layer is heat treated to remove the inking vehicle. The matrix pref. includes a binder esp. PTFE.    Thinner matrix layers are available than matrix materials formed as separate elements, e.g. 2-7 mil, and the layer are highly uniform, with a pref. thickness variation is not &gt;1 mil. In tests, a matrix made as described has been used for over 7000 hr. without deterioration, and min. life expectancy is 40,000 hr.
A fuel cell with a negative metal electrode and a positive air (O2) electrode, separated by an electrolyte-soaked porous diaphragm, is so designed that the capillary pressure of the electrolyte in the porous diaphragm is greater than that of it in the porous air electrode and smaller than in the porous metal electrode. The diaphragm communicates with an electrolyte-filled storage system with a smaller capillary pressure of the electrolyte.    This absorbs the volumetric changes of the electrolyte during storage and operation. The porous metal electrode remains entirely filled with electrolyte and the contact between air electrode and electrolyte carrier in maintained. Differential concentrations of the electrolyte in the cell are eliminated.
Beta-LiAlO2 is prepd. by (a) mixing powdered Al2O3 with either ternary Li/K/Na carbonate, binary Li/Na carbonate or binary Li/K carbonate, the carbonates being liq. at temps.; (b) heating at 480-550 degrees C from LiAlO2; and (c) heating at 600-650 degrees to produce the beta-form. Pref. step (b) is at 510-540 degrees C for 4-15 hrs. and step (c) at 630-650 degrees C for 20-100 hrs.    Prod. is useful as a matrix for liquid carbonate fuel cells. Method requires no special high pressure appts. Reaction pressures of ambient to 500 psig are pref.    Li2CO3 content of carbonate compsn. is pref. &lt;20 wt. %. In a ternary carbonate, K2CO3 content is pref. &gt;50 wt. % most pref. &gt;75 wt.% of total K+Na carbonates content. Alumina powder pref. contains &lt;0.1 wt.% impurities.