Cell electrode structure comprises a porous support of polyester or polyolefin fibres which is 0.1 to 3 mm thick with a pattern of solid conductors cast thereon and bonded to the surfaces and extending over the surface from a current take off region to regions spaced therefrom, and an electrochemically active material deposited on the support, in contact with the conductors, in an amt. of at least 0.1 gm/sq. cm/mm thickness.    Used partic. as electrode is a lead acid battery.
The electrode is prepd. by (a) preparing bulk electrode material including hydrophobic binder, pref. PTFE or polypropylene, comprising sticky electrode material particles, (b) fluidising the sticky particles in a fluid stream by observing their behavior and controlling the stream to maintain a uniform suspension, (c) allowing a uniform flow of sticky particles ove a weir onto a moving belt, producing a continuous strip of electrode particles nad (d) compressing. The bulk electrode material is pref self-adhesive.    The electrodes are useful for gas depolarised batteries esp. as air electrodes. The method allows sticky electrode material to be uniformly distributed.
The rim part of Ni-plated anode sealing plate, which attaches to the insulator packing of the plate, is coated with Ni oxides. The Ni oxide treatment prevents electrolyte leakage.    In an example an anode sealing plate was made from Ni-plated Fe sheet, and the rim part, which attached to the insulator of the anode sealing plate, was coated with a Ni oxide film by electrolytic oxidn. in an alkali hydroxide. Batteries were assembled from the anode sealing plate with Ni oxide-coated rim, Neoprene rubber alkali-resistant insulators, Ni-plated Fe anode containers, HgO-graphite-polystyrene cathodes, and KOH electrolyte-impregnated fibres. They were stored at 45 degrees and 75% relative humidity for 6 months. From 100 batteries, leakage was observed in 3 batteries. The resp. number for 100 conventional batteries was 65.
Method comprises (1) elongating porous fluoroethylene polymer sheets in one direction, (2) laminating the sheets so that the elongated directions of the sheets are crossed and (3) pressing the laminated sheets to form a gas electrode base of high mechanical strength. In an example, the PTFE sheets are elongated at 1.25kg/cm2 to form sheets of 0.1mm. thickness. Two elongated sheets are laminated and the elongated directions of the sheets are crossed at right angles. Then the sheets are pressed to bond the sheets to each other to form a gas electrode.    The electrode is used in an air-zinc battery.
Method comprises (1) forming a dispersion of alkaline earth metal hydroxide, lead oxide and PTFE, (2) adding water or electrolyte to the dispersion to form a mixt., (3) coating the mixt. on a zinc layer, (4) drying and sintering the coating.    The lead oxide in the mixt. improves the discharge capacitance of the battery.    In an example, ZnO powder (15 pts. wt.), PTFE (1.5 pts. wt.), HgO (0.75 pts. wt.) and water (8 pts. wt.) are mixed to form a paste. The paste is coated onto a collector to form a Zn layer. Ca(OH)2 (10 pts. wt.), PTFE (8 pts. wt.), water (10 pts. wt.), Pb3O4 (1 pts. wt.) and HgO (0.75 pts. wt.) are mixed to form a mixt. The mixt. is coated onto the zinc layer. Then the mixt. is heated at 120 degrees C for 1 hr.
Layer of sealing agent (I) is formed on the inner surface of the negative electrode terminal plate and covered with a resin layer (II) to form a gasket. The gasket seals an opening end of an inner case of the battery. The inner case is placed in an outer case which is sealed by the terminal plate, the end of the inner case cutting into the gasket. (II) is polyethylene or polyamide and the gasket has a throughhole fixing a negative electrode collector connected to the terminal plate.    (I) is a polymer of formula (Ia). In the formula, R is monovalent radical -CH2(CF2)aCF3; R' is monovalent radical -CH2(CF2)bH and a and b are each O or integers 0-9. Layer of the sealing agent has improved elasticity giving improved sealing.
The layer of sealing agent is formed on the end parts of the negative electrode terminal plate having a metal layer formed at an inner surface. The metal layer is easily amalgamated. The end parts of the plate is not contacted with the negative electrode. The sealing agent consists of polymer of formula (I): In (I) R is a monovalent radical of -CH2(CF2)aCF3, R' is a monovalent radical of -CH2(CF2)bH and a and b are integral numbers between 0-9.    The layer of the sealing agent has an improved elasticity, so that the gasket seals the case perfectly.
The gasket placed between the outer case of the dry cell and a cap comprises a gasket body and a layer of a sealant formed on the body. The body has a through-hole at the centre. A collector rod of a negative electrode is fixed in the throughhole. The layer is contacted with the collector rod in the through-hole.    The sealant consists of polymer of formula (I): where R is -CH2(CF2)aCF3, R' is -CH2(CF2)bH and a and b = 0-9. The sealand has good elasticity.    Typically the negative electrode with the collector rod and a positive electrode are placed in the inner case which is placed in the outer case. The opening end of the outer case is sealed by the gasket of polyethylene. The gasket is covered by the cap.    The layer is sandwiched by the gasket and the collector rod.
The gasket placed between the outer case of the dry cell and a cap comprises a gasket body and a layer of a sealant formed on the body. An end of an inner case cuts into the layer. The sealant consists of polymer of formula (I): where R is -cH2(CF2)aCF3. R' is -CH2(CF2)bH and a and b = 0-9. The sealant has good elasticity.    Typically a negative electrode consisting of amalgamated Zn powder, polyacrylate and an alkali electrolyte is placed in the inner case. A positive electrode consisting of MnO2 and graphite is placed in the case. The case is placed in an outer case. The opening end of the outer case is sealed by the gasket of polyethylene, where the case cutts into the layer. The gasket is covered by the cap.
The gasket placed between the case of the alkaline storage battery and a cap comprises a gasket body and a layer of sealant formed on the body and sandwiched between the body and the cap. The sealant consists of polymer of formula (I) where R is -CH2(CF2)aCF3, R' is -CH2(CF2)bH and a and b are 0-9. The sealant has good elasticity.    Typically a positive electrode activator consisting essentially of AgO or Ag2O is placed in the nicket plated iron battery base. A polyolefin porous film, a separator and a PVC fibre sheet are laminated on the activator. A negative electrode is placed on the sheet. The cap covers the electrode. The gasket with the sealant is placed between the cap and the case.
Inner diameter of a gasket is smaller than an outer diameter of a closure plate. A sealant layer of thermoplastic resin is formed on an inside surface of the gasket to come in contact with the closure plate or on a peripheral portion of the closure plate to come in contact with the gasket. The gasket engages with the peripheral portion of the closure plate. An engagement portion is heated from the exterior to soften the sealant layer. A film state of the sealant layer is corrected by utilisation of elasticity of the gasket. A contact surface between the gasket and the closure plate is sealed by the sealant layer of the thermoplastic resin.    The thermoplastic resin is suitably polyamide, polyethylene or asphalt pitch. The sealant layer of the thermoplastic resin is formed on a folded portion of the closure plate. The gasket consists of elastic synthetic resin of polyamide, polypropylene or polyethylene and has a wall portion and a receiving portion.
A zinc alkaline battery uses an anode produced by uniformly dispersing zinc powder in an alkaline electrolyte which is caused to gel by crosslinked starch having high crosslinking degree and salt of polyacrylic acid.    This zinc alkaline battery has excellent discharge performance and excellent storage stability.    In an example, refined starch was dispersed in a NaOH soln.    With stirring, epichlorohydrin was dropped in the soln. The soln. was heated at 60 degrees C to cause the crosslinking reaction. After finishing the reaction, dilute HCl was added to the soln. to adjust a pH to 7.0. The soln. was filtered to obtain reaction prods. The reaction products were washed with water and then with ethanol to obtain crosslinked starch. The crosslinked starch and polyacrylic soda were added to a 42 wt. % KOH soln. to prepare a gel-like electrolyte. Amalgamated zinc powder was mixed with the gel-like electrolyte to form a paste-like anode.
A zinc alkaline battery uses an anode produced by uniformly dispersing zinc powder in an alkaline electrolyte which is caused to gel by crosslinked starch having high crosslinking degree and carboxymethylcellulose having high substitution degree.    This zinc alkaline battery has excellent discharge performance and storage stability.
A zinc alkaline battery uses an anode produced by uniformly dispersing zinc powder in an alkaline electrolyte which is caused to gel by crosslinked starch having high crosslinking degree.    The crosslinking starch ensures the retention of the alkaline electrolyte. It is possible to prevent deterioration of performance of the zinc alkaline battery during storage.
A film of alkali-proof synthetic resin contg. a filler is stretched. Ion exchange gps, are introduced to the stretched film to form a separator. The separator is laminated on one surface of a semipermeable film of cellophane or polyvinyl alcohol. The surface of the semipermeable film faces the cathode.    Migration of ions, e.g., silver ions and zinc acid ions, during storage of an alkaline battery is prevented by use of the laminate of separator and semipermeable film.    In an example, a high-density polyethylene film of 30 mu thickness contg. 10 wt. % CaCO3 having a grain size of 0.5 to 3 mu is stretched. The stretched film is irradiated with beta-rays and then dipped in an acrylic acid soln. while it is irradiated with gamma-rays. The film thus obtd. is dipped in hot water and then immersed in 45 wt. % KOH soln. to form a separator having a graft rate of 45%. The separator is laminated on a semipermeable film of cellophane of 25 mu thickness.
A film of alkali-proof synthetic resin contg. a filler is stretched and ion exchange groups are introduced into the stretched film. The separator is used in a Ag oxide battery, a Ni-Zn battery or an alkaline Mn battery. The separator has good workability, a low cost and low electric resistance.    Pref. the alkali-proof synthetic resin is polyethylene, polypropylene, an ethylene-propylene copolymer or polyamide. The filler is pref. talc, asbestos, calcium carbonate, manganese carbonate or silicon oxide.
The separator comprises an ion-permeable thin film of synthetic resin bonded to a cellophane thin film by a bonding agent of an organic-solvent soln. contg. a high polymer cpd. soluble in an organic solvent and an alkaline aq. soln. and having swell characteristics.    The separator has good workability and low electric resistance. Pref. the high polymer cpd. soluble in the organic solvent and the alkaline soln. is a vinyl acetatecrotonic acid copolymer.
Separators for batteries contg. alkaline electrolyte, consist of PVA with crystallinity of 0.4, pref. 0.5-0.6. The separators are pref. in the form of film of thickness 10-100 mu, which may be reinforced with fibres. fabric, film or powders.    Electrical resistance is lower than PVA cross-linked with HCHO or boric acid, and resistance to alkalies and oxidn better than than of known PVA separators with crystallinity 0.3-0.35.    The crystallinity is pref. achieved by heating, pref. in non-oxidising atoms. at 130-240 degrees, eg for 10 mins. at 200 degrees C which gives a crystallinity of 0.52. After heating, the film is pref. treated with aq. premagaiate soln. at a concn. of 0.001 g. equiv/l. up to saturation, pref. .0.05 g. equiv/l. up to saturation to make the surface hydrophilic. This prevents breakdown of air bubbles on the surface during use and reduces polarisation to a minimum. Treatment is usually at 10-60 degrees C.
The cell comprises (a) an electrically conductive casing contg. (b) a Li anode having an exposed surface portion and another surface portion connected to a conductor extending through the casing and (c) a cathode of I2-contg. material operatively contacting the exposed Li surface and the casing so that the casing serves as cathode current collector.    The anode conductor is sealed through the casing and completely shielded from the cathode material and casing by an insulator and ferrule combination. The insulator is a material that does not exhibit electronic conductivity on contact with I2 and concentrically surrounds the conductor within the casing. The ferrule extends through the casing, its interior being within the insulator and is also concentric with the conductor.    Pref. the anode is coated with organic electron donor material (esp. polyvinyl pyridine) and the cathode is its charge transfer complex with I2.    The casing can be completely filled with cathode material, more than doubling the I2 content compared to cells requiring insulation, and providing a very large area cathode current collector. The cell has a very large energy density.
Materials are produced by impregnating TFE resin open-pored material with F contg. high molecular liq. which adheres to the fibrils, fine knots and pore walls of the porous materials in the form of film. The porous materials are impregnated with inorganic cpd. precursor liqs. which are converted into stable solids e.g. by hydrolysis, combination, heating, etc., and fixed to the film.    Materials have durable hydrophilic properties, and are suitable for use as diaphragms for electrolysis and battery separators.
Hydrophilic tetrafluoroethylene resin connected porous materials are produced by impregnating tetrafluoroethylene resin connected porous materials with the fluorine rubber comprising tetrafluoroethylene and propylene and the cross-linking agents for the rubber, applying sulphonating agents flowing rubber penetrated into the porous materials in the state that the fluorine rubber is uncrosslinked or semi-crosslinked, and thereby sulphonating the fluorine rubber.    The porous materials having durable hydrophilic property are used pref. as the diaphragm for electrolysis and battery separators.    The cross-linking agents for the fluorine rubber include, e.g. alpha, alpha-bis(tert.-butylperoxy)paradiisopropylbenzene tert-butyl peroxide.
The method comprises (1) forming a mixt. of active carbon powder and a bonding agent, (2) placing paper of 0.1-0.5 mm thickness of the mixt. and (3) pressing the mixt. through the paper to form the carbon gas electrode. Each of the particles of the powder is covered by a water-proof coat. The bonding agent consists of an organic solvent and polystyrene.    The electrode is applied to an air cadmium secondary battery. The electrode has an improved discharge property and a long-life-time. In an example acetylene black, ammonium chloride powder and charcoal are mixed, pressed and heated at 950 degrees C. for 50 hours to form the active carbon. The active carbon is crushed to form the active carbon powder. The powder is immersed in a water-proof agent of paraffin to form the water-proof coats on the particles of the powder. The powder and the polystyrene contg. the organic solvent are mixed and pressed to form the electrode.
Method comprises (1) coating activator paste on an electrode support, (2) adhering acid proof thermoplastic resin powder on the activator and (3) heating the electrode support to fuse the resin powder and at the same time, harden the activator. In an example the support consists of a lattice of lead contg. 1.5 wt. % Sb with a thickness of 1.5mm. The paste consists of the lead activator 1000g, 145 ml water and 70ml sulphuric acid. The paste is coated on the lattice and polyethylene powder is coated on the lattice and heated to fuss the powder and harden the activator.
The method comprises pressing mixture of Ag oxide powder activator and conductive agent powder to form a tablet, (2) forming a reducible and adhesive layer on a circumference of the tablet, (3) placing the tablet on a base of a metal battery case, (4) pressing the tablet in the case to form a positive electrode.    The reducible and adhesive layer activates the positive electrode effectively.    In an example the positive electrode is pressed and placed in a metal case. The reducible and adhesive layer on the positive electrode consisted of ascorbic acid and sodium alginate. A separator of a porous polyethylene film is placed on the positive electrode. A negative electrode activator is placed on the separator and the metal case is covered by a metal cap.
Acid-proof resin powder is deposited on a surface of a paste like (SiC, probably plate) electrode. The electrode is heated so that the resin powder may be completely melted on the electrode.    Surface of the electrode is suitably wetted with water or alcohol. Resin powder is then deposited on the wet surface of the electrode. The powder-deposited electrode is vibrated and then heated to melt the resin powder.    Active material is then prevented from dropping the electrode.
The anode comprises a mixt. of 100 pts. wt. zinc powder, 3-6 pts. wt. mercury oxide and 1.2-60 pts. wt. of electrically conductive material to be amalgamated, pref. gold, silver, copper, alloys thereof carbon particles coated therewith.    Discharge and charge efficiency of the anode and rechargeable performance of the battery can be improved and expansion of the battery due to gas generated therein prevented.
Device for sorting and/or separating injection moulded articles from sprues has a driven shaft on which is mounted a cylinder formed by juxtaposed discs each of which is provided with a peripheral array of radial slots with radially spaced detents for the jacks of breaker teetch. Discs are interlocked by pins.    Used in mfr. of bottle or battery stoppers. Device is simple and may be readily adjusted to require conditions.
The surface of an electrode plate for lead accumulators is provided with a dust-fixing coating made of a water-insoluble plastic.    Suitable polymers include polyacrylates, polystyrene, PVAc and PC and copolymers such as styrene-acrylic ester. The coating may be applied onto the plate from a dispersion of the polymer contg. 2-20% solids, by dipping, spraying, rolling-on, etc. Dust deposition is largely inhibited with no adverse effects on the electrical props. of the plate.
A cell comprising an anode, a cathode which can be depolarised by gases and a separator holding the electrolyte between the anode and the cathode, has a cell container with the positive and negative terminals isolated from each other. The respective terminals are connected to the anode and the cathode and there is 1 opening in the container by which the gases outside the cell can make contact with the cathode. Across the path by which the gases approach the cathode, there is a barrier impermeable to gases and humidity. In the barrier there is 1 opening which, being interposed across the path of the gases, ensures that downstream to the barrier the flow of gases is less than it would be through the opening or openings in the cell container if the barrier were not there.    The barrier is a metal foil, a membrane of non-porous plastic material, a membrane of metallised plastic material, a membrane of metallised plastic material and/or adhesive ribbon. The barrier may consist of a stainless steel foil, Al foil, high density polyethylene or polypropylene, and/or PVC. The barrier consists of a plastic material which shrinks when heated.    The metal-air cells are used in cases where only intermittent working is required and current is taken at low to ave. tension. The device ensures a long life and prevents both drying out as well as the absorption of too much humidity from outside. The cell has restricted communication between the outside and the inside, and there is restricted communication between the gases and the water vapour and the cathode of the cell.
A battery with high performance and long life comprises a plastics container, pref. of polypropylene, with 1 partition and a cover over the cells holding positive and negative plate gps. Terminal posts connected to the groups extend outwardly through cover openings over the cells.    Each post is surrounded by a dish-shaped plastics element with upwardly open caity heat-sealed to the cover underside, the cavity receiving plastic on sealing to make the battery leak-proof. Ribs on confronting inner surfaces of cells have recesses at their upper ends and the element have projections locating in the recesses to positively set the posts.
Material for the monoblock of accumulator batteries contains 49-82 pts. wt. polyethylene, 5-15 pts. wt. kaolin, 0.5-2 pts. wt. carbon black and to improve durability and reduce wear 0.5-1 pts. wt. graphite and 0.1-0.2 pts. wt. calcium stearate.
Metal powder such as Ni, Fe, etc. id dispersed in an organic binder aqs. soln. such as methyl cellulose. Ethylene glycol, glycerine, benzaldehyde, O-nitrotoluene and/or nitrobenzene is added to the aqs. soln. to make a paste. The paste is coated on a metal net, dried and sintered.
Method comprises (a) dispersing acid-resistant synthetic resin powder or fibres in an activator paste, (2) coating the paste on an electrode lattice, (3) drying the paste on the lattice and (4) heating the paste to melt the synthetic resin to bond the electrode activator in the paste firmly.    Pref. the synthetic resin is polyethylene, polypropylene polystyrene and/or polyvinyl chloride; average particle size of the powder is 10 mu m-1mm and the fibres have length of 1-30 mm and dia. 0.1-1 mm.    The synthetic resin bonds the activator paste firmly to prevent the decrease of the capacitance and the discharge voltage of the storage battery.
The method comprises (a) dispersing acid-resistant synthetic resin powder in a surfactant soln., (2) adding the surfactant soln. to a paste of electrode activator and (3) coating the paste on an electrode lattice to form the electrode plate.    Pref. the surfactant is anionic or nonionic; the synthetic resin powder is polyethylene, polystyrene and/or polypropylene, and is used in the paste at 0.01-2.0 wt. %    The synthetic resin bonds the activator paste firmly to prevent the decrease of the capacitance and the discharge voltage of the lead accumulator. The synthetic resin powder is effective dispersed in the paste by the surfactant.
Cadmium electrode is produced by coating, on a porous substrate, a paste obtd. by mixing viscous soln. (100 pts. wt.) contg. ethylene glycol (100 pts. vol.) water (5-30 pts. wt.) and vinyl acetate resin (1-10 pts. wt.) with CdO active material opt. with conductive material, followed by drying.    Active material has longer life and discharge capacity is improved.
Dry cell carbon prodn. comprises (1) preliminarily forming a rod by compressing a powdered mixt of carbon resin binder and water proofing agent in lengthwise and rectangular direction and (2) forming a final rod by compressing the rod in lengthwise direction in preheated processin machine.    Cap corrosion or leakage are prevented due to the water-proofing agent. In an example, scale-formed graphite as carbon material was milled with xylene denatured phenol resin (as binder) and paraffin wax (water proofing agent). The mixt was compresed under 200-400 Kg/cm2 to form a preliminary rpd. The rod was compressed in a hot state under 200 Kg/cm2 in lengthwise direction for 60 min. to form a final rod.
Silver peroxide cell comprises anode active material contg silver peroxide powder milled with teflon and cathode active material contg Zn or Cd.    Storage life can be extremely long. In an example, silver peroxide powder (99 wt. %) + teflon (1 wt. %) + teflon (1 wt. %) were milled, pressed into flakes to form anode active material. Zinc was used as cathode active material zinc oxide sat. soln. in 40% KOH was used as electrolyte. Conservation ratio was 99.6% w.r.t. 73.1% of a convetional cell (sic).
Foamed C material is provided between the cells of an NaS battery. Each cell comprises a container contg. solid electrolyte sepg. Na from the cathodic reactant. The cells are pref. within an outer housing.    Na-S batteries are made by (I) assembling Na-S cells within an outer housing, forming a polyurethane foam around the cells within the housing and carbonising the foam, or by (II) coating each cell with an intumescent paint providing a carbonaceous foam before assembling in the housing and pref. after assembling, heating to a temp. at which the paint foams to fill the free space within the battery with a C matrix.    Failure of one cell does not lead to an attack on other containers, as any leakage is confined by the foam.
The surface of the plate has a coating (I) for fixing dust; (I) contains a silicate which forms a film. Pref. (I) consists of (a) an alkali metal silicate, esp. Na silicate, used with (b) a small amt. of a thermoplastic, and (c) a pore former, esp. sugar or Na2SO4. The thermoplastic (b) is pref. a copolymer of acrylic acid ester and styrene; or butadiene and styrene.    The electrode plate is pref. coated either before or after forming, by immersion or spraying with a soln., esp. an undiluted water-glass soln.; or a soln. of Na silicate contg. materials (b,c).    Evolution of toxic lead dust is prevented.
A plant for the generation of electrical energy from radioactive waste prods. which have been bonded in glass, ceramic or similar blocks or other matrix, comprises a storage chamber in which the blocks are stacked and a cylindrical chamber above the storage chamber. Both these chambers are in communication and contain a inert gas such as helium; an external piping system is connected to the chambers and circulates the helium through an outer annular chamber contg. silicone oil.    Heat exchange pipes contg. water also pass through this silicone oil chamber and are connected to an evaporator above the cylindrical chamber; in this evaporator steam is generated to drive a turbine and produce electricity. The entire plant is mounted on a foundation and surrounded by shielding concrete partic. contg. boron or iron granulate.
Assembly of an alkaline primary cell involves placing positive and negative electrodes casing, current lead and diaphragm of pre-damped electrolyte in the cell. The electrolyte is introduced through a spout into the space between the positive electrode and a mandrel corresponding in shape and size to the negative electrode.    In order to increase the specific electrical characteristics of the cell, a film of mineral oil is applied to the mandrel which is moved synchronously with the casing. This ensures reliable contact between the ion-conducting diaphragm and the positive electrode. Thus on assembly of cells with increased electrolyte content in the negative electrode material the electric characteristics and short-current are stable.
A gas diffusion electrode comprises an electric collector of nickel network and a sintered base plate moulded of nickel powder and active carbon powder. The sintered base plate is coated with a palladium catalyst, and a non-woven fabricated sheet of polyethylene tetrafluoride or polypropylene hexafluoride, having water repelling effect and porosity is compressively fitted on the base plate with a pressure of 50-300 kg/cm2.    An iron-air cell comprises an electrolytic tank, an iron electrode, a separator, an auxiliary electrode for charing electric energy and an electrolytic liquid. The air electrode is fitted so that the non-woven fabricated sheet contacts the air.
A TFE system polymer film is reacted with a phenylalkali metal cpd. to produce a polymer film having a phenyl gp. An ion exchange gp. is applied to the phenyl gp. to provide the polymer separator for an    Since separators with good acid and electrolyte resisting properties are obtd., alkaline batteries such as Ni-Cd batteries are not deteriorated even if they are stored at a high temp.    In an example, a PTFE film having a thickness of 10-20 mu and pores of 0.1-0.5 mu are immersed into ether. An ether soln. contg. 1 mol. % phenyl lithium are dropped in the ether to react the film with the soln. at -10 degrees C for 5 hrs. After taking the film from the soln., it was washed with a mixt. composed of 0.5 N hydrochloric acid and methanol and then dried. The film is treated with chlorosulphonic acid to introduce a cation exchange gp. to the film, thereby providing a separator for a known Ag oxide cell.
Pref. cell elements which consist of a positive active material such as mercury oxide; a polyethylene separator and an electrolyte retaining member are placed in a positive can and a negative active material such as amalgamated Zn particles is placed in a negative cap. The assembly is heated at 30-60 degrees C and the can and the cap are sealed through an insulating packing.    Since the air contained in the cell is contracted when the cell, after sealing reaches room temp., the interior of the cell is kept at reduced pressure. Therefore, the cell is prevented from an increase of the inner pressure even if gases are generated during self-discharge or during use, thereby avoiding unwanted creep phenomenon.
Pref. a positive active material such as mercury oxide is disposed in a positive can. An ion permeable polyethylene film separator is placed on the positive active material. An electrolyte retaining member and a negative cap filled with a negative active material such as amalgamated Zn particles are successively disposed on the separator. Thereafter, the assembly is kept at a reduced pressure, and the positive can and the negative cap are sealed through an insulating packing to provide an alkaline battery.    Since the inside of the cell after sealing is kept at reduced pressure, the cell is prevented from an increase of the inner pressure even if gases are generated during self-discharge or during use. Therefore, unwanted creep phenomenon is avoided.
The material consists of (a) semi-inorganic polymer having units of formula (I) (where X and X' are alkoxy, fluoroalkoxy and/or allyloxy gp.), and (b) an organic peroxide (such as diacylperoxide, ketone peroxide, alkylperoxide, peroxycarbonate, dialkylperoxide, etc.) and/or azoisobutyronitrile.    The semi-inorganic polymers have good insulating water-repellent, low temp. resistant moulding, fireproof, elastic and oil-resistant properties, and include NP (OCH2CF3)2 n, NP(OR)2 n and NP(OC6H5)2 n.
Material consists of (a) semi-inorganic polymer of formula -(N=P(X)(X'))- (I), where X and X' are (fluoro)alkoxy and/or allyloxy gp.), and (b) 1 mineral powder such as SiO2, Al2O3, TiO2, carbon powder, alumina-silica, kaolin, etc., and polymer powder such as PTFE, nylon, etc.    Highly reliable batteries are provided since liq. leakage is prevented by the sealing material. (I) polymers have good insulating, water repellent, low temp. resistance, moulding, fire proofing, elastic and oil resisting properties.
The plates of a wet accumulator are braced against vibration by rigidly linking the twin feet and the overhead tabs of each set of plates of like polarity using rods and/or strips of fused tapes to bind the edges of the plates or partitions.    Ultrasonically welded polypropylene rods or cold-setting epoxy resin or hot melt polyolefin tape are used esp. for securing components in batteries with casings and partitions moulded from polypropylene and which cannot be securely located by conventional bitumastic or rubber strips. Wedges or tapered posts made by compressible material (e.g. expanded polystyrene) may be used to locate the groups of plates within the casing. The prolong the working life of batteries mounted adjacent to motors or other vibrating machinery.
Electrical cell includes a thin sheet of ion-permeable separator material; an electrolyte permeable layer of active electrode particles held together with polymer binder on the separator sheet, and carrying aq. electrolyte; a second layer of a dispersion of C particles in aq. electrolytic on the first layer; and a conductive plastic sheet contacting second layer. Separator material is pref. regenerated cellulose.    Used in prodn. of flat batteries for use in e.g. photography. The C particle slurry electrically couples the electrode particles to the plastic current collector layer without need for a conductive plastic coating on the electrode layer.
The subassembly comprises (A) a thin flat sheet of liq. impervious conductive plastic; (B) a thin, flat, dry layer of active anode particles adhesively bonded to (A); and (C) a thin, flat, dry separator sheet of liq. permeable material adhesively bonded to (B).    The subassembly simplifies the prodn. of series connected laminar cell batteries which can have sufficiently low internal impedance for use in high current drain applications.    Inan example a triplex laminate was obtd. by coating 1.34 mil Cellophane (RTM) with a mixt. of Zn powder toluene, C black and 'Solprene 411C' (Phillips) to dry thickness 1-8mils, followed by a mixt. of C black, 'Solprene 411C' (RTM) and toluene to dry thickness 1.8 mils (first coat) and 1.7 mils (second coat).
Electrode terminal subassembly comprises a thin flat metal terminal sheet, a thin flat current collector sheet of conductive plastic, a thin flat dry patch electrode adhered within the peripheries of the current collector, a thin flat separator over the electrode and extending to the peripheries of the current collector, and an insulating frame over the current collector and separator.    The frame has a central aperture in registry with the electrode and smaller than the separator and is adhered to the regions of the current collector beyond the boundaries of the separator.    Used in the prodn. of flat laminar cells for use in e.g. automatic, self-processing cameras. Use of a separator as a separate element rather than pre-attached to frames enables gel electrolyte layer of similar prior art cells to be omitted without impairing cell electrical and mechanical performance.
Gas fuel cell includes a gas distribution layer (I) with a second surface in contact with an electrode catalyst layer and comprising a porous layer of open cell vitreous C foam which is 80% porous and permits free gas flow in both parallel and perpendicular manner. A gas impermeable separator layer contacts the first surface of (I).    Distribution of gases to the catalyst layer(s) is improved.
A battery casing is rotationally moulded from a polycarbonate powder and has side walls which are sinuous in a cross-section parallel to the base. At least one side wall, pref. opposite side walls, are provided externally with a fibre-resin reinforcing strip held in place by adhesive. A pref. material for the strip is glass reinforced polyester.    The casing is strong, resistant to chemical attack, and easily made.
Separator comprises a base made of foamed olefin polymer having cells of 10-200 micrometers and fine pores of 0.001-5 micrometers and is covered with wet layers for isolating from an electrolytic soln.
In an alkaline secondary battery comprising an anode, a zinc cathode, an alkali electrolyte and a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode, the separator is so designed that the electric resistance of the separator is successively decreased from the edge to its centre. The separator, pref. comprises a two-layered construction consisting of a finely perforated separator and a coarsely perforated separator.    Short circuiting between the anode and the cathode caused by the deposition of dendritic metallic zinc on the cathode is prevented.
A solid-state electrolyte cell comprises a cathode of Li, a solid-state electrolyte having a conductivity for Li ion and an anode of slid state fluorocarbon of chemical formula: (CFx)n (where 0.5 x 1). The solid-state electrolyte is prepd. by mixing LiI powder and Li2O. 11A12O3 powder, pressing the mixt. powder into a body and firing the pressed body in N2 or inert gas atmos.    By the use of solid-state anode, cathode and electrolyte materials, the cell has superior property of preventing liquid leakage from the cell container and exhibits excellent discharge characteristics.
A paste type electrode is impregnated with a suspension contg. thermally melting resin powder. After the resin is dried and the dispersion medium is removed, the electrode is heated at a higher temp than the m.pt. of the resin.    The active material is not sepd. from the base member of the electrode such as paste type positive electrode in charge and discharge cycles since the electrode includes the net-shaped resin.
The surfactant is formed on a fibrous fluoro-resin net, and Zn active material bonded on to form the negative electrode. The alkaline cells have good heavy load and low temp. properties, and high cell performances.    In an embodiment, 90 g mercury oxide was mixed with 10 g graphite powder, and molded to form a positive electrode; 70 g amalgamated zinc was mixed with 10 g magnesium oxide to produce a mixt (A); 6.5 g polytetrafluoroethylene and 1.4 g non-ionic surfactant were dispersed in 30 cc water to produce a mixt. (B); the mixt. (B) is gradually added to mixt (A) to form a plastic mixt., which was then rolled to a sheet, and punched to form the negative electrode.
A multicell electric storage battery has an intecell connector bar in the lower part of an open-top notch in a partition. The bar has a pre-moulded plastics bobbin with its waist fitting in the notch bottom with a clearance under and on either side while the spacing between bobbin flanges is equal to the partition thickness, and the flanges overlap the notch margins.    The connection is sealed by placing a mould around the bobbin and fitting against the partition on both sides and against the flange upper surfaces, then introducing plastics sealant into the mould to fill the notch top and the clearance around the bobbin. In particular, the battery is an alkaline battery with a moulded plastics case, and the sealant is polypropylene.
Electrochemical cell comprises a negative electrode contg. an alkali metal, a positive electrode contg. a chalcogenide, an electrolyte consisting of a molten salt and a specific ion conductor for alkali metal ions as the solid separator.    The positive electrode contains at least one chalcogenide of the type MYkYz, where M is a metal selected from gps. II a, IIb, IVb, Vb, VIIb, Fe, Co, Ni, Sn, Pb, Cu; Y is a gp. Va element. X is S, Se or Te; k is O or 1 and z 1. The electrode may be formed in layers, bonded with a plastics material such as PTFE.    The working temp. is lowr (is approx. 200 degrees C) than for sodium sulphur battery cells (is apporx. 300 degrees C), reducing problems of corrosion. Plastics materials can be used in the construction at these lower working temps.
The cell has an anode consisting of a cpd. of formula: M is a gp. IIa, IIb, IVb, Vb or VIIIb element, Fe, Co, Ni, Sn or Pb. Ye is a gp. Va element. X is S, Se, Te. k is 0 or 1. z is not &lt;3.    Cpds. (I) is pref. NbSe4, NiPS3, Fe, PS3 or FePSe3. It is pref. coated on a support made of M, or mixed with conducting powder, e.g. acetylene black, graphite or M.    The cathode is pref. a gp. Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, IIIa or IIIb element, pref. Na, K or Li. The anode may be prepd. by dispensing 85-95 wt.% (I) in 15-5 wt.% PTFE. Graphite or acetylen black of particle size is not &gt;10m is added, then alcohol to form a latex. This is pressed on to a support made of M.
A laminate for prodn. of electric cells, consists of a sheet of conductive plastic. A dry layer of active electrode particles is adhered to the sheet and is of smaller dimensions than the sheet.    The layer and portions of the sheet surrounding it, are covered by a film of regenerated cellulose. This is adhered with a water soluble bonding agent.    Used for battery of Leclanche or other type cells e.g. for operating an automatic camera and recharging electronic flash gun. Wrinkling of the cellophane by wet electrolyte during assembly is prevented. Merits of triplex construction principle are retained. Test batteries were stable and showed low impedance after several months.
The strip is drawn by feed and take-up rollers past a series of electric cutters spaced along a shaft. Each cutter is carried by an arm secured to a hub the hub being located over a sleeve fixed to the shaft. Each sleeve and hub are provided with cooperating teeth so that upon rotation of the shaft the cutters are pivoted in unison to and from the cutting position.    Used partic. for cutting microporous battery sheet material into strips.
Compsn. for the negative electrode of an alkali battery comprises zinc dust. zinc oxide and binder in the ratio (mass %): 60-79:20-40:0.5-1.5, with an additive of 0.1-0.6 of a polyoxyethylene ether of a fatty acid alcohol contg. 5-10 oxyethylene gps. Self-discharge can be reduced if the fatty alcohol is a mixt. of 10-13 C alcohols in the specific ratio C10 10-25, C11 35-55, C12 25-45, and C13 1-8.1%. An inhibitor of mercury, cadmium or lead oxide can also be added to the compsn. in the amt. of 0.5-10%.
Foam of high mechanical strength is prepd. by heating powdered compsn. contg. (in wt.%): resol phenolformaldehyde resin 40-95 and metal formate (on metal) 5-60. The latter is zinc, lead, copper or nickel formate. The foam is used in the mfr. of electrodes for fuel cells, catalyst supports etc.
Closed type accumulator comprises an anode and cathode, a generator comprising separator inserted between the anode and cathode, a diode and 10-2000 OMEGA resistor connected in series between the anode and gas absorbing auxiliary electrode, vessel contg. the members and auxiliary terminal connected to the gas absorbing auxiliary electrode and drawn out from the vessel.    Pressure in the accumulator is not rapidly increased, detection of overloading is easy and high reliance is attained.
The lead accumulator comprises an activate cathode material to which lignin, polymerised with formalin or glyoxal (10-80 pts. per 100 pts. lignin is added.    High discharging property at low temp. and long life can be attained.
A microporous film or nonwoven cloth, 5-5000 mu thick and having 0.01 mu pore dia. is graft-polymerised with vinyl monomer which can form a salt and which reacts (in)directly with an acid or alkali. The pores are packed with the graft vinyl polymer.    The prod. has good waterproof uses without affecting its electric resistance, so that its life is prolonged.
An alkali cell comprises alkaline water-repellent polymer thin layer formed on (part of) an opening portion of the sealing member.    In an example, a fluorocarbon resin was coated on the opening portion and then baked to give a strong water repellent layer. Creeping on the sealing portion was completely prevented, so that the life was prolonged.
Battery utilises light metal, e.g. Li as anode active material and a solid electrolyte, e.g. lithium salt. The solid electrolyte is partially electrolysed to form a thin layer of the solid electrolyte, and prods. of electrolysis are used as anode and cathode active materil. By electrolysing the electrolyte to form a thin layer, the ion conductivity of the solid electrolyte can be increased.
Active material powder, an electrically conductive agent and a binder are mixed to prepare paste-like material. The paste-like material is coated on a support and the coated support is punched out to an electrode plate of desired shape. The electrode plate is pressed onto an electrically conductive ring which serves as a current collector.    This electrode plate is flat and has great mechanical strength. Swell of the electrode plate on reaction is suppressed by an electrically conductive ring, therefore, the electrode paste is prevented from being short-circuited to opposite electrode. Decrease of current-collecting effect is prevented by the electrically conductive ring.
Hydrogen-occlusion material capable of resisting a large number of occlusion and release cycles without deformation, destruction and pulverisation due to mechanical strain by lattice expansion, exhibiting excellent mechanical strength, suitable for use as electrode of electric cell and as hydrogen-storing material is described.    The material is produced by sealing a hydride in which a large amt. of H2 is occluded, e.g. produced by mixing together rare earth metal(s), e.g. La, Ti etc. and metal(s) of Ni, Fe, Ag etc. in pref. wt. ratio, and sintering the mixt. with a viscoelastic material composed of polyethylene or Teflon etc. in H2 atmos. or in a vaccuo, in a porous covering material, e.g. made of porous steel plate or porous synthetic resin, followed by binding together by sintering.
Battery for effectively charging and discharging the discharged active hydrogen includes a negative electrode consisting of metal hydride, and a closed casing or container kept at the pressure hydrogen atmosphere. The negative electrode has such characteristics that large amounts of discharged active hydrogen are absorbed and stored, and that the equilibrium hydrogen pressure is &gt;1 atmos. pressure. The hydrogen atmosphere pressure is defined by above the equilibrium hydrogen pressure of the negative electrode.    The metal hydride electrode is prevented from unwanted damage and deformation even if it is expanded due to the hydrogen absorption and storage. Therefore, hydrogen charge discharge battery with high reliability is provided.
A wedge-shaped ring for a gasket support is placed between an electrode and the inner wall of the cell casing. The ring is composed of thermoplastic resin contg. 50-70 wt.% filler such as aluminium hydroxide, calcium oxide, glass fibre and/or asbestos. Thermoplastic resin is esp. polypropylene.    The supporting strength of the gasket is increased, and the electrode adheres well to a separator to provide a button type closed cell having good cell performance.
Alkali prim. cell has gamma-MnO2 as positive active material and Zn amalgam powder of finely-divided Cd as negative active material. The positive electrode has a first depolariser layer towards the negative electrodes of electrolytic gamma-MnO2 mixed with 6-16% graphite powder having a wide particle size spectrum, with second depolariser layer(s) of higher apparent density (g/cm3), contg. gamma-MnO2, HgO or Ag2O, behind the first depolariser layer. There is also separator contg. membrane layer(s), which are inert towards and impermeable to any Mn ions dissolved in the electrolyte.    The graphite in the first depolariser layer consists of a mixt. of graphite powder and graphite flakes, with particle size ranges of 0.05-5 mu and 10-1000 mu respectively. The cell has a Ni (plated or alloy) pot and the negative electrode has alaminated cover of Ni (alloy) on the outside and Cu (alloy) on the inside. There is a sealing ring of nylon or neopene between the edge of the pot and the cover.    The cells are esp. suitable for use in electronic time pieces, medical appts., audio equipment and portable communications equipment. The cells have improved electrical properties and very good storage stability.
Battery has a separator of porous, gas impermeable fluorinated hydrocarbon resin (I) and having a gas impermeable property. Pref. (I) is PTFE or fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer.    Exothermic reaction at the negative electrode due to absorption of O2 from the positive electrode is prevented.
In a Zn alkaline storage battery, the anode comprises an electrode plate comprising a Zn active material layer formed on a sheet-like metal core, and peripheral portions of the electrode coated with an alkali-resistant resin layer contg. Ca(OH)2 or CaO.    Growth of Zn dendrites due to an edge effect is prevented. In an example, the Zn active material layers were of PTFE, 70-90 wt. % Zn and 3-20 wt. % Ca(OH)2 or CaO. Alkali resistant resin is e.g. of PVA or polystyrene.
Separator is of non-woven or woven cloth of thermplastic resin fibre (e.g. of polypropylene) extruded by a slit die. The cloth is provided with a great number of irregular, non-continuous cracks in one direction, uneven cross-sectional area, and pores.    Separators have high liq. retaining and liquid absorption properties. Thus, the amt. of hydrophilic surfactant is reduced to provide good cell performances and long service life since unwanted decomposed prods. are not generated. The separators are used for various cells such as Ni-Cd alkaline batteries.
An alkaline battery uses a zinc anode consisting of a mixt. contg. a powder of zinc, zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide as main component, a powder of bismuth oxide or bismuth hydroxide as auxiliary component, an alkali-resistant carboxylic copolymer as pasting agent and an alkali-resistant high polymer as binder.    The battery has improved discharge performance at low temp. and heavy load.    Typically, 45 wt. % of metallic zinc powder (grain size of 100 mesh), 30 wt. % of zinc oxide powder (grain size of 150 mesh), 10 wt. % of bismuth oxide powder (grain size of 150 mesh), 5 wt. % of carboxy vinyl polymer powder and 10 wt. % of PTFE powder are mixed, kneaded and formed into sheets. The sheets are pressed on both surfaces of an expanded metal plate to fabricate a sheet-like zinc anode.
A lead storage battery uses a cathode plate prepd. by mixing negative electrode active material and lignin polymerised using 5 to 100 pts. wt. of furfuryl alcohol or furfural w.r.t. 100 pts. wt. of lignin. The lead storage battery has high-rate discharge performance at low temps. and long service life.    Typically, 500 pts. wt. of an aq. slurry with a lignin concn. of 20%, 20 pts. wt. of furfuryl alcohol and 3 pts. wt. of conc. sulphuric acid are mixed and heated for 3 hours. Precipitates obtd. are filtered, washed with water, dried and shattered to prepare modified lignin.
Method comprises press-moulding, under heating, a mixt. of a powder of active material consisting mainly of lead and a powder of an organic high polymer having hydrogen ion exchangeability and/or sulphuric acid ion exchangeability.    The electrode plate has excellent durability. The polymer having hydrogen ion exchangeability pref. has a sulphonic acid gp. and/or a carboxylic gp. in the molecule. The polymer having sulphuric acid ion exchangeability has a pyridinium sulphate gp. and/or an ammonium sulphate gp. in the molecule.
In an alkaline battery using a separator, the separator comprises a hydrophilic film laminated on the surface of a semipermeable film opposite a cathode. The hydrophilic film is produced by graft polymerisation of a microporous film having resistance to alkali and oxidation and (meth)-acrylic acid to give a graft rate of 20 to 70%.    The battery has excellent preservability and little deterioration of performance.
Active materials for a battery are charged into battery containers formed between two plates. Cathode active material consists mainly of silver peroxide. The peripheral portions of the battery containers of the plates are sealed by a micro-capsulated bonding agent. The bonded plates are then divided into individual batteries.    The panel battery has a thickness of &lt;3 mm, low internal resistance and excellent durability and is suitable for mass prodn.
The battery comprises an anode using light metal as active material, a cathode of gamma-beta-intermediate phase manganese dioxide having a whisker or needle-shaped crystal state at its surface, and an non-aq. electrolyte. The cathode active material is produced by immersing electrolytic manganese dioxide powder in a soln. of a manganese salt, heating, filtering and drying the powder obtd.
A F-contg. polymer (I) contg. COOH gps. is prepd. by oxidising a F-contg. polymer contg. attached sulphonyl halide gps., at is not &gt;250 degrees C. A specific copolymer is of tetrafluorethylene and perfluoro-(3,6-dioxa-4-methyl-7-octene sulphonyl halide) (II). The polymer may be treated in the form of granules, powder, fibres.    An electrolysis process, using a diaphragm of the polymer (I) is claimed. In partic., an alkali salt is electrolysed. The membrane may also be used in (ultra)filtration as a cation-exchange membrane, in fuel cells, and for diffusion and pressure dialysis. The sulphonyl halide gps. are converted to COOH gps. by a simple, efficient process. The polymer (I) has high chemical resistance. Electrolysis of alkali salts is more rapid and give higher current efficiency than asbestos diaphragms.
A battery having increased electrical characteristics has an organic electrolyte, a Li anode and a cathode contg. fluorinated polycumulene with degree, of fluorination 62-76 wt. %. High degree of fluorination, due to unsaturated polycumulene, increases cathodic electrochemical action. Specific capacity and specific energy are increased.
A battery having 10-15% increases capacity and increased initial voltage has organic electrolyte, Li anode and a cathode of fluorinated graphite or carbon black I with fluorinated coke II. The weight ratio of I to II is 2:2-9:1.
Formaldehyde-type resin (e.g. melamine-formaldehyde urea-melamine-formaldehyde condensn. prod., or formaldehyde resin), fats and oils (e.g. olive oil, tung oil, linseed oil, or soybean oil), and if desired surfactant (e.g. polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenol ether, or fatty acid monoglyceride) are contacted with starch and absorbed. The resultant material is dried normally, and then roasted at 100-250 degrees C to form a modified starch. The modified starch is used as a gelling agent for a dry cell electrolyte.    The gelling agent is extremely inactive electrochemically, and it is stable even under heavy load discharge condition.
In a Zn cathode plate having deposited Zn-active material on alkali resistance metal plate, the improvement is that the edges of the cathode are coated with a mixture of epoxy resin and water-proofing agent.    The cathode retains stable capacity for 300 charge-discharge cycles.    In an example epoxy resin (5 pts) + fluorine resin (5 pts) was coated on edge parts (3mm wide) of ZnO (as active material) deposited metal plate (5 x 6 cm). Thin resin layer was coated on outside and inside of the Zn active laminar porous material. A battery was prepared by combining the above cathode with a normal Ni(OH)2 anode.
Lead storage battery has the life of active material on electrode plate prolonged by bonding with organic polymer having hydrogen-ion exchangeability and/or sulphate ionexchangeability. Long life is attained due to durability of the active material of electrode.    In an example, a market-sale electrode (1.8 AH in capacity, 6V in voltage) which has been produced by filling Pb paste into Pb-grid followed by ageing and formation, was immersed in stream water for 24 hrs. and dried in vacuum at 40 degrees C for 48 hrs, then immersed in methanol soln. (solid content 10 wt. %) of 4-vinyl pyridine polymer (mol. wt. Ca 50000) and dried. The electrode was set in an electric cell and dil. H2SO4 (S.G. 1.28) was added to prepare a battery. After 300 repetitions of charge and discharge, the discharge voltage drop was reduced cf. the conventional one.
Cathode material for Ag peroxide cell is prepd. by coating the surface of particles of Ag peroxide with cellulose (deriv.) to form a thin film, and then treating the thin film for activation.    The Ag peroxide is stabilised against attack by alkaline electrolyte.
An alkaline cell employs as a liquid leakage preventing agent a semi-inorganic phosphasene polymer of repeating units of formula -PXX'=N- where X and X' are 1 of fluoroalkoxy, allyloxy, and alkoxy).    In a conventional sealed type cell, e.g. silver oxide cell or an alkaline manganese cell, pitch, wax, paraffin, or fluoro-organic polymer is used at the sealing portion for leakage prevention. However, alkaline soln. leakage is often occured after long time storage, thermal hysteresis, or discharge. Such a disadvantage is eliminated by using the semi organic polymer or polyphosphasene such as polyfluoro alkoxy phosphazene.
A lithium-chlorine cell includes a solid lithium anode, a chlorine cathode, and a solid lithium chloride electrolyte. The chlorine cathode contains the charge transfer complex of an organic donor component, pref. poly-2-vinyl pyridine polymer, and chlorine.    This battery combines a high voltage with a high energy density, partic. for applications where a long service life and low current strengths are required. It is easy and economical to mfr.
A thin, flat laminar cell comprises a Zn anode, a regenerated cellulose separator and an MnO2 cathode. Anode, cathode and separator are permeated wtih aq. acidic electrolyte contg. NH4cl and ZnCl2, and the cathode is slurried in the electrolyte.    More specifically, a flat laminar cell for high current drain applications is provided which requires no external compression. The cathode slurry comprises MnO2 and C particles slurried in the electrolyte without any polymeric binder. A C-filled conductive polymer current collector layer is positioned on the other side of the slurry to a cellophane separator, and the MnO2:C ratio and water content are such that the slurry adheres to the polymer (cf. 12667Y/07).    The battery has good internal cohesion, long shelf life, high yield and can rapidly recharge e.g. electronic flash units.
Copolymer of vinylene glycol and vinyl alcohol (in 1:3 ratio) is used as separator and can be deposited on one of the electrodes or on electrolyte carrier. When it is necessary to provide a mercury contact the copolymer is used in combination with additional polymeric film of vinyl-pyridine and methacrylic and acrylic acids.
A separator for dry cells consists of a cellulose film having acetylation degree 51-63, and is disposed between a positive active material and a paste layer.    The acetylation degree is given by: (D-C)Na + (A-B)Nb X 6.005/W (where A and B are the amts. (ml) of NaOH required for the titration on practical and blank test samples C and D are the amounts (ml) of HCl required for the titration of practical and blank test samples, Na and Nb are the normalities of the HCl and NaOH solns used W is the same weight (g)).
The separator consists of a PVA, an insoluble PVA contg. a boric acid radical, a paper layer and a paste layer. The separator is placed between a positive active material and a negative active material.
The electrode of the storage battery comprises a collector, an electrode activator layer formed on the collector, and an ion-permeable separating layer formed on the activator layer. The collector consists of fibrous carbon or fibrous metal. The electrode has a cylindrical shape with a diameter of 10 mu m - 5000 mu m.    The electrode is used as the anode or cathode and it is flexible.    In an example the electrode activator slurry is coated on a nickel wire of diameter of 50 mu m to form an activator layer of thickness 250 mu m. Then, polyvinyl alcohol is coated on the activator layer to form a porous layer of thickness of 20 mu m. A number of positive and negative electrodes are placed in a case to form the battery.
Method comprises (1) adding alkali-resistant synthetic resin to a sintered porous body of an alloy which absorbs hydrogen and 2) heating the sintered porous body at a temp. above the m.pt. of the synthetic resin but below the dissolving point of the resin, in an inert atmos..    The content of the synthetic resin in the sintered porous body is 3 to 20 wt.%. The synthetic resin is selected from fluorine-contg. polymers, polyethylene and polystyrene.
The gasket of a storage battery consists of copolymer of 90-99.5 wt.% of ethylene and 0.5-10 wt.% of N-vinyl-carbazole. The gasket prevents leakage of an electrolyte soln. from a battery case such as an alkaline storage battery or a Leclanche cell.    In an example, a positive electrode activator, a negative electrode agent consisting of zinc powder and gel shaped electrolyte, and a separator impregnating with alkaline electrolyte soln. placed between the negative electrode agent and the positive electrode activator are inserted in a positive electrode case. The positive electrode case is sealed with the gasket at an opening of the positive electrode case. The gasket consists of copolymer contg. 10 wt.% of N-vinylcarbazole and 90 wt.% of ethylene. The gasket is covered with a cap used as a negative electrode lead.
The gasket of the storage battery consists, of about 70 to 99.5 wt.% of polyamide resin and about 0.5 to 30 wt.% of block copolymer. The block copolymer consists of about 1 - 50 wt.% of polyalkyleneoxide glycol and 50 -99 wt.% of polyester. The gasket prevents leakage of electrolyte from the case of the storage battery and is used e.g. in an alkaline storage battery.    In an example, a positive electrode activator, a separator impregnated with the alkaline electrolyte and a negative electrode agent consisting of zinc powder and gel shaped electrolyte are inserted in a positive electrode case. The case is sealed with the gasket consisting of 5 wt. pts. of the block copolymer contg. 30 wt.% of polyamide resin at an opening of the case. The gasket is covered with a cap used as negative terminal.
Separator for use in an alkaline storage battery comprises a PVA film and a protecting layer formed on the surface of the film. The protecting layer consists of acetal resin contg. inorganic fine powder.    The protecting layer improves the oxidn. resistance and an acid-proof properties of the separator.
Hydrogen absorbing electrode comprises a sintered porous body of hydrogen absorbing alloy and an electrode support having carbon layer on the support surface. Mechanical strength is not reduced in long use since the carbon layer on the electrode support prevents the support from reacting with the alloy or metal cpd.    In an example, powders of Ti(99.5%):62g. +Ni(99.5%):38g were mixed to prepare a powder for alloy. A mixed liquid of fine graphite powder (ave. dia. 0.1-1 mu) and polyethylene 5% benzene soln. was coated on porous Ni metal bar, dried at 100 degrees C to prepare graphite layer on the porous metal. Then the mixed powder of (Ti+Ni) was filled in the graphite coated porous metal, pressed and sintered in a vacuum of 10-5-10-6 at 900 degrees C for 2 hrs. to give a sintered porous Ti2Ni alloy. A cell was pepd. by using the electrode as cathode, and conventional nickel oxide as anode. The cell had a cycle life two times longer cf. conventional cathode cell.
Hydrogen absorbing cathode comprises (1) metal powder for absorbing H2 gas, (2) acetylene black and (3) cathode support bonded together with particle-form binder having electrolyte-resistant property.    The alkali-resistant binder increases the cathode strength and provides high porosity, so that charge and discharge of high electric current and long life use can be attained.
A foam extinguisher is added to an aq. soln. of slurry thickening agent. The mixt. is then sintered to provide a sintered electrode. Instead of using the foam extinguisher, the slurry is pref. stirred at a reduced pressure.    Since the amt. of foam is adjusted, Ni slurry viscosity and the bulk density are controlled to provide sintered electrodes having desired porosity. This sintered electrodes are useful for Ni-Cd cells, etc.
A surface active agent, a foaming agent and a thermally gelling agent are mixed with a slurry which consists of a soln. of thickening agent in which a powder material for forming an electrode is dispersed. The electrode produced by sintering this mixt. thus has increased porosity due to the prodn. of foam in the mixt. The electrode is used for alkaline batteries, fuel cells, Ni-Cd batteries, etc.
The portion to be sealed between a battery casing and a cover is filled with adhesive material, which is composed of a doped cement type adhesive contng. 10-20 wt.% styrene resin and 0.3-3 wt.% benzoyl peroxide. After drying the adhesive material for 60-90% of the time required for complete curing, the portion is then filled with epoxy resin adhesive material.    Unwanted crazing does not occur at the seal for a long time.
Dry cell includes a separator of hemp-contg. paper between positive and negative electrodes. The separator is pref. composed of &lt;70 wt.% pulp and 30 wt.% hemp.    Paper lined type dry cells have high discharge performance at lower temp. (e.g. -10 is approx. -20 degrees C). In an example, 50 wt.% Kraft pulp and 50 wt.% hemp are paper made to form a separator having a fibre density of 0.60-0.64 g/cm3 and a thickness of 0.09-0.1 mm. One surface of the separator is coated with a mixt. which is composed of cross-linked starch, cross-linking etherification starch and a small amt. of binder, forming a paste layer.
Silver oxide is moulded with a binder to form a positive active material. The positive active material is placed in an anode can at a pressure &lt;10 kg/cm2. Silver oxide cells with a discharge characteristic of uniform voltage level are provided, and are useful for wrist watches, hearing aids, etc.    Typically, 1 pt. wt. PTFE and 5 pts. wt. isopropyl alcohol are added to 100 pts. wt. AgO powder, and the mixt. is moulded to form a positive active material. The positive active material is placed in an anode can at a pressure &lt;10 kg/cm2. The pressure is controlled by the elastic property of fillers, a separator, etc.    The cell includes the can, the positive active material, a laminated separator of porous polypropylene film, polypropylene nonwoven cloth, cellophane and cellulose nonwoven cloth, a negative active material of Zn, a negative can and a sealing packing.
A silver oxide cell includes an anode can in which a positive active material consisting mainly of AgO powder is accommodated and which is provided with a porous insulating film on the inner wall of the can. The porous insulating film is pref. formed on only the bottom of the can. Typically, the insulating film is of porous polypropylene which has a porosity of 70% (micropores being smaller than the particle size of the positive active material), a thickness of 20 mu and an average pore dia. of 5 mu.    The silver oxide cells have a constant open voltage (e.g. 1.65-180 V) after a desired period of time.
The electrode comprises a porous body of a hydrogen-occluding alloy, and electrolyte-resistant synthetic resin packed into the porous body. The density of the resin in the surface portion of the porous body is higher than that in the interior of the porous body. Thd electrode has a long cycle life of charging and discharging.    Typically, 62 g. of Ti and 38 g. of Ni are mixed. 30 g. of the mixt. is melted in an atmos. of Ar to form a bottom -shaped sample. The sample is crushed in an Ar atmos. to form alloy powder. 10 g. of the alloy powder is packed into foamed metal. The foamed metal contg. the alloy powder is sintered at 950 degrees C. in a vacuum for 2 hrs. to form a porous body. The porous body is impregnated with a fluororesin soln. and heated at 300 degrees c. for 1 hr. These steps are repeated.
Current-collecting area of the inner surface of the cathode can in contact with cathode-active material contg. silver peroxide, is limited to 0.04 - 0.01 cm2.    Current density is increased and output voltage is decreased. The silver peroxide battery obtd. has a single voltage level.
Composite battery grid is formed by moulding in a two part mould, a first part of which has a retractable portion which is in an extended position, a first structure which comprises either the mtal or the plastics portion of the grid. The second part of the mould is removed and replaced by a third part, the restractable portion of the first mould part is retracted, and a second structure is moulded, integrally connected with the first structure and of the material which was not moulded in the first moulding stage.    Process is for moulding battery palte grids partic. for lead acid batteries. Composite grid is lighter and cheaper than all metal grid and is easily produced by mass prodn. techniques. Pref. conducting grid with fan like members is of lead and is moulded in the first stage. Support grid with frame and runners is of polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate or polystyrene.
Hg-free Zn electrode comprises a homogeneous mixt. of Zn active electrode material, Pb and/or Cd acetate additive to reduce H2 evolution, and a hydroxy alkyl cellulose nonionic binder. Additive concn. is pref. (on Zn wt.) 0.05-10% and binder concn. is pref. 1-5%. Alkyl gp. is pref. 1-4C.    Compsn. avoids problem of pptn. reactions between additive and binder.
Battery casing is formed by injection moulding two end section members which have one open side and an open top, which have a height several times the distance from the closed side to the opposed open side, and are formed in a mould having an injection orifice in the closed side opposed to the open side. The two sections are heated around the periphery of the open side and joined together, with the insertion there between, if required, of one or more intermediate sections having two open walls.    Used for moulding lead acid accumulator casings. Method enables moulding with comparatively small, cheap presses and moulds, using a minimum of moulding material.
Separators for alkaline cells are made from a polyalkene with grafted copolymer side chains derived from ethylenically unsatd. ionic monomers, cross linked with sulphur.    The sulphur cross linked graft copolymer films are physically tougher and less prone to breakage than prior art separator film, and have excellent resistance to the strong oxidising conditions encountered in alkaline cells such as silver-zinc and mercury-zinc, nickel-cadmium, manganese-zinc and mercury-cadmium batteries. They also have the required resistance to strong alkaline conditions, permeability, and low resistance to the passage of ions.
Mfr. of storage battery contg. solid electrolyte involves fitting an anodic plate, a separator, an instantly prepd. cathodic plate, a nonwoven fabricated filler cloth of synthetic resin and a synthetic resin, porous plate inside the synthetic resin tank filled with a lid. An anodic pole and a cathodic pole are passed into the tank from its top end and a hole for removing the electrolyte is present at the bottom of the tank. A valve preventing contraflow of electrolyte is placed on the hole. An exhaust gas hole is fited on the lid and the tank comprises a vacuum pump, the electrolyte an upper chamber, an injection lid and an exhaust gas plug. As the electrolyte, a colloidal silicate sol. which is prepd. from sodium silicate soln. and dil sulphuric acid soln. is used.    Electrolyte does not leak out of the storage battery even if it is not upright.
Battery separator prodn. is claimed in which a perfectly saponified PVA is mixed with a partially saponified PVA and the resulting mixt. is dissolved in water to give an aq. swollen, saponified PVA soln. is obtd. This is melt-spun to give PVA fibres which may then be formed by a non-woven process into paper-like or felt web.    Separator is used for Leclanche-type dry cell or alkali battery and it is rapidly impregnated with electrolytic soln and it helps to give a high emf.
Process comprises first mixing (a) polyolefin resin (Mn &gt;15000) of capacity 10 - 60%; (b) inorganic finely divided powder (e.g. of Ca or Al silicate, alumina, Ca carbide, Ti oxide, or C black) of capacity 7-42%; and (c) organic liq. (solubility coefficient 8.5 - 9.9 (e.g. diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl sebacate, dioctyl adipate, tributyl phosphate, or polyethylene glycol) of capacity 30 - 75%.    The resultant mixt. after fusion is formed into a sheet and the organic liq. extracted from the shaped body to obtain a porous film consisting of polyolefin resin cap 40 - 90%, inorganic finely divided powder cap. 10 - 60%, and organic liquid cap. 0 - 5%. Finally acid-resistant organic material is applied as 2 - 15 wt. % by adhesion organic material is e.g. a fat or oil, coal, tar, pitch, lubricating oil, paraffin or asphalt.    Prod. has improved water wettability, low electrical resistance in water, and good durability.
The separator for use in the battery comprises fine porous sheet consisting of synthetic resin or synthetic fibres. The fine porous sheet has plural projections and linear projections. The linear projections being placed between the other projections.    The separator prevents short circuit between positive electrode and a negative electrode. It has a low electric resistance.
The separator comprises vinyl polymer graft polymerised with an acrylic acid or methacrylate acid with a rate of graft-polymerisation of 20 - 70%. Above 60 mol. % of carboxyl radicals of the vinyl polymer is replaced with K or Na salts.    The separator prevents short circuit between positive and negative electrode and the separator is not dissolved by an alkaline electrolyte in the battery.
An alkali battery comprises a metal container of nickel-plated iron, acting as an anode, and a porous barrier plate impregnated with alkaline electrolyte soln. is placed inside the container to separate the anode active material from the cathode active material.    The anode-active material is mercury oxide, graphite a and polystyrene powder.
Alkali battery comprises a metal container, prepd. of nickel-plated iron plate and acting as anode; and a cathode prepd. from a powdery material of calomel and zinc. The can contains a crosslinked acrylate homopolymer and an alkaline aq. soln.    The battery can quickly discharge electric current at low temp. and is easily assembled.
Carboxymethylcellulose is swollen and dissolved in water and an aq. soln. contg. KOH added.    The resulting gelled electrolytic soln. is combined with a powdery mixt. of calomel-zinc and the gelled cathode produced.    The alkali battery contg. the gelled cathode is able to discharge 0.9V of electric current during 28-29 hrs.
Storage battery comprises an air electrode protected with fluorine resin powder, a terminal for the air electrode an auxiliary electrode fabricated of Ni wire as a means for, charging electric current, a terminal of the auxiliary electrode and the iron negative electrode.    The iron negative electrode is prepd. in such manner that iron oxide is heated at 750 degrees C in hydrogen gas flow and reduced iron powder produced. Stainless steel wide or Ni wire is coated with the reduced iron powder and it is fabricated as a sheet having 3.5 mm (thickness)x50mm (width)x60mm(length) and the resulting fabricated sheet is sintered at 950 degrees C in a hydrogen gas flow.    The iron negative electrode has large capacity for charging electric current repeatedly.
In the prodn. of fuel cell battery electrodes with a hydrophobic, electrically conductive, gas-permeable backing layer and a catalytically active, electrically conductive layer taking up the electrolyte materials are added to the starting material for the active layer which form electrolyte in the pores of the finished active layer on contact with water.    This provides a simple and effective way of wetting the active layer with electrolyte before construction of the battery.    The additive is pref. H3PO4, Na2HPO4, (NH4)2HPO4, P2O5, KHSO4, or (NH4)2SO4. The starting material for the active layer can be a suspension/emulsion mixt. of water, CCl4, wetting agent, PTFE suspension, catalyst powder and the above additive. This material is sprayed onto the backing layer. Alternatively, the starting material consists of a mixt. of WC powder, PTFE and the above additive and is rolled and sintered onto the backing layer under pressure.
A rechargeable metal oxide-H2 battery comprises a series of modules, each having an electrode stack with a pair of adjacent positive electrodes (74) (back-to-back), with electrode separators (72,76) on their open faces and a negative electrode (78) having a hydrophobic surface, pref. teflon (TRM) adjacent each electrode separator. A module separator (80) pref. of PTFE, polyethylene or polypropylene, separates negative electrodes of adjacent cells, and esp. has a gas transport layer on one surface.    The negative electrodes of one module are coupled together and the positive electrodes of the succeeding adjacent module, which are also coupled together, forming a series-coupled high-voltage battery. In an alternative embodiment, the negative electrodes of each module are coupled together by a first bus bar (94). Positive electrodes are coupled with a second bus bar (92), forming a parallel coupled cell. A terminal is provided on each bus bar.    The double electrode structure reduces stresses and likelihood of shorts due to buckling. Electrolyte contact between adjacent modules is prevented.
A porous carbon sheet is made by coating chopped carbon fibres with a mixture of at least 70 wt. % furfuryl alcohol, 0.2125-4.25 wt.% phosphoric acid and water and forming a mat of coated fibres. The furfuryl alcohol is polymerised to cure the mat by heating to 50-200 degrees C, then the mat is carbonised by heating to 1500 degrees C.    The sheet is used as a substrate for an electrode for an electrochemical cell, e.g. a fuel cell. It is porous, strong, corrosion-resistant and thermally and electrically conductive.
Photovoltaic elements are disclosed which are useful for converting light, esp. solar energy, into electrical energy. The photoconductive compsn. of the cell comprises an electrically insulating binder, a pyrylium type dye salt and an organic photoconductor. Before, during or after coating the compsn. it is pref. processed to give aggregate formation, i.e. a discrete discontinuous phase of a particulate co-crystalline complex of the binder and dye dispersed in a continuous phase of the binder and photoconductor.    The prods. are suitable e.g. as solar energy generators or as light measuring devices which can be used under high or low light conditions. The cell exhibits a moderately high open circuit voltage, even in diffuse room light conditions (e.g. is approx. 20 muA/cm2). Calibrated cells can be used e.g. as exposure meters for photographic applications. Suitable binders are bisphenol A polycarbonates, including polymeric ester exchange prods. between diphenylcarbonate and 2,2-bis O(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane.
Heat-shrinkable resin tube is prepd. by graft-polymerising a polyethylene with a vinylidene chloride. The tube is placed around the battery container and heat shrunk to ensure tight contact between the tube and the outer wall of the battery container.    Specifically graft-polumerisation is effected by irradiating with ionising radiation (e.g. alpha-rays, X-rays, etc.) esp. in the absence of O2 or air, an atmos. of the polyethylene and the vinylidene chloride. The graft-polymerisation degree is pref. 40%, to prevent O2 from permeating into the resin tube and then into the battery material.    The shelf life of the battery is effectively extended.
The gas diffusion electrode for a storage battery comprises a collector, an active layer and a conductive water-tight layer formed between the collector and the active layer. The storage battery has a neutral electrolyte. The conductive water-tight layer consists of 5-30 wt. % of PTFE and 70 to 95 wt. % of inert carbon powder.    The electrode is used in an air-zinc battery. The conductive water-tight layer improves stability of the electrode.
Mfr. of a plastic container comprises preparing a number of container chambers, arranging heater-wires at junctions of the container chambers, forcing two adjacent container chambers together, simultaneously switching on the heater to fuse the junctions of the chambers and leaving the heater embedded in the resin.    Used esp. for a battery case having thin inner partition walls. The partition walls are designed to fit together.
Prodn. of the separator comprises (a) treating a polyvinyl-alcohol film with a soln. contg. aldehyde for acetalating it, (b) immersing the polyvinylalcohol film in acidic soln., (c) washing the film with water, and (d) drying it.    The obtd. separator has reduced electric resistance, improved alkaline resistance and improved oxidation resistance. The electric resistance of the separator is 2 to 10 momegadm2.
A paste type lead storage battery comprises an electrode plate of active material contng. fibrous acid resisting thermoplastic resin obtd. by applying dispersion soln. contg. the acid resisting thermoplastic resin to the active material.    The fibrous resin in the electrode plate, prevents the falling off the particles of active material so, the life time of the electrode plate is increased.
A flat alkaline cell comprises a silver oxide electrode, obtd. by press-moulding powdered silver oxide cathode-active material in a cell casing, and treating the moulded silver oxide with a volatile soln. contg. alkali-resisting polymer, e.g. m-xylene soln. of methacrylic resin.    The water-repellent film formed on the AgO fixes fine powder and thus self-discharging and short circuiting of the anode active material, caused by migration of the fine silver oxide powder into the electrolyte can be prevented.
A separator membrane consisting of PVA, pref. having mol. wt. 80000-120000, partly crosslinked with glutaraldehyde, opt. admixed with glyoxal, is used in a galvanic cell consisting of an anode, a Zn cathode, an electrolyte and a semi-permeable membrane(s); forming a positive and a negative compartment, connected only via this membrane.    The separator has reduced resistance in aggressive, electrolytic media, e.g. 500 m omega/cm2 in a salt electrolyte and &lt;100 m omega/cm2 in KOH soln. Separator life can exceed 6 months in KOH soln. at 70 degrees C in the presence of O2. Swelling is &lt;30% in a salt electrolyte.
Impregnation of sintered metal electrodes for alkaline accumulators involves rolling up a sintered semi-finished strip together with a separator over its entire width and length, which ensures the required technological play, and immersion in an active soln.    The separator pref. consists of a copolymer of tetrafluorethylene with ethylene, produced e.g. by injection moulding. Process is suitable for the impregnation of partic. thin electrodes.
Positive tubular plates for lead accumulators have a closure strip, made of an electrolyte-resistant plastic, such as polyethylene or polypropylene which is pushed over the lead cores. The ends of the lead cores are enlarged to knobs or are joined by a continuous lead strip and are then covered by insulation.    The function of a tubular plate is now ensured even when a few lead cores have broken through by corrosion. The closure is simple to produce and its assembly can be fully automated. It permits a free elongation by growth of the lead core.
In a battery separator made by sintering a heat fusible resin and having side ribs, the improvement comprises coating the ribs with a low density polyethylene wax of softening pt. 70-130 (120-130) degrees C and needle penetration of &lt;10, pref. &lt;1 mm (ASTM D-1321) to a thickness of pref. 1-10 (2-4) mils.    Pref. heat fusible resin is PVC, polyethylene or polypropylene. The low density polyethylene has m.wt. of 2000-4000.    Self-discharging of the battery is eliminated.
Alkaline battery has a separator comprising a film (I) of a vinyl high polymer laminated to a surface of a semipermeable film. The surface of the semipermeable film is in opposition to a cathode. (I) is prepd. by graft polymerisation of (meth)acrylic acid and the vinyl high polymer. The graft polymerisation degree is 20-70%.    Battery life is increased and the separator has high efficiency.
Alkaline battery includes a separator comprising protective films laminated to both surfaces of a semipermeable film. The protective films are of a vinyl high polymer having cation exchange gps. and resistance to oxidation.    The preservability of the alkaline battery, e.g. a silver oxide battery of a Ni-Cd battery is improved, and the separator is efficient. Typically, the vinyl polymer is polyethylene, polypropylene or PTFE.
A sealed alkaline battery includes an auxiliary plate which comprises a metal core, and a sheet-shaped catalyst layer formed on the core. The catalyst layer is formed by binding an oxygen gas absorption catalyst to a fibrous fluorocarbon resin net.    The alkaline batteries have high a absorption performance in the rapid charging and long service life because of the auxiliary plate.
Poles for electric connections, project from a battery cover through penetrating portions of each of which is filled with amine curing resin hardened by a polyamide cp. having 50-500 amine valency. The poles are tightly joined to the cover.    No adhesive material is employed, and leakage of the electrolyte is eliminated. In an example, a sintered Ni-Cd alkaline battery includes a synthetic resin casing, a synthetic resin cover, a pole connected to plates, a hardened amine resin layer filled in the penetrating portion of the pole, a packing, a polarity indication washer, positive and negative plates, and a cock. The hardened amine layer consists of 70 wt.% amine curing resin and 30 wt.% amine curing agent having 240-260 amine valency.
Separator for a lead storage battery consists of an ion-exchange resin sheet. The resin pref. contains ammonium, pyridium, sulphonic acid, or carboxylic acid groups. The sheet has a (non)-woven backing cloth of glass fibres.    The internal resistance of the battery is reduced due to the separator to increase the discharge capacity. In an example, benzoin and benzoyl peroxide were added to a mixt. of 4-vinyl pyridine, styrene, divinyl benzene, and dioctyl phthalate to produce a uniform monomer soln. This was poured to a gap between two transparent polyester sheets, and polymerised and solidified by UV. After sepg. the polyester sheets from the polymerised prod., they were dipped in methyl alcohol to remove dioctyl phthalate.
An alkaline cell includes a packing which is impregnated or coated with borate, phosphate, citrate, phthalate, glycine and sodium chloride, a cpd. of glycine and sodium chloride, and/or these mixts. Alkaline cells with high reliability are provided because the liquid leakage property is increased. The cells are used in electronic wrist watches, pocket computers, etc.
A process for incorporating an agent for imparting water-tightness between a metallic cap for use on an electrolytic cell and a ring mounted tightly round the periphery of the cap comprises swelling the ring until it is freed from the cap forcibly introducing a soln. of the agent between the swollen ring and the cap, and contacting the ring almost to its original dimensions so as to entrap the agent.    Electrolytes (esp. alkaline ones) tend to creep along, or climb, metallic surfaces, esp. when there is an electric potential, i.e. where the metal surface forms the negative electrode of a cell. This may lead to a white deposit on the exterior of the cell as a result of reaction of the electrolyte with air. The present method gives a water-tight joint resistant to such leakages.    The material of the ring is nylon 6,6.6,6.12, or 11, esp. Zytel 101 (nylon 6.6, RTM). The ring is placed around the periphery of the cap by injection moulding. The solvent used to swell the ring is benzyl alcohol, chloroform, methylalcohol or methylene chloride.
A gaseous fuel cell comprises (a) a cell contg. an aQ. inorganic acid electrolyte, (b) a first, and (c) a second, gas-impermeable, ion-impermeable, tubular electrode formed of is not &lt;1 fine filamentary, perfluorosulphonic acid-substd. PTFE hollow fibre with ion-exchange capacity, immersed in the electrolyte, with a glass inlet and a gas outlet, a gas-permeable layer of catalytic metal deposited only on the inside, the current collectors of high surface area in contact with the catalytic deposit, (d) means for supplying a fuel gas to one of the inlets and means for supplying a gaseous oxidant to the other inlet, and (e) means connected to both current collectors, to extract energy from the cell.    High power densities can be obtd.
In a silver (II) oxide battery using silver (II) oxide as active cathode material and an alkaline soln. as electrolyte the iron concn. in the cathode is limited to &lt;50 ppm. This suppresses decomposition of silver (II) oxide and prevents generation of oxygen at the cathode.    In an example a cathode is formed of Ni-clad stainless steel and the cathode comprises a compacted body of AgO powder contg. &lt;50 ppm Fe. A frame of Ni-clad stainless steel is placed on the cathode. The separator consists of a graft copolymer of polyethylene and acrylic acid. The semipermeable film consists of a PVA film, the liq. holding sheet consists of non-woven fabric of polypropylene fibre. the anode consists of a mixt. of zinc powder and gelled alkaline electrolyte and a gasket is interposed between the cathode case and an anode case.
The cathode consists of silver (II) oxide and one surface of the cathode is in contact with a separator. The surface of the cathode is coated with a compsn. consisting of fine powder of silver (I) oxide and a suspension contg. a water-repellent synthetic resin having resistance to electrolyte and oxidation to form a film impermeable to the electrolyte under non-discharging conditions.    The electrolyte is prevented from being moved to the cathode by the impermeable film. This prevents decomposition of AgO in the cathode.
In a silver (II) oxide battery using silver (II) oxide as main cathode active material and an alkaline soln. as an electrolyte the cathode active material has the double-layer structure i.e. the cores of the particles consist of silver (II) oxide (AgO) and surface layers thereof consist of silver (I) oxide (Ag2O). The cathode active material is compacted into a cathode having a packing density of more than 5 g/cm3. The cathode is subjected to water-repellent treatment.    It is possible to prevent an electrolyte from permeating into the cathode and decomposition of AgO particles by the electrolyte because a packing density of the cathode is limited to more than 5g/cm3.
In a silver (II) oxide battery using silver (II) oxide as main cathode active material and an alkaline soln. as an electrolyte, the cathode active material has the double-layer structure i.e. cores of the particles consist of silver (II) oxide (AgO) and surface layers thereof consist of silver (I) oxide (Ag2O). The cathode active material is compacted into a cathode without adding an electrically conductive assistant e.g. flaky graphite to the cathode active material. The cathode is subjected to water-repellent treatment.    If an electrically conductive assistant e.g. flaky graphite is added to the cathode active material, the discharge performance of the cathode is lowered because of decomposition of AgO particles in the cathode.
In a silver (II) oxide battery using silver (II) oxide as main cathode active material and an alkaline soln. as an electrolyte, the cathode active material has the double-layer structure, i.e. cores of the particles consist of silver (II) oxide (AgO) and surface layers thereof consist of silver (I) oxide (Ag2O). The cathode active material is compacted into a cathode. The cathode is treated with a water-repellent agent.    By treating a cathode with a water repellent agent it is possible to revent decomposition of cathode active material in an alkaline electrolyte.
In a silver (II) oxide battery using silver (II) oxide as main cathode active material and an alkaline soln. as an electrolyte, the cathode active material has double-layer structure the interior particles consisting of silver (II) oxide (AgO) and surface layers thereof consisting of silver (I) oxide (Ag2O). A water repellent is deposited on the surfaces of the particles of the cathode active material. The cathode active material is compacted into a cathode having a packing density &gt;5 g/cm3.
Ag (II) oxide battery has AgO as main cathode active material and an alkaline soln. as electrolyte. The cathode active material has a double-layer structure such that the interiors of the particles consist are of AgO and surface layers are of Ag2O. The particles are coated with water repellent agent.    Decomposition of cathode active material in the electrolyte and absorption of CO2 gas by Ag2O are suppressed.
In an alkaline battery, contact surfaces between a gasket and a metal case and/or between the gasket and a metal closure are sealed by N-alkoxymethyl modified nylon.    The film of N-alkoxymethyl modified nylon has good flexibility and excellent adhesion to metal and synthetic resin.    The alkaline battery has excellent resistance to leakage of an electrolyte.
In an alkaline battery, contact surfaces between a gasket and a metal case and/or between the gasket and a metal closure are sealed by polyamide resin produced by the interaction of (a) polymerised fatty acid, (b) maleic unsatd. fatty acid and/or maleic rosina and (c) aliphatic polyamide and/or alicylic diamine.    The film of the polyamide resin has good flexibility and excellent adhesion to metal and synthetic resin. An alkaline battery is obtd. having excellent resistance to leakage of an electrolyte.
The alkaline storage battery comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an alkaline electrolyte. The battery is placed in a battery case with an opening and a metal cap placed over the opening. A gasket is inserted between the case and the cap to seal the cap effectively. The gasket has an adhesive layer on one surface bonding the cap and the gasket firmly. The bonding agent consists of polyamide resin, epoxy resin and amino substd. organosilane or it consists of polyamide resin and epoxy substd. organosilane.    The adhesive layer improves the sealing property of the gasket effectively.
Bipolar electrode container plate for storage batteries has a planar thermoplastics (pref. polyvinylide fluoride or polyphenylene oxide) substrate filled with electrically conductive material with border portions being non conductive, and an active electrode material supported via a metal foil on the substrate. The border portions are shaped to interfit with similar plates leaving space for separator and electrolyte within the container periphery defined within the border portions.    The plate substrate is flexible, sufficiently conductive, and highly resistant to corrosion. Plates are easily interjoined to form a complete battery.
Separator subassembly for a thin, flat laminar battery includes (a) a frame of liq. impervious insulating material having at least its outer surface of thermplastic hot melt adhesive material, with an opening within the frame for receiving cell components; and (b) a cellophane separator wet with electrolyte on one frame surface, covering the opening.    The subassembly further includes (c) a layer of gel electrolyte on the separator; (d) a conductive plastic inter cell connector over the separator and projecting beyond its boundaries on all sides but within the frame boundaries, sealed to the frame; and (e) a laminar anode patch on the inter cell connector, registering with the opening and contacting the gel electrolyte.    The subassembly is assembled with an cathode slurry and heat sealed to form a flat battery. The frame can be made thicker than conventional, minimising the peripheral redn. in thickness and hence avoiding deformation of the end steel.
The storage life and stability of the cathode can be increased, cracking on drying and sintering prevented, and softening in contact with electrolyte eliminated, by using an organic solvent with a b.pt. in the range 150-300 degrees C, and a low solubility in water. The solvent forms an emulsion with the aq. suspension of binder and causes coagulation after drying. A suitable solvent is cyclohexane, and it is taken in a wt. ratio to the water of 1:10 to 10:1, and to the solid components of 1:25 to 1:5.
Separator for alkali accumulators with negative zinc electrodes contains polyvinyl alcohol and, to reduce electrical resistance, 40-75 wt. % of the copolymer of styrene with maleic anhydride. With copolymer amt. less than 40% the reduction in electrical resistance is negligible; with amts. greater than 75%, the mechanical properties of the material deteriorate.    Suggested separator has half the electrical resistance of similar separator made using alpha-methylstyrene.
The cell electrolyte is based on inorganic aprotic solvents. Sealing of the cell is improved by making the sealing insulating ring of pentaplast. This material, in addition to its low cold yield, is chemically stable in conditions existing in the cell, with potential difference between cover and case of about 3.5-3.6 V, increased pressure and electrolyte constituted by oxyhalide solvent and Lewis salt.
An electrode plate with tubes, filled with active material, for lead-acid accumulators requires during the attachment of the closing strips no force application to the tube sheaths or to the lead rods inside them, which could cause damage. The closure nevertheless prevents any active material from falling out of the tubes.    This has been achieved by laying the tubes in a split two-part casting mould which leaves a 5mm cylindrical space at the end of each tube. Each space is linked to the adjoining ones by cut-aways of the webs. The spaces and the webs joining them are then filled up by a casting-type of polyester resin.    Pref. resin is a two-component polymethyl methacrylate resin which has adequate resistance to sulphuric acid and improves the adhesion between plastic fabric of the tube and the closure.
Paste electrode for a lead-acid battery has flakes of copolymers and polymer of plastics (e.g. polypropylene) added to its active paste to increase its mechanical strength.    The flakes are mixed homogeneously with the paste and pref. comprise 0.02-2 wt. % of the paste. The use of flakes instead of short plastic fibres reduces prodn. costs.
An assembly for supplying electrical energy to a load comprises (a) a block of thermal conductive material having cavities accommodating different electrical energy sources; (b) a radioisotope thermal electric generator having a first thermal characteristic in a first cavity; (c) a chemical battery having a second thermal characteristic in a second cavity and (d) an insulating layer on and surrounding, the block; trapping heat within the block for direction between sources. The sources (b) and (c) are pref. connected in parallel to supply electrical energy to the load.    The hybric configuration provides pulsed power to loads at a higher peak power than can be supplied by the radioisotope thermal electric generator (RTG) for long periods, with the RTG charging the chemical cells in off-load periods. The waste heat from the RTG is used to maintain the chemical battery at a working temp. above environmental ambient allowing the assembly to be used in ambients as low as e.g.
1-20 wt. % water is added to C powder and thermosetting resin powder. The mixt. is moulded to form a member. The member is pre-baked while pressing. The pre-baked member is then baked to provide a C electrode useful for batteries.
Polyolefin system synthetic resin is mixed with a foaming agent e.g. a stearic acids, amines, etc. The mixt. is the molded to make a battery cap. The thick intermediate portion of the cap having foamed.
The negative electrode of the alkaline storage battery comprises a collector, an activator paste layer consisting of Cd coated on the surface of the paste layer, and an electron conductive and alkali-proof metal powder thin layer formed on the paste layer. The metal powder thin layer has a density of 0.8-1.0 g/cm2 and a thickness of 5-20mum.    The negative electrode has a high mechanical strength. The metal powder layer prevents the growth of crystal of the Cd which destroys the negative electrode.    In an example the Cd powder, a conductive agent of Ni powder, synthetic resin fibres and a bonding agent of PVA are mixed to form the paste. The paste is coated on the collector of Ni plated Fe net to form the paste layer. The Ni powder thin layer is formed on the paste layer.
The separator consists of acrylonitrile polymer or copolymer film, the acrylonitrile contg. 0.05 to 2.0 wt. % of sulphonic acid radicals.    The sulphonic acid radials in the (co)polymer improves ion conductivity of the separator at a low temp. to prevent the decrease of a discharge capacitance or a terminal voltage at the low temp. In an example acrylonitrile (90 wt. %) methyl acrylate (8 wt. %) and sodium methacrylsulphonate acid (2 wt. %) are mixed. and the compsn and a catalyst are added in water to polymerise. The polymerised composition was coated on a glass substrate to form a layer of 500 mum thickness, and dried to form a separator of 300 mum thickness.
The electrode of a lead storage battery comprises a collector of a porous plate, an electrode activator paste layer formed on the collector and an acid-proof resin powder layer formed on the surface of the paste layer. The resin powder consists of a synthetic resin selected from polyethylene, -polypropylene, polystyrene, PVC and epoxy resin.    The resin layer formed on the paste layer firmly bonds the paste layer and the collector. The electrode has a high mechanical strength. In an example, the collector consists of lead alloy contg. 5 wt. % of Sb. Lead powder (1000g), water (13ml) and H2SO4 (70 ml) are mixed to form the paste. The paste is coated on the collector. The polyethylene powder is scattered on the paste. The powder is heated at 130 degrees C for 30 min. to bond the powder and the paste.
Method comprises (1) coating an electrode activator paste on an electrode collector to form a paste layer on the collector and (2) scattering an acid-proof resin powder on the paste layer to form a resin layer on the paste layer. The resin powder is scattered on the paste layer, before the layer is dried. Then the layer is dried to stick the powder onto the paste layer. The resin powder consists of a synthetic resin selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene PVC and epoxy resin.    The resin layer formed on the paste layer firmly bonds the paste layer and the collector. The electrode has a high mechanical strength. In an example, the collector consists of lead alloy contg. 5 wt. % of Sb. Lead powder (1000g) water (13 ml) and H2SO4 (70 ml) are mixed to form the paste. The paste is coated on the collector. The polyethylene powder is scattered on the paste. Then the paste is dried.
Method comprises (1) coating an electrode activator paste on an electrode collector to form a paste layer on the collector and (2) scattering an acid-proof resin powder on the paste layer to form a resin layer on the paste layer. The resin layer is stuck to the paste layer with the heat treatment of the acid-proof resin powder. The resin powder consists of a synthetic resin selected from the group of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, PVC and epoxy resin.    The resin layer formed on the paste layer firmly bonds the paste layer and the collector. The electrode has a high mechanical strength. In an example the collector consists of lead alloy contg. 5 wt. % of Sb. Lead powder (1000g) water (13 ml) and H2SO4 (70 ml) are mixed to form the paste. The paste is coated on the collector. The polyethylene powder is scattered on the paste. The powder is heated at 130 degrees C. for 30 min to bond the powder and the paste.
The cathode consists of cadmium and contains synthetic resin fibres. Each of fibres is covered with an alkali resistant conductive material. Addn. of the fibres prevents short-circuiting of the nickel cadmium storage battery and stabilises the discharge voltage of the battery.    In an example synthetic resin fibres 2.0mm long and with a s.g. of 1.2 were nickel plated. A CdO powder (100g) the nickel plated synthetic resin fibres (5g) PVA (0.4g) and ethylene glycol (30g) were mixed to form a paste. The paste was coated on a nickel plated iron collector dried and pressed to form the cathode. A battery consists of the cathode a nickel oxide anode and an alkaline electrolyte.
The silver oxide storage battery comprises a positive electrode activator consisting of silver oxide (AgO) a negative electrode activator consisting of zinc, and an alkaline electrolyte. The surfaces of the AgO powder particles are coated with alkali-proof and acid-proof resin layers contg. uniformly inert conductive particles and Ag2O particles. The Ag2O particles are connected electrically to the AgO particles through the conductive particles.    The reactive area of the AgO powder is reduced to prevent generation of gas from the AgO powder. The gas (O2) destroys the storage battery.    In an example, conductive particles of active carbon (3g) and AgO powder (95 g) are dispersed in a soln. (40g) contg. 5 wt.% PVC resin and mixed. Solvent is vapourised to form mixed powders. The powders are immersed in AgNO3 soln. and the AgNO3 is decomposed to form the Ag2O powder contained in the resin layers formed on the AgO particles.
The silver oxide storage battery comprises a positive electrode activator consisting of silver oxide (AgO) a negative electrode activator consisting of zinc, and an alkaline electrolyte. The surfaces of the AgO powder particles are coated with a high polymer layer.    The reactive area of the AgO powder is reduced to prevent the generation of gas generated from the AgO powder. The gas (O2) destroys the storage battery.
Method comprises immersing a fibrous material resistant to alkali e.g. paper, glass fibre or asbestos cloth, in a mixed liquor contg. PVA, formaldehyde and strong acid, maintaining the immersed material at room temp., thus obtaining a water-insoluble membrane. Prod. is useful in batteries and as water electrolysis membrane.    In an example, 60ml. of an aq. soln. of 10% polyvinyl alcohol of polymerisation degree 1500, 24ml. of formaldehyde and 16ml. H2SO4 were mixed. Soln was poured on a glass fibre cloth of 0.3mm. thickness. Cloth was maintained at room temp. in air for 24 hrs., washed with water, washed with dilute glycerine, and dried to obtain the membrane.
A film of synthetic resin is bombarded with an electron beam. The film is then dipped in an organic solvent contg. monomers to perform graft copolymerisation.    Pref. the synthetic resin is an olefin resin e.g. polyethylene or polypropylene or fluorocarbon resin e.g. PTFE polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinylidene fluoride or an ethylene tetrafluoroethylene copolymer. The monomers are acrylic acid methacrylic acid or styrene-sulphonic acid.
Separator comprises a film of acrylonitrile -polymer having cellular pores of size &lt;0.05 mu and avoid volume &gt;20 Vol.%. The acrylonitrile polymer film has a 'brittleness' f value of &lt;30.    In an example an acrylonitrile polymer having a mol. wt. of 74,000 consists of 92% acrylonitrile and 8% methyl acrylate. 10 Wt. % liq. paraffin is added to the acrylonitrile polymer and mixed with it. The mixt. is dissolved in a 70% nitric acid at 70 degrees C and degassed. The soln. is coated on a glass plate using a doctor knife. The coated plate is immersed in dil. nitric acid soln. to form a film on it. The film is heat-treated in a hot water soln. at 90 degrees C for 3 mins. and dried.
Manganese dry cell includes an electrolyte contg. crosslinked starch as paste and 20 to 35wt% zinc chloride. Pref. crosslinked starch is produced by crosslinking corn starch. The crosslinked starch has low volume expansion strength in gelling. At least 2 crosslinked starch materials having different crosslinking degrees are mixed to prepare the paste.    The dry cell has a low liquid leakage rate and high residual capacity. The paste layer has excellent liquid retention properties.
The battery comprises an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte contained in a case. The case is sealed with thermoplastic elastomer consisting of polyolefin resin and mono-olefin copolymer rubber.    The polyolefin resin is pref. polypropylene. The mono-olefin copolymer rubber is pref. an ethylene-propylene copolymer or an ethylene-propylene-nonconjugated dieneter polymer. The elastomer has excellent elasticity, flexibility and resistance to weather and electrolyte.    In an embodiment a cathode layer consists of fluorocarbon, carbon powder and a binder. An Al battery serves as a cathode terminal. The separator consists of non-woven fabric of polypropylene. The anode comprises a Li layer and a stainless steel current collector. The sealant comprises a formed body of polyolefin thermoplastic elastomer.
At least one support with a (partly) electron-conductive surface is assembled with a porous, electrically insulating membrane with (some) open pores. Metal is deposited electrolytically in some of the open pores and adheres to the conductive surface to make the assembly, in which the membrane remains porous.    During deposition, the support pref. forms a cathode; and an anode is pref. used to provide a uniform electric field flowing through the membrane to the cathode.    The assembly is esp. used in an electrochemical current generator with a Zn anode, where the assembly is the anode current connector, the membrane being on the side of the cathode chamber, the cathode being O2, and an alkaline electrolyte being used. Good adhesion between the membrane and support is obtd.
Negative iron electrode for alkali accumulators is produced by spreading a magnetite based paste over a base, rolling, drying and forming an alkali resistant film by dipping into a soln. contg. organic cpd. and volatile components removable by heating.    To simplify the process the soln. used is a suspension of an alkali soluble blowing agent, for example, ammonium bicarbonate in epoxy lacquer E-4100, and heating is conducted at 120-200 degrees C for 5-30 mins.
The battery has a novel separator obtained by coating a mixt. of magnesium oxide, carbon powder (e.g. carbon black, flaky graphite etc) binder (e.g. obtd. by dissolving polystyrene, chloroprene, etc. into cyclohexane, toluene etc.) and gelling agent (e.g. sodium polyacrylate, carboxyvinyl polymer, etc) on a (non)woven alkali resistant synthetic fibre fabric (e.g. of nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.).    The battery has excellent discharge characteristics and shelf life.
A secondary battery uses 3 sheets of separators. In an example a silver oxide secondary battery has an anode can, an anode of silver oxide active material, a group of separators a cathode of zinc or amalgamated zinc and a cathode lid. As an electrolute 30% NaOH aq. soln. is used. The group of separators comprise three cellophanes each being 20 mu thick. The cellophane may be treated with PVA or impregnated with a boric acid.    The secondary battery exhibits excellent shelf life (e.g. 10 years) and little self-discharge, it is suitably used for various clocks, watches, electronic calculators cameras, radios, etc.
In an example, electroconductive rubbers are so arranged that a cathode active material, (e.g. Ag), an anode active material, (e.g. I2) and a solid electrolyte, (e.g. Ag3SI, PbAg4I5 or Ag6I4WO4) are pressed by the rubbers from the top and bottom.    The electroconductive electrodes press the solid electrolyte into a small space.
In a Li solid-electrolyte battery using Li as an anode, LiI as a solid electrolyte and sulphide of Ti, Cu, Ag, Ni or Fe as a cathode, the solid electrolyte is made by iodising the surface of the Li. The thickness of the solid electrolyte is 1-50 mu. Cathode active material may be made by sulphurising a surface of a terminal of Ti, Cu, Ag, Ni or Fe.    An anode is made by pressing Li plates on both surfaces of a punched Ni plate. A LiI layer as a solid electrolyte is formed on the Li plates by reacting them with I2. Cathode active material consists of a mixt. of 100 pts. wt. of Ag sulphide, and 1 pt. wt. of polystyrene. A cathode current collector consists of expanded metal of Ag. A cathode comprises the cathode active material and the current collector. The anode the solid electrolyte and the cathode are placed in a container of polyethylene.
In a cell comprising (a) cathode of light metal active material (e.g. Li, Na, Mg, Ca, Al, etc.), (b) anode of carbon fluoride active material, and (c) organic electrolyte, the carbon fluoride material is mixed with polyolefin fibre.    Porosity of the anode is increased, therefore, the electrolyte absorption capacity of the anode is increased and the penetration of the electrolyte into the anode is easily attained.    The organic electrolyte is e.g. prepd. by dissolving an inorganic solute (e.g. LiBF2, AlCl3, etc.) into an organic solvent (e.g. propylene carbonate, gama-butyrolactone, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, and THF.
A barrier-protecting separator for alkaline electrolyte galvanic cells comprises a porous substrate having embedded in (a portion of) its pores the reaction prod. of unneutralised carboxy polymethylene and an alkaline earth metal salt, pref. an oxide, hydroxide or silicate of Mg, Ba or Ca. The separator is prepd. by (a) mixing water and alkaline earth metal salt to form a slurry, (b) mixing water and carboxy polymethylene to form a soln., (c) applying (a) or (b) to a porous sheet, (d) drying and (e) applying the other of (a) and (b) to the dried sheet.    The separator improves the shelf life of high rate battery systems while maintaining the high rate capability.
Non-sintered nickel cathode plate, a separator, and an anode were wound to fabricate a battery element. The battery element is placed in a battery case. Amt. of electrolyte is 1.0-1.25 ml per cm. of the cathode plate. The cathode plate consists of 70-80 wt. % nickel hydroxide 9-15 wt. % graphite, 2-8 wt. % thermoplastic synthetic resin binder as a solid component and 3-9 wt. % of metallic cobalt and a cobalt cpd. Thickness of the cathode plate is 0.5-0.7 mm.    Non-sintered cathode plate can be fabricated at a low cost.
The semipermeable membrane faces the cathode consisting of silver oxide, and the fabric faces the anode, consisting of silver oxide, and the fabric faces the anode, consisting of zinc. The membrane is 35-90 mu thick and the fabric has a density of 0.15-0.55 g/cm2. The separator is 350-75- mu thick.    Pref. membrane is cellophane (RTM) film, and the fabric is regenerated cellulose, cottong PVA, polyamide polyethylene, polypropylene or PVC.
Prim. cell, using a separator made of regenerated cellulose and located between an anode and cathode, all three being impregnated with an electrolyte with pH below 6. Cathode pref. uses a slurry of active particles with a hydrophilic polymer, and with a cathode current collector of carbon dispersed in a thermoplastic matrix; the slurry is a dispersion of MnO2 and carbon in an aq., electrolyte soln. of NH4Cl and/or ZnCl2, the separator being bonded to the slurry. The wt. ratio of MnO2:C is 6-12:1, and pref. 8:1 in the second cathode, the slurry contg. min. 20% water without forming a liq. film between the slurry and the conducting plastic.    Several cells pref. form a thin, flat laminar battery, where he cells are sepd. by a collector layer impermeable to liq.    Anode is pref. a flat Zn cake covered by an acid gel electrolyte.    A thin battery with increased yield and longer storage capacity, e.g. for rapid charging of an electronic flash lamp or other use requiring high current.
Injection moulding machine for plastics reinforced battery cellids consists of the main stand with mould actuator on a platen and an injection unit, together with reinforcing plastics hopper and a feeder leading into the die. Reliable injection determines the quality of the lids and to ensure this the feeder consists of a rotating lever connected to the cutoff feeder.    The lever is pivoted on the main stand and has hinged closing shutters to stop off the reinforcement outlets from the hopper. A cam forming part of the lever works with a roller mounted on the travelling platen of the machine so as to ensure smooth and uninterrupted feed to the plastics for lid reinforcing.
A silver peroxide battery includes cathode active material of silver peroxide treated with alcohol. A silver peroxide battery is obtd. having a single discharge voltage level.    Pptes. of silver peroxide are suitably immersed in e.g. a 50% methanol aq. soln. for 10 mins, washed with water and dried to prepare cathode active materials. Cathode active material typically consists of 97% silver peroxide and 3% silver oxide; anode comprises of zinc. Separator comprises a cellophane sheet and non-woven fabric of PVA fibre. Electrolyte consists of a 40% KOH aq. sol. contg. zinc oxide.
The crown ehter is miscible with organic electrolytes and comprises a ring cpd. with members 1j, 15 and 18 being oxygen. The ether is used at 4-15 vol. % wrt total volume of electrolyte.    In an example, a lithium sheet is used as an anode. A cathode consists of 100 pts. wt. fluorocarbon, 71 pts. acetylene black and 20 pts. wt. fluororesin binder. An electrolyte consists of 48 vol. % propylene carbonate, 48 vol. % dimethoxy ethane, 4 pts. wt. dibenzo-18-crown and 1.0 mole % lithium borofluoride. A separator consists of non-woven polypropylene fabric.
Method comprises (1) impregnating a paste consisting of nickel hydroxide, conductive agent and a bonding agent into a porous metal support; (2) drying the support and paste; (3) immersing the dried support in a soln. of a bonding agent to impregnate the bonding agent; (4) drying to form a positive electrode; (5) placing the positive electrode in a battery case with a separator and a negative electrode; (6) pouring an alkaline electrolyte into case; and (7) sealing the case.    Paste of positive electrode activator is firmly adhered to the support. Battery has a long life time. Supporter suitably consists of nickel. The conductive agent consists of carbonyl nickel powder. The bonding agent is carboxy methyl cellulose.
Method comprises (a) over-charging with 130-200; of the theoretical capacitance of the positive electrode; (b) discharging and (c) over-discharging the storage battery to 5-30% of the theoretical capacitance of the positive electrode. The battery is then charged and discharged normally.    Positive electrode consists of a non-sintered mixt. of Ni activator cpd., conductive agent and a synthetic resin binder.
The storage battery comprises an activator of a negative electrode consisting of a metal, such as lithium or magnesium, an organic electrolyte and an activator of a positive electrode consisting of carbon fluoride and further contg. a base comprising 1 alkali metal hydroxide. The content of base is 0.00013-0.5 mol. per 100 g of the carbon fluoride.    Addn. of the alkali metal hydroxide, such as LiOH, NaOH or KOH, the carbon fluoride gives a storage battery with improved properties at high temp.
Laminates comprise porous plastic films and porous materials which are adhered to each other at almost all the contact points.    The laminates are pref. used as a battery separator having excellent permeability and mechanical properties.    Microporous polypropylene film is the pref. porous plastic film. The porous materials include, e.g. paper and non-woven cloth. When the laminates are used as a battery separator or separator for electrochemical reaction or for waste water treatment, the laminates are made hydrophilic by treating porous plastic films and/or porous materials or the laminates with surface activators.
Porous films are produced from coacervation (deposit, liquid) compsns. comprising heat-resistant aromatic polymers and solns. comprising solvents for the polymers and non-solvents for the polymers, the non-solvents being inert to the solvents and soluble in the rich solvents in the wt. ratio 100/0-70/30. The coacervation compsns. are extruded into a hot draft atmosphere (80-400 degrees C) or a coagulation bath to form films.    The concns. of the aromatic polymers are 5-40 wt.% of the solvents. The aromatic polymers have a main chain comprising mainly aromatic rings and softening pts. &gt;150 degrees C, pref. &gt;250 degrees C and are stable when used in the air at &gt;150 degrees C for long periods. Preferred aromatic polymers contain &gt;50 mole % aromatic polyamides. The solvents include, e.g. N,N-dimethylacetamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. The non-solvents include, e.g. water, methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, diethyl ether.    The porous films have excellent heat resistance, chemical resistance, dynamic properties, and dimensional stability. The films are used as separators for batteries and as membranes for electrodialysis.
Porous films are produced by removing amide solvents from mouldings comprising mixts. of heat-resisting aromatic polymers and the amide solvents for the polymers while the mouldings are held at below their solidification temp. The aromatic polymers have the principal chain comprising mainly aromatic rings and have softening pts.&gt; 150 degrees C, pref. &gt;250 degrees C and are stable when used in air at &gt;150 degrees C for long periods.    The porous films are homogeneous and have high void vol. and excellent heat resistance, chemical resistance and dimensional stability and low internal resistance. The films areused as separator membranes for batteries.
Nickel electrode (anode) mainly comprising a nickel cpd. (e.g. nickel hydroxide) as active material, an electro-conductive material (e.g. flaky graphite) and a binder is claimed. As binder, (A) polystyrene and (B) an EVA copolymer or styrene/butadiene copolymer are used in combination. Wt. ratio of polystyrene to EVA copolymer is 6:4 to 4:6 or the wt. ratio of polystyrene to the styrene/butadiene copolymer is 9:1 to 7:3.    Yield of the Ni electrode (anode) is remarkably improved. The Ni electrode is used for a Ni-Cd or Ni-Cd or Ni-Zn storage battery.
Plate is produced by (1) spraying a paste comprising (a) active material powder, e.g. nickel hydroxide powder; (b) conductive material, e.g. carbonyl nickle powder and (c) binder, e.g. 1% aq. soln. of carboxymethyl cellulose onto porous metal, e.g. porous nickel sponge and (2) removing the paste from the surface of the metal.    The pores of the metal are filled with the active material to a high density, and the resulting plate has improved characteristics, e.g. collecting power.
Method comprises (1) coating a paste-like active material on a collector; (2) immersing a paste soln. into the active material; (3) adhering heat-soluble resin powder (e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene or polystyrene) to the surface of the active material before the paste soln. is dry; and (4) heating at below the m.pt. of Pb to melt-adhere the resin powder to the active material and to form a porous resin layer.    The energy density of the lead storage battery is increased, and it is used e.g. as a power source for driving an electric car.
Method comprises (a) mixing a conductive powder, nickel hydroxide powder and a binder to form a paste; (b) coating the paste on a collector, (c) immersing in an aq. dispersion of flourocarbon polymers; and (d) drying to form the electrode.    Method is applied to anodes and the fluorocarbon polymers improve adhesion of the paste. In an example, paste is Zn, ZnO, PCA fibres, Ca (OH)2 and fluorocarbon dispersion. It is coated on Cu mesh.
Method comprises (1) mixing zinc powder, zinc oxide powder, an aq. soln. of PVA and an aq. dispersion of luorocarbon polymers to form a paste, (2) coating the paste on a collector, (3) drying the paste and (4) pressing the paste to form an electrode.    Method is used to produce negative electrode. The fluorocarbon polymer improves adhesion of the paste used as an activator to the collector.
Paste like mixt is produced by mixing Ca(OH)2 polystyrene and a water-soluble high polymer cpd. with anode active material consisting essentially of ZnO and Zn. The paste-like mixt. is coated on a current collector.    Pref. the polystyrene is in form. Pref. the water-soluble high polymer is methyl cellulose, CMC, PVA or polyethylene oxide.    Alkaline storage battery obtd. has a long cycle life and high efficiency discharge performance.
In a sealed type Zn alkaline storage battery, Zn anode material of ZnO and Zn is used as anode active material and an alkaline aq. soln. is used as an electrolyte. The amt. of the electrolyte is kept small so that the anode sufficiently absorbs O2 generated from a cathode during overcharging. A layer of a mixt. of the Zn anode material and separator material is formed between the Zn anode layer and a separator layer.
Separator base paper for a dry cell contains polyamide polyamine epichlorohydrin resin as an additive. An amt. of polyamide polyamine epichlorohydorin resin is 0.03-0.5 pts. wt. to 100 pts. wt. of separator base paper.    Separator base paper has a density of 0.55-0.85 g/cm3 and a thickness of &gt;35 mu (50-100) mu. When the amt. of polyamide polyamine epichlorohydorin resin is &gt;0.5 pt. wt., a discharge performance of a dry cell is lowered because the internal resistance is increased in the dry cell.    By adding a desirddmamt. of polyamide polyamine epichlorohdorin resin to separator base paper, the mechanical strength of the separator base paper in the wet state can be largely increased. A separator is fabricated by coating the separator base paper with paste.
A first film is coated with a paste aq. soln. and the coated first film is laminated on a second film by rolls. A laminated film comprising the first and second films is dried. The first film is cellophane and the second film is a microporous plastic film e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene or PTFE. The paste is CMC, Na polyacrylate, PVA, polyethylene glycol, Na alginate or corn starch.    The process makes it possible to fabricate a separator having low internal resistance and capable of reducing self-discharging of a battery.
An Ag oxide battery comprises a cathode consisting of AgO the top surface and side of the cathode coated with a layer of Ag2O and the cathode placed on an insulating sheet formed on the bottom of a cathode can.    This battery has a stable open circuit voltage of 1.5V, large capacity, low internal resistance and good preservability.
An alkaline battery uses a separator, a peripheral portion of which is subjected to water-repellent treatment. The separator comprises a porous film of a high polymer. A film of a thermoplastic high polymer is thermally fused to the peripheral portion of the porous high polymer film. The peripheral portion of the porous high polymer film is coated with water-repellent paint.    Since the separator has a water-repellent property at its peripheral portion, it is possible to prevent an electrolyte from permeating the peripheral portion of the separator. Therefore, it is possible to largely reduce self-discharging of an alkaline battery.    In an example, a separator comprises porous high polymer films formed on both surfaces of a cellophane sheet. Rings of PVC are fused to a peripheral portion of the separator.
The cathode is obtd. from a paste of active powder, (e.g. cadmium oxide, or zinc oxide); a conductor (e.g. nickel or graphite) and hydrophilic synthetic resin binder (e.g. polyethylene or polyvinyl alcohol). The binder content at the surface is smaller than that in the inner part.
Method comprises (a) mixing zinc oxide powder, zinc powder, calcium hydroxide and polyethylene oxide dissolved in a solvent to form a paste; (b) coating the paste onto an electrode collector; and (c) heating and drying the coated paste to form the electrode. Average mol. wt. of the polyethylene oxide is 100,000-5,000,000.    The zinc electrode is used as a cathode in an alkaline storage battery, giving improved discharge property and a longer life.
The nickel electrode comprises an activator of nickel cpd., a conductive agent and 10-25 vol.% ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer contg. 4.5-14 wt.% polyvinyl acetate.    The nickel electrode is for a nickel cadmium storage battery or a nickel zinc storage battery. The electrode is formed with a lost cost, and it has improved discharge property. In an example, the electrode is used as a positive electrode. Nickel hydroxide (62 vol.%), the conductive agent (20 vol.%) of graphite, a carboxymethyl cellulose (8 vol.%) and the bonding agent (10 vol.%) contg. 7 wt.% polyvinyl acetate are mixed to form a paste. The paste is coated on both surfaces of the nickel metal collector to form the positive electrode. The positive electrode and a negative electrode are wrapped with a separator to form the battery.
The battery comprises a positive electrode consisting of silver oxide or silver peroxide, a negative electrode consisting of Zn or Cd, an electrolyte, such as NaOH soln. or KOH soln., and a separator placed between the electrodes.    The separator comprises a cellophane film and a porous synthetic resin film is placed between the positive electrode and the cellophane film. The synthetic resin film has a thickness of 20 to 200 mu m. and an average pore dia. of &lt;10 mu m. The synthetic resin is polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyphenylene oxide and polysulphide. The porous synthetic resin contains 20 to 50 wt.% of alkali resistant metal oxide which is TiO2 or ZrO2.    The alkali-resistant metal oxide prevents the destruction of the cellophane film by alkaline electrolyte.
A battery uses zinc as anode and as an electrolyte a soln. prepd. by adding water-sol. fluorocarbon having ether bonds to an electrolyte medium e.g. an alkaline aq. soln. The amt. of the fluorocarbon is 0.1 wt.% to the electrolyte medium.    In an example, a porous Znelectrode is used as anode and fabricated by electrolytic redn. of zinc oxide. A nickle oxide electrode is used as a cathode. A film of PVA is used as a separator. An electrolyte is prepd. by adding 300 ppm fluorocarbon having ether bonds to a 8N potassium hydroxide soln.    A battery is obtd. having a mean discharge voltage of 1.53 V. A discharge-charge cycle is &gt;100.    Deposition of zinc on anode is suppressed by adding water-soluble fluorocarbon having ehter bonds to a 8N potassium hydroxide soln. A battery is obtd. having a mean discharge voltage of 1.5 V. A discharge-charge cycle is &gt;100.    Deposition of zinc on anode is suppressed by adding water-soluble fluorocarbon having ether bonds to an electrolyte. Internal polarisation of the battery is also reduced.
Electric battery has a positive electrode contg. active material and a negative zinc electrode. Cadmium particles are distributed in the cathode; and the amts. of active materials are selected to that, during discharge, anode material is electrochemically exhausted before cathode material and the Cd is inactive w.r.t. anode material.    Pref. anode is Ag, Ni, or a positive oxygen electrode is used. The Cd is pref. (a) Cd powder of &lt;10 u and specific surface 1 m2/g; or (b) a cpd., esp. CdO, forming powder (a) electrochemically; or a mixt. (a,b) cathode is esp. ZnO with CdO and a binder, esp. PTFE; and the Zn material pref. contains 1-10% of the Cd material. The Cd material may also consist of cadmium- hydroxide or sulphate.
An active mass mixt. for spreading on iron electrodes in alkali accumulators contains a magnetic ore, non-reducing iron oxide, iron sulphide, synthetic fibres and 9-30 pts. wt. (on dry components) of a polyethylene glycol ethers of mono- and dialkyl phenols.    This surfactant increases the capacity and the mixt. spreads well.
Catalyst is produced by applying noble metal (e.g. Pt, Pd, etc.,) catalyst to a porous carrier of fluororesin powder (e.g. PTFE powder).    Gas mainly consisting of O2 and H2 generated on charging the battery is converted (or reaction-reduced) into water by the catalytic action of the vapour-phase reaction catalyst.
The separator consists of a sheet (e.g. 0.1-0.2 mm thickness) of a polyethylene in which MnO2 powder (e.g. 100-5000 Angrain size) is dispersed.    The separator has excellent acid resistance and low electric resistance.
The separator is produced by (a) forming a mixed fibre web consisting of polypropylene fibre contg. 30 to 70% polyethylene-polypropylene complex fibre, (b) impregnating the mixed fibre with an aq. PVA soln. so that 5 to 30 wt. % PVA is contained in the mixed fibre, (c) drying the impregnated fibre, (d) hot pressing to fix the polypropylene fibre and the PVA by the polyethylene in the complex fibre, and (e) making the PVA insoluble.    The separator is pref. used in an enclosed type alkaline secondary cell even under conditions of high temp. or continuous over-charging or discharging. Polypropylene imparts excellent alkali resistance and PVA imparts excellent liquid holding properties.
The microporous sheet consists of a silver chloride reduction sheet and microporous synthetic resin deposited on it. The silver chloride sheet is pref. made by melting silver chloride powder, shaping the melt, rolling the body to &lt;0.1 mm thick, and giving micro-projections to the sheet. The microporous sheet is pref. made by painting on the silver chloride sheet alkali-resistant synthetic resin (e.g. polystyrene or polyvinyl chloride) soln. and drying the resin.    The microporous sheet is pref. used between a cathode and a separator in a cell using silver (per)oxide as cathode and zinc or cadmium as anode. The microporous sheet has high oxidn. resistance even with small thickness.
The method comprises (1) mixing 1 of magnesium carbonate, (basic) MgCO3 and Mg(OH)2 powder and Ni powder with a solvent to form a slurry, (2) coating the slurry on a core net of steel or Ni, (3) sintering the coated slurry in a reduced gas atmos. and (4) immersing the core net with the sintered slurry in an aq. soln. nof an ammonium salt to form the porous plate. An activator is filled in the porous plate to form an electrode plate.    The ammonium salt soln. dissolves MgO formed in the porous plate to increase a degree of the porosity. In an example Ni powder and the basic MgCO3 powder are mixed with carboxymethyl cellulose soln. to form the slurry. The slurry is coated on the Ni plated iron core. The coated core is sintered at 950 degrees C in H2 gas. The core is then immersed in the ammonium chloride soln.
Method comprises (a) forming a mould with a sectionally L-shaped space having a concave part used as a gate, (b) pouring a melted synthetic resin in the space of the mould from the gate, and (c) cooling the melted resin in the space to form the sectionally L-shaped gasket.    The gasket is applied to a storage battery, such as Ag oxide-Zn battery. The gasket is placed between a positive electrode case and a negative electrode cap sealing the case. When the gasket is formed with the mould, gate-projection is formed at the part of the gate. The projection decreases a leakage preventing property of the gasket. An electrolyte easily leaks out from the battery case through the gasket. The gasket has a concave part on the sectionally L-shaped gasket and the projection is formed in the concave, so that the projection does not project from the surface of the gasket and the gasket prevents the leakage perfectly.
The separator comprises composite layers of polyethylene film graft-polymerised with an acrylic acid or a methacrylic acrd and a cellophane layer of 20-50 mu m thickness laminated on 1 surface of the film. The electrolyte consists of an aq. soln. of KOH and NaOH and further contains unsatd. zinc oxide (ZnO). The content of the KOH is 10-30 wt. %.    The separator is stuck to the anode electrode closely so that an internal resistance of the battery is decreased. It has a high alkali-proof property and a high oxidn. resistance.
Separator comprises an ion-exchange film and a microporous plastic film which adhered to the ion-exchange film with a paste.    The separator is used in storage battery used in an electronic wrist watch. It has an improved ion-exchanging property, so that the storage battery has a low self-discharge.    In an example, the ion-exchange film consisted of cellophane, the paste consisted of 480 cc water and 20 g carboxymethyl cellulose. A microporous polypropylene film having voids with an average diameter of 0.1 to 0.2 mu was used coated with amine surface activator.
Battery grid structure comprises an integral plastics member having a pair of side by side rectangular frames each with lattice work of intersecting components in a central area. A severable brace and a severable lead lug extend between the facing sides of the frames and a pair of severable frame lugs each extend peripherally outwardly from a respective outer side of the frames.    A pair of lead conductors are present, each supported by a respective one of the frame lattices and connected with an end of the lead lug on the respective frame. The fram elugs have sufficient strength to support the structure therebetween. Two frames are formed by severing the frame lugs and brace from the frames and severing the lead lug centrally.    Used for a battery plate of the accumulator type. Provides a grid structure which is easily handled during mfr., e.g. in pasting and drying, and in which the handling lugs are cut off so any distortion does not spoil the plate.
A high power, rechargeable, Ag-Zn battery comprises a multicell pile of cells having bipolar electrodes. Each electrode comprises a positive side, formed of a sprayed Ag oxide slurry coating and a negative side, formed of vapour deposited porous Zn overlaid with sprayed ZnO. An inter cell connector between the positive and negative sides acts as a substrate for the active materials and connects the cells in series.    A separator is located between each bipolar electrode to retain electrolyte, with a seal retained in position with adhesive surrounding the separator to isolate the electrodes and form an electrolyte-retaining activity. The separator pref comprises an envelope formed by two absorbent mats of nonwoven synthetic material heat sealed at their edges contg. a barrier of folded layers of cellulosic material. The seal is pref. a vrigin tetrafluoroethylene resin strip.    The electrodes can be processed at 600/hr. The cells can be used in a modular system, using basic 100 kW modules into the multi MW power range.
The anode of a rechargeable, aq. alkaline electrolyte, galvanic cell having Zn as active metal, has a coherent metallic porous structure formed in situ in the presence of the electrolyte from an oxide of a metal less electrochemically active than Zn, pref. Pb or Cu oxide, admixed with Zn powder. The metal oxide is in an amt. providing 90-100% of the initial capacity of the Zn anode material. The pores of the formed structure are filled with Zn oxide and electrolyte.    Pref. the outer surface only is coated with a polymeric material, esp. a partially water soluble-cellulose deriv. or -polysaccharide, specifically Na carboxy methylcellulose, a polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, or a copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid.    The structure provides a Zn replating matrix, improving rechargeability.
A rechargeable alkaline MnO2-Zn cell has reactants comprising (a) a compressed cathode mixt. of MnO2 and electrically conductive particles in binder, (b) an anode of amalgamated metallic Zn particles, having a predetermined discharge capacity 1/3 cathode discharge capacity, on a conductive carrier, and (c) sufficient charge reserve mass of Zn oxide of hydroxide contacting the anode to provide a cell charge reserve capacity &gt;50 (50-200) esp. 100-150% predetermined anode discharge capacity.    The cell also includes an alkaline electrolyte and a separator between anode and cathode, pref. a non-fibrous regenerated cellulose membrane on the anode side, and a superimposed fibrous non-oxidisable separator on the cathode side. The charge reserve mass pref. includes a binder of natural or synthetic rubber, polysulphone, acrylic polymer, epoxy resin, polystyrene or PTFE. The anode pref. includes amalgamated Cu.    The cell has more uniform discharge capacity over its life, without risk of too deep MnO2 discharge. Amalgamated Cu protects against overcharge or overdisharge damage and improves performance.
A porous sheet of polyolefin is subjected to corona discharge. The porous sheet is then treated with a surfactant. The surfactant is pref. polyethylene glycol alkylphenol ether, polyethylene glycol cetyl ether, sorbitan monolaurate, metal salt of alkyl phosphate or metal salt of higher alcohol sulphate.    This process gives durable hydrophilic property to a porous sheet of polyolefin.
A lead storage battery is filled with a diluted sulphuric acid soln. contg. amine and or pyridine having polymerisable vinyl gps. or organic sulphonic acid and/or carboxylic acid having polymerisable vinyl gps. The diluted sulphuric acid soln. is irradiated with uv rays, radiation or infrared rays and gelled by polymerisation of the monomers.    The amine havng polymerisable vinyl gps. is pref. aminostyrene or aminomethyl styrene. The pyridine is vinyl pyridine. The organic sulphuric acid having polymerisable gps. is ethylene sulphonic acid or styrene sulphonic acid. The carboxylic acid is acrylic acid.
Battery contains as electrolyte, dilute sulphuric acid held by an organic high polymer ion exchange gel (I).    Specifically (I) is (a) polyvinyl pyridinium sulphate produced by the interaction of polyvinyl pyridine and sulphuric acid, (b) polystyrene sulphonate produced by the interaction of polystyrene and sulphuric anhydride, or (c) sulphonated copolymer of acrylic acid and styrene.    Leakage of electrolyte is prevented as is fuming of the sulphuric acid.
An opened portion of a case contg. a battery element is sealed with a closure plate using low sealing pressure. The sealed portion of the case is washed and then sealed with high pressure.    Since the sealed portion is washed to remove electrolyte while preventing salt entering it is possible to prevent corrosion of the sealed portion, salting and leakage of electrolyte.
A fibre reinforced electrode paste, suitable for use in a lead-acid accumulator, is made by electrostatically depositing synthetic fibres onto a semi-conductive conveyor, the fibres being oriented at right angles to the conveyor, applying lead powder to fill the spaces between the fibres, removing the mixt. so formed from the conveyor, and mixing the mixt. with water and sulphuric acid. Suitable fibres are of polypropylene, PVC or a fluorocarbon polymer.    A uniform dispersion of the fibres, giving electrodes of increased strength.
An electric storage battery, of the type having internal cells each provided with battery plates and separators, and with a pair of projecting electrode posts, is closed by applying a plastics lid having apertures through which the posts project, and welding plastics bushes to the lid to close the apertures around the posts.    The welding is pref. a friction welding operation.
Semipermeable membranes with a microporous structure are made from an intimate mixt. of (a) a first polymer chosen from poly(meth)acrylic acid or a mixt. of these with an av. molecular wt. of between 10,000 and several million, esp. 50,000 to 1 million to 1 million and (b) a second polymer which is water soluble, chosen from poly-Mo lowers the Curie temp. and increases the recrystallisation temp. This sepn. of the two temps. allows the material to be magnetically annealed which improves the magnetic properties. The materials have high saturation magnetisation and permeability combined with low AC losses, low coercivity and low magnetostriction. The glasses can be used for recording heads, relay cores, transformers, etc.
30-50 wt. pts. Ni powder (e.g. carbonyl Ni powder) and 50-70 wt. pts. organic binder aqs. soln (e.g. 2-4% carbooxymethylcellulose aqs. soln.) are mixed. The mixt. is added to combustible fibre (e.g. pulp fibre, cotton fibre, etc.) and/or electroconductive fibre (e.g. carbon fire, Ni fibre, etc.) to obtain a slurry. The fibre content is pref 10 wt. pts. based on 100 wt. pts. of the mixt. of Ni powder and binder. The slurry is coated on a porous metal plate (e.g. Ni-pated to punched plate), and the slurry-coated plate is dried at 160-180 degrees C for 5-10 mins., and sintered at 85-950 degrees C in reducing atmos.    When the slurry layer is dried at high temp. over a short period of time, the slurry layer is prevented from being checked on its surface. The porous sintered substrate is used as an electrode of Ni-Cd alkaline storage battery, etc.
A separator for a lead storage battery comprises a dried film of an acrylonitrile polymer contg. 10 wt. % of silica having average particle size 10 mu, and having a voids content 0.2-0.6.    The separator exhibits excellent durability and hydrophilic property and low electrical resistance (i.e. ionic conductivity when immersed into electrolyte), as well as chemical (sulphuric acid) resistance, oxidn, resistance, electrical insulating property, mechanical strength, etc.    The void content (epsilon) of the acrylonitrile series polymer film is obtd. by the formula epsilon = 1-M(F1/S1+F2/S2)/V (where M is wt. (g) of the dried film; f1 and f2 are wt. ratios of the polymer and the silica in the dried film, respectively; S1 and Si are the true specific gravities of the polymer and the silica, respectively; and V is apparent vol (cm3) of the dried film).    The acrylontrile polymer e.g. comprises 93 wt. % of acrylonitrile and 7 wt. % of methyl acrylate.
The cell is used as a power source for electronic devices such a wrist watches, electronic calculators and hearing aids.    In an example, a battery of 1 mm thick, 10 mm wide and 20 mm. long comprises an anode collector, a cathode collecto, MnO2 anode-active material, Li cathode-active material and a separator. The battery is sealed at both sides by an adhesive (e.g. epoxy resin or synthetic rubber) and the electrolyte is obtd. by dissolving LiClo4 in propylene carbonate and poured into the cell via a hole, which is sealed with a soft metal ball (e.g. In, Pb or Sn).
In a battery comprising an anode active material (e.g. silver oxide, manganese dioxide, nickel oxide, lead dioxide, etc.), a cathode active material (e.g. zinc, cadmium, etc.) and an electrolyte (e.g. zinc chloride, ammonium chloride, etc.-impregnated cellulose, polyamide resin, polypropylene, etc.) in a metallic containe which consists of a metallic member (e.g. Ni-plated steel plate) as an anode terminal and a metallic member (e.g. Zn-Fe clad steel) as a cathode terminal, thermoplastic resin (contg. a functional gp. having a hydrogen bonding ability in its molecule) layers are melt-coated at sealing parts of the metallic member, and both sealing parts which opposed to each are heat-and pressure-bonded to completely seal the battery. The sealing parts may be sealed with the thermoplastic resin layers via thermosetting resin layers.    The thermoplastic resin layer is trilaurylamide resin layer, and the thermosetting resin layer is a mixt. of phenol resin and epoxy resin, or a laminate of phenol resin and epoxy resin.    The battery is completely sealed and does not give rise to leakage of electrolyte.
Method comprises (1) adding an electrode powder, a dispersion soln. contg. a bonding agent, and a catalyst powder to water which is cooled at 15 degrees C; (2) mixing the water with ultrasonic wave at 15 degrees C. to form a suspension; (3) filtering the suspension to form an electrode layer on a water-proof carbon fibre sheet; and (4) sintering the electrode layer and the sheet to form the gas diffusion electrode.    The electrode has an improved oxygen electric potential of +40 mV at 100 mA/cm2. A terminal voltage of the cell is not decreased over 4000 hrs.
Process comprises (a) adding catalyst to a C powder with a particle size 10-50 mu and specific surface area 700-1500 m2/g; (b) mixing in 40-80 wt.% of a powder of carbon metal or metal oxide of particle size 20 mu and a specific surface area of 20-200 mu; (c) adding 13-30 wt.% PTFE; (d) coating the mixt. on a substrate to form a thin layer, and (e) pressing and sintering the thin layer to form the electrode.    The PTFE improves the water-proof property of the electrode.
The fuel cell comprises an anode with a hydrophilic layer, a cathode with a hydrophilic layer, and an insulating layer formed between the electrodes. The hydrophilic layers are face to face.    The cathode and anode comprises (I) a carbon fibre substrate; (II) a waterproof layer of carbon powder and a bonding agent of PTFE formed on the substrate; (III) a catalyst layer consisting of carbon powder with a catalyst and a bonding agent having a lower waterproof property than (II); and (IV) a hydrophilic layer having a higher hydrophilic property than that of the catalyst layer.    In an example, an insulating layer of polyethylene is sandwiched between the electrodes; and the hydrophilic layers are face to face.
The method comprises (1) adding an electrode powder, a dispersion soln. contg. a bonding agent, and a catalyst powder in a water which is cooled at &lt;150 degrees C; (2) mixing the water with ultrasonic wave at &lt;150 degrees C. to form a suspension; (3) adding volatile organic solvent to the suspension to form a mixt. and coating the mixt. on a water-proof carbon fibre sheet to form an electrode layer, and (4) sintering the electrode layer and the sheet.    The electrode has an improved oxygen electric potential of 50 mV at 100 mA/cm2. The terminal voltage of the cell is maintained steady for 4000 hours. In an example, a non-ionic surfactant, an acetylene black contg. Pt. (4.5g) and a PTFE dispersion are added in the water cooled at &lt;10 degrees C. The mixt. is coated on the carbon fibres sheet treated with PTFE and the layer sintered at 350 degrees C, to form the electrode.
The separator has high heat resistance, so the battery has stable properties at a high temp.    In an example, the aromatic polyamide has m.pt. of 375 degrees C. The separator of 0.12 mm thickness comprises non-woven of aromatic polyamide cloth. The negative electrode is of cadmium; the positive electrode consists of a core plate and an activator layer of nickel hydroxide. The aromatic polyamide separator is placed between the electrodes; the electrodes and separator are inserted in a battery case; the alkaline electrolyte is poured in the battery jar, then the battery jar is sealed. The electrolyte is KOH soln.
Method of activating an electrode plate of alkaline storage battery comprises (1) laminating a pair of band shaped electrodes, without the ends of the electrodes meeting and with the electrodes sepd. by an insulating separator; (2) winding the laminated electrodes and the separator to form a winding, with the ends of the electrodes projecting in opposite directions; (3) sandwiching the winding between a pair of conductive plates having projections, so that the projections contact with the projected ends of the wound electrodes, (4) immersing the winding and the conductive plates in an electrolyte and (5) applying a DC voltage between the conductive plates to activate the electrodes.    In an example, the electrode plates contain activator e.g. nickel hydroxide and the separator e.g. polypropylene non-woven cloth. The conductive plates may be of stainless steel.
The storage battery comprises a negative electrode contg. light metal activator, a positive electrode and an organic electrolyte.    The activator of the positive electrode consists of manganese dioxide and also contains 0.5 to 2.0 atom % of silver.    The battery has improved discharged property and low internal resistance. In an example, MnO2 (100 wt.pts.), carbon powder (10 wt. pts.) and fluorocarbon polymer powder (13 wt. pts.) are mixed to form activator for the positive electrode. This is coated onto a collector and pressed with a roller to form a sheet of 0-9 mm thickness. The sheet is wound with a polypropylene nonwoven cloth to form the positive electrode. The negative electrode consists of a Li plate. The electrolyte consists of Li borate-fluoride dissolved in gamma-butyrolactone.
Battery comprises a negative electrode contg. light metal activator.. a positive electrode and an organic electrolyte. The anode activator consists of carbon fluoride and 0.1-10 wt.% sodium silicate.    The battery has improved discharge property and low internal impedance. In an example, carbon fluoride and acetylene black are mixed with MeOH wetting agent. As binder, ethylene fluoride-propylene fluoride copolymer is added to form the positive electrode activator which is coated on a collector. The coated positive activator is pressed into a sheet 0.9 mm thick which is wound with a non-woven polypropylene cloth to form the positive electrode. The negative electrode is a Li plate and the electrolyte is Li borate-fluoride dissolved in gamma-butyrolactone.
In an electrode for lead accumulators, esp. an electrode plate, the electrochemically active mass (a) contains finely divided PTFE powder. When used in a negative electrode, mass (a) pref. contains by wt. 0.001-0.1%, esp. 0.01-0.05% PTFE powder; and when used in a positive electrode, mass (a) pref. contains by wt. 0.001-0.5% PTFE, esp. 0.01-0.05% PTFE.    The PTFE addn. improves the physical properties of the electrodes. The positive electrodes have a longer cyclic life, whereas the negative electrodes have higher current yield.
Separator comprises an embossed microporous thin-film sheet of synthetic resin having of projections connected by lower linear projections. Pref. the resin is high mol. wt. polyethylene.    Movement of gas is controlled by the electrode design.
In an alkaline battery, an opened portion of a cathode or anode can contg. a battery element is sealed to the anode or cathode can by an insulating packing coated with a sealing agent. The sealing agent is produced by dispersing mica powder in an adhesive.    Specifically, the insulating packing is interposed between a cathode can and an anode can. The insulating packing consists of synthetic rubber e.g. chloroprene rubber or synthetic resin e.g. polyethylene resin. The insulating packing is coated with a sealing agent produced by dispersing mica powder in an adhesive e.g. asphalt, wax or silicone oil.    Since an insulating packing is coated with a sealing agent, gaps between a cathode can, an anode can and the insulating packing are surely sealed while cushion action is maintained.
In a cell comprising an anode, a light metal (e.g. Li, Mg, Al, etc.) active material cathode and an organic electrolyte, the electrolyte paste contains as solvent 1 ether cpd. (e.g. 1,2-dimethoxyethane, THF, 1,3-dioxolan or 1,3-dioxane) and opt. propylene carbonate, gamma-butylrolactone or ethylene carbonate, blended with a fluorocarbon resin (I).    Suitable (I) include trifluoroethyleneresin, tetrafluoroethylene resin, tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene copolymer, trifluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene copolymer, vinylidene fluoride and vinylidene fluoride/hexafluoropropylene copolymer.    Leakage of electrolyte during storage of the cell is prevented and the shelf life of the cell is improved.
An electrical generating element utilizes alpha, beta or gamma rays issuing from radio-elements, partic. in the form of waste products. The rays are directed onto a p-n junction through intermediate cpds. capable of absorbing all or part of the energy of the rays, and re-emitting at a longer wavelength in the optimal absorption zone of the p-n junction.    The said cpds. are distributed in a matrix interposed between the radio-elements and the junction, and made from synthetic material, pref. polymethylmethacrylate not treated against UV, silicone, or PVC, which is transparent to the rays. The cpds. are pref. diphenyloxazol, and/or rhodamine B, and/or alpha-naphthol, and/or one or more substances of the benzene series.    The present method permits the generation of an electric current at the p-n junction without deterioration of the junction caused by direct reception of the rays. The apparatus therefore has a much longer life.
Multi-cell electric battery has a number of electrolyte contg. cells disposed within an insulating plastics tube impervious to the electrolyte. The tube is initially open at both ends and the cells are sealed within the tube by a hot melt plastics adhesive adheringly bonded to the tube at the open ends and forming end plugs which sealingly close the open ends. This provides an inexpensive leakproof battery.    An inner layer of absorbent cardboard is pref. used under the plastics sleeve and absorbs any electrolyte leaking from the tune and prevents its movement. The plastics sleeve is polystyrene and the hot melt adhesive is a polyterpene resin with an ethylene vinyl base.
A primary electrochemical cell comprises (a) a case open at one end. (b) a cover, sealable within the opening and including a movable diaphragm, (c) an Li anode, (d) a cathode, (e) an electrolyte of Lewis acid, Lewis base and inorganic solvent, (f) an ampoule contg. enough Lewis acid to dissolve any Lewis base film formed on the anode when the cell is not being discharged and (g) an activator rupturing the ampoule when the diaphragm is moved to release Lewis acid. The ampoule is pref. PTFE or glass.    The cell has very long shelf life. It can be reactivated, optionally a number of times, after use, to have the characteristics of fresh cell.
Active mass for the positive electrode of a lead accumulator, contg. lead oxides, PbSO4 and a pore-forming silicon cpd., is improved by using a polyorganohydrosiloxane as a pore-forming binder. The mechanical strength of the electrode is increased, and the technology of the electrode prodn. is simplified. The compsn. contains (in wt. %): lead oxides 84.5-89.5; PbSO4 10.0-15.0, and polyorganohydrosiloxane 0.1-0.5.
LiOH is used as pore forming agent in the alkali resistant polymer coating for Fe anodes used in alkaline accumulators. The capacity and working life of the electrode are increased. The mixture, in the form of a suspension, contains (in pts. wt.): epoxide varnish 95-105; solvent such as xylene or acetone 45-55; LiOH 15-20; and hardener such as polyethylenepolyamine 1.95-2.05.
The separator for an alkali electric cell, is prepd. by graft-polymerising acrylamide or acrylic acid with (non)-woven polyamide cloth to a grafting degree &lt;30% and adhering a thin film of polyvinyl alcohol to the (non)woven cloth with heating and pressing.    The acrylamide or acrylic acid, hydrophilic monomer, improves adhesiveness of the cloth to the PVA thin film and the cloth and thin film of PVA may be closely adhered. Although the separator is thin, it possesses increased mechanical strength, and low permeability of active material. If many charge-discharge cycles are carried out the properties do not deteriorate.
The negative electrode of the alkaline storage battery comprises a metal core, an inner thin layer of negative electrode activator formed on the surface of the metal core and outer thin layers of negative electrode activator formed on the both surfaces of the inner thin layer. The thin layers consists of the activator and a bonding agent of net-like fibers of fluorocarbon polymers. The content of the bonding agent in the outer thin layers is higher than the content of the bonding agent in the inner thin layer.    The storage battery has the improved negative electrode with a wide surface area and the electrode has an improved discharge property.
Silver oxide storage battery comprises a positive electrode, a separator, a negative electrode comprising Zn or Cd, and a conductive washer. The washer is placed between the positive electrode and the separator and it contacts with the inside wall of a battery jar including the electrodes and the separator. The positive electrode consits of Ag2O and &lt;50 wt. % of MnO2.    The MnO2 in the positive electrode increases a discharge capacitance of the storage battery. In an example, the silver oxide powder (80 wt. %) and hte MnO2 powder (20 wt. %) are mixed and pressed at about 3 ton/cm2 in the battery jar to form the positive electrode. The silver washer 0.1 mm thick is placed on the electrode. The separator of polyamide unwoven cloth is placed on the washer. The negative electrode placed on the separator consists of amalgamated Zn, CMC and KOH soln. The electrode is covered by a cap.
Ni electrode contains metallic Co and Co cpd. The efficiency of the active material of the Ni electrode, esp. non-sintered type Ni electrode, is increased, to enable a Ni electrode of low cost and high performance to be obtained.    In an example, 75 wt. % nickel hydroxide (as active material), 10 wt. % graphite flake (as conductive material) 5 wt. % solid polyethylene latex or polystyrene latex (as binder), 6.5 wt. % cobalt hydroxide or cobalt oxide and 0.5 wt. % metallic cobalt (as additives), and 3 wt. % other materials are uniformly mixed into a paste. The paste is pressed in a mould using Ni-punched metal as core member, and dried at 50-60 degrees C for 1-2 hrs. The moulding is heated at 115-200 degrees C to increase its strength.
The storage battery comprises a vapour phase reaction catalyst body obtd. by binding a catalyst powder consisting mainly of carbonaceous material (e.g. graphite powder) and noble metal (e.g. Pd) with a fluorine resin (e.g. copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene). The catalyst body contains 40-100 pts. wt. fluorine resin per 100 pts. wt. catalyst powder. The catalyst body is disposed in spaces in the battery, e.g. space between a sealing plate and upper insulating plate; or fixed on an insulating member in the battery case.    The catalyst body exhibits increased service life and improved activity at high temp., (e.g. 45 degrees C), and catalyses the reaction between hydrogen generated from a cathode by self-discharge with oxygen generated from the anode to reduce them into water. The oxygen gas loss caused by the carbon gas loss effect of the cathode is controlled to an amt. corresp. to the electrical discharge for the hydrogen generation so as to prevent weakening of the electrolyte.
A covering film for the cell comprises (A) a PVA film; (B) undercoat layers of polyurethane prepolymer having a terminal isocyanate gp. and polyisocyanate having isocyanate gps., coated on the opposite surfaces of (A); and (C) polyvinylidene chloride resin layers formed on the both undercoat layers.    The PVA film exhibits low oxygen permeability which does not vary much with increase in humidity. The PVA film is e.g. completely or partly saponified PVA, partly urethanated PVA, etc.    The polyurethane prepolymer is obtd. by reacting excess diisocyanate with polyfunctional hydrogen compound such as polyster, polyol, etc. The polyisocyanate is e.g. diisocyanate, trimethylolpropane triisocyanate, etc.
Dry cell has a covering film for material cell. The film comprises (A) a PVA film, (B) under coating layers composed of N-methoxymethylated polyamide and organic acid coated on the opposite surfaces of the film (A), and (C) polyvinylyidene chloride resin layers formed on the both under coating layers.    Examples of the PVA film include (partly) saponified PVA, partly urethanated PVA, etc. Examples of the organic acid which acts as a catalyst for the intermolecular cross-linking reaction of the N-methoxymethylated polyamide include acetic acid, citric acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid, etc.
The alkaline battery is sealed with a gasket material contg. polypropylene and 8-oxyquinoline of formula (I): (where R1-6 are H or 4C alkyl).    The additional amt. of 8-oxyquinoline is about 0.1-5 wt. %, pref. about 1-3 wt. %. A gasket comprising a mixt. compsn. of polyethylene having a melt index of about 0.2-3 and polypropylene having a melt index of about 0.5-5 (polypropylene content is about 10-40 wt. %) exhibits stable stress cracking resistance and good adherence to the collector member.    The contact surface of the cathode with the collector material is made of Cu or Cu alloy and leakage of electrolyte from the contact surface is prevented.
The alkaline battery is sealed with a gasket material contg. polypropylene and N-diphenyl-N'-picryl hydrazine of formula (I):    The amt. of the (I) added is about 0.5-10 (1-5)wt. %. A gasket comprising a compsn. of polyethylene having a melt index of about 0.2-3 and polypropylene having a melt index of about 0.5-5 (polypropylene content is about 10-40 wt. %) shows stable stress cracking resistance and good adherence to the collector member.    Deterioration of the gasket at the contact surface with a cathode collector material whose surface is made of Cu (alloy) is prevented, so that the leakage of electrolyte from the contact surface is effectively prevented.
The alkaline battery is sealed with a gasket material contg. polypropylene and picric acid. The amt. of picric acid added is about 0.5-10 (1-7) wt. %. A gasket comprising a compsn. of polyethylene having a melt index of about 0.2-3 and polypropylene having melt index of about 0.5-5 (polypropylene content is 10-40 wt. %) shows stable stress cracking resistance and good adherence to the collector member.    Deterioration of the gasket at the contact surface with a cathode collector material whose surface is made of Cu (alloy) is prevented, so that the leakage of electrolyte from the contact surface is effectively prevented.
The alkaline battery is seale with a gasket material contg. polypropylene and oxine, 8-hydroxyquinoline. The amt. of oxine added is about 0.5-10 (1-7) wt. %. A gasket comprising a compsn. of polyethylene having a melt index of about 0.2-3 and polypropylene having a melt index of about 0.5-5 (polypropylene content is about 10-40 wt. %) exhibits stable stress cracking resistance and good adherence to the collector member.    Deterioration of the gasket at the contact surface with a cathode collector material whose surface is made of Cu (alloy is prevented, so that the leakage of electrolyte from the contact surface is effectively prevented.
The amt. of glycine is about 0.5-10 wt. %, pref. about 1-7 wt. %.    A gasket comprising a mixt. compsn. of polyethylene having a melt index of about 0.2-3 and polypropylene having a melt index of about 0.5-5 (polypropylene content is about 10-40 wt. %) exhibits stable stress cracking resistance and good adherence to the collector member.    The contact surface is with the cathode collector material made of Cu or Cu alloy, and leakage of electrolyte from the contact surface is prevented.    A gasket comprises adding about 0.5 wt. % glycine to a mixt. compsn. of 70 wt. % polyethylene having a melt index of about 2 and 30 wt. % of polypropylene having a melt index of about 1.
The contact surface with the cathode collector material is made of Cu or Cu alloy and that leakage of electrolyte from the contact surface is prevented.    The amt. of malonic acid is about 0.5-10 wt. %, pref. about 1-7 wt. %. A gasket comprising a mixt. compsn. of polyethylene having a melt index of about 0.2-3 and polypropylene having a melt index of about 0.5-5 (polypropylene content is about 10-40 wt. %) exhibits stable stress cracking resistance and good adherence to the collector member.
The amt. of oxalic acid is about 0.5-10 wt. % pref. about 1-3 wt. %. A gasket material comprising a mixt. compsn. of polyethylene having a melt index of about 0.2-3 and polypropylene having a melt index of about 0.5-5 (polypropylene content is about 10-40 wt. %) exhibits stable stress cracking resistance and good adherence to the collector member.    The contact surface with the cathode collector materials is made of Cu or Cu alloy, and that the leakage of electrolyte from the contact surface is prevented.
The cell comprises a silver oxide anode contg. 50 wt. % of MnO2, a separator, a porous electroconductive layer between the anode and the separator, and a cathode of Zn, Cd, etc. Specifically claimed is a button-type silver oxide cell in which the porous electroconductive layer comprises netted, expanded or punched metal. The anode does not include electroconductive materials such as graphite, etc.
Battery casing or cover is made of polypropylene filled with 10-50 wt.% hollow silica particles. Pref. the particles are of size 30-300 mu and have a ratio of wall thickness to external dia. in the range 1:100 to 1:10.    Shrinkage during moulding and distortion often removal from the mould is reduced.
Permeable membranes are prepd. by mixing, in molten condition, (A) 90-30 pts. wt. of 1 drawable, thermoplastic, linear organic resin with (B) 10-70 pts. wt. of 1 cpd. which is partly miscible with (A) and consists of 20+C synthetic polymers or oligomers, 20+C natural organic polymers, 16+C fatty acids, its esters or salts, so that the total sum of (A)+(B)=100 pts. wt. The molten mixt. is shaped, e.g. extruded, to a film- or foil-like melt having thickness 5-1000 mu. The film- or foil-like melt is passed through a heating zone, the temp. of which is above the heat-deformation temp. of (A) and (B). The film- or foil-like melt is then cooled, left to solidify, and finally taken up. The time from shaping the molten mixt. to a film- or foil-like melt to its cooling and solidification, i.e. the time during which the melt is present in molten condition is 10-600 secs. The blank obtd. is treated with a solvent, (I), which is a poor solvent for (A) but a good solvent for (B), dried and pref. drawn mono- or biaxially 50-1500%.    The membranes are used as permo-selective membranes in reverse osmosis, battery separators, germ-free packaging materials and filters. Pore size can be controlled. The membranes resist rotting and chemicals.
A web for supporting the components of a laminar battery comprises a paper base layer, a plastics layer, and an adhesive layer. A pref. plastics is polyethylene and a pref adhesive is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate.    Results in reduction in reject batteries, due to shorting out, by electrolyte being absorbed into the supporting web which also acts to separate the electrodes.
Microporous battery separator sheets are joined together to form a sleeve for application to a battery plate by locating a pair of sheets one either side of a flat platen. One edge of each sheet projects beyond the corresponding edge of the platen, and between the projecting edges is located a thermoplastics welding strip, which in turn projects beyond the edges of the sheets.    Pressure is applied to the strip to make it flush with the edges of the sheets and the strip is bonded to the sheets either by solvent bonding or by high frequency welding.    A sleeve can be made without the prior art necessity of bending sheet material. The sheets may be of microporous PVC in which case the strip is also of PVC, perhaps with a blowing agent.
Prodn. of electrode plate of battery first comprises coating a pasty active material (e.g. a mixt. of PVA, ethylene glycol, cadmium oxide powder and Ni powder) on a porous supporting plate.    The plate is then dipped in a liq. suspension contg. a synthetic resin having water repelling effect (e.g. PTFE) and an emulsion stabiliser and finally pressed at high temp.    The electrode plate is used for alkali storage battery.
The battery has a cathode comprising ZnO and metallic Zn as cathode active material. The cathode also contains an inorganic substance or polymer which absorbs alkaline electrolyte to expend or swell but is insol. to the electrolyte.    The inorganic substance is specifically metallic silicon, added in an amt. of 1-5 pts. wt. based on 100 pts. wt. of Zn active material. The polymer is polyacetal, acrylic acid ester, polyphenylene oxide, vinyl butyral or polyester added in an amt. of 0.3-3 pts. wt. based on 100 pts. wt. of the Zn active material.    Part of whole of the cathode is expanded or swollen by absorbing alkaline electrolyte to eliminate space between the zinc cathode and a non-woven fabric separator. The discharge capacity and service life of the battery are increased.
A gp. of spiral plates comprising an anode of NiO active material separator and a cathode of Zn active material are disposed in a metallic container whose inner wall is coated with a polymer film. The cathode is arranged at the outermost periphery of the gp. of spiral plates.    Direct contact between the metallic container and the cathode active material is avoided, so that the service life of the battery is prolonged.
The 2.6 nylon salt is obtd. from hexamethylenediamine and oxalic acid. The additional amt. of the 2.6 nylon salt is about 0.1-5 wt. %, pref. about 0.5-1 wt. %. A gasket comprising a mixt. compsn. of polyethylene having a melt index of about 0.2-3 and polypropylene having a melt index of about 0.5-5 (polypropylene content is about 10-40 wt. %) exhibits stable stress cracking resistance and good adherence to the collector member.    Deterioration of gasket at contact surface with cathode collector material whose surface is made of Cu or Cu alloy is prevented, so that the leakage of electrolyte from the contact surface is prevented.
The additional amt. of cyclic maleic acid hydrazide is about 0.01-5 wt. % pref. about 0.5-2 wt. %. Gasket comprises a mixt. compsn. of polyethylene having a melt index of about 0.2-3 and polypropylene having a melt index of about 0.5-5 (polypropylene content is about 10-40 wt. %).    Deterioration of gasket at contact surface with a cathode collector material whose surface is made of Cu or Cu alloy is prevented, so that the leakage of electrolyte from the contact surface is prevented.
The alkaline battery is sealed with a gasket material contg. polypropylene added with diacetyldisalicylhydrazone of formula (I):    Deterioration of the gasket at the contact surface with a cathode collector material whose surface is made of Cu or Cu alloy is prevented, so that the leakage of electrolyte from the contact surface is effectively prevented.    The additional amt. of diacetyldisalicylhydrazone is about 0.1-3 wt. %. Gasket comprises a mixt. compsn. of polyethylene having a melt index of about 0.2-3 and polypropylene having a melt index of about 0.5-5 (polypropylene content is about 10-40 wt. %).
The amine salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid is of formula (I): (where R1 is alkyl or aryl; R2 is H, alkyl or aryl; and R3 is H or HNR1R2).    Deterioration of the gasket at the contact surface with a cathode collector material whose surface is made of Cu or Cu alloy is prevented, so that the leakage of electrolyte from the contact surface is prevented.    In an example, a gasket comprises adding about 0.5 wt. % (I) to a mixt. compsn. of 70 wt. % polyethylene having a melt index of about 2 and 30 wt. % of polypropylene having a melt index of about 1. The gasket exhibits stable stress cracking resistance and good adherence to the collector member.
The phenolic ketazine cpd. is of formula (I): (where R1 and R2 are OH, or 1-18C alkyl or alkoxy; R3 and R4 are 2-17C alkyl). Examples of the cpd. includes ortho-hydroxypropiophenoneazine, orthio-hydroxycaprophenoneazine, etc. The cpd. having long chain 2-17C alkyl exhibits good dispersibility to the synthetic resin. Example of the thioether includes thiodipropionic acid alkyl ester, thiobisalkyl phenol, etc.    Deterioration of the gasket at the contact surface with a cathode collector material whose surface is made of Cu or Cu alloy is prevented, so that the leakage of electrolyte from the contact surface is prevented.
The alkaline battery is sealed with a gasket material contg. polypropylene and phenolic ketazine cpd. having long chain alkyl gp. The phenolic ketazine cpd. is of formula (I): (where R1-2 are OH, or 1-18C alkyl or alkoxy; R3-4 are 2-17C alkyl). Examples of (I) include ortho-hydroxypropiophenoneazine, orthio-hydroxycaprophenoneazine, etc. (I) having long chain 2-17C alkyl has good dispersibility to the synthetic resin.    Deterioration of the gasket at the contact surface with a cathode collector material whose surface is made of Cu (alloy) is prevented, so that the leakage of electrolyte from the contact surface is effectively prevented.
the alkaline battery is sealed with a gasket material contg. polypropylene and a cpd. of formula (I) and/or a cpd. of formula (II).    Deterioration of the gasket at the contact surface with a cathode collector material whose surface is made of Cu (alloy) is prevented, so that the leakage of electrolye from the contact surface is effectively prevented.    The cpds. (I) and (II) are prepd. by (1) heating a lower alcohol ester of salicyclic acid with a hydrazine in an alcohol at 70-80 degrees C 2-3 hrs.; (2) reacting the resulting prod. hydrazine salicylate with a formic acid, formamide or glycine in a solvent such as toluene, xylene, etc.; (3) dehydrating and deammoniating the resulting prod.; and (4) washing the resulting sepd. crystal with water and drying it.
Carrying cord of plastic for electric accumulators, partic. for starting batteries, has a flat gripping bar detachably fixed to it, pref. made of plastic material injected around the cord. Both the bar and the cord pref. consist of polypropylene. Appts. for mfr. of the cord comprises two mould sections, with retaining panels for the cord extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the gripping bar.    The flat shape of the gripping bar and the curvature of its edges allow it to feel comfortable in the hand and to be housed when not in use in e.g. a recess in the battery housing, so as to lie flush with the wall of the housing.
A flexible, porous, separator for an alkaline EMF cell comprises (a) dissolving in a solvent, a thermoplastic rubber block copolymer with an intermediate elastomer block and two thermoplastic end blocks; (b) mixing filler inert to the alkaline electrolyte and a second pore forming filler reactive with the electrolyte; (c) combining the fillers and rubber soln. to form a slurry; (d) coating the slurry onto a flexible non-metallic substrate and (e) drying.    The separators are highly resistant to damage by the electrolyte and strongly inhibit Zn dendrite and nodule growth in Ni-Zn alkaline batteries. The surface of the separator is free of defects and the interior of the coating comprises particles and voids uniform in size and distribution to achieve a uniform current density over the electrode surfaces.
A mixt. of carbonyl nickel powder (92 wt. pts.) and active carbon powder (8 wt. pts.) is sintered to form an electrode base plate having porosity and contg. mainly nickel. The base plate is dipped in a water proofing agent, i.e. an emulsion contg. 5 wt. % fluorine resin particles having 0.2 um of av. dia., preliminarily dried at 105 degrees C over one hour then heat treated at 300-360 degrees C.    The fluorine resin is impregnated in the base plate by decomposing a surfactant contained in the fluorine resin.
A rechargeable cell includes a positive electrode, a rechargeable metal negative electrode, an auxiliary electrode for charging the negative electrode, a separator disposed between positive and negative electrodes, and an alkaline electrolyte.    The separator has a PVA film present only at the part lower than the centre of the negative electrode.
Electrode material contg. a Ni cpd., a conductive material and Co or Co cpd. is over-discharged in alkaline siln. which contains previously the active material. A synthetic resin binder is added to the electrode material and the mixt. is moulded to provide a Ni electrode.    In an example, 100 pts. wt. Ni(OH)2, 25 pts. wt. graphite and 10 pts. wt. Co oxide are mixed and pressed to make a member. After covering the member with a Ni net, a cathode of the member is placed together with both an anode of Ni plate and a separator in an electrolytic cell filled with 7 mol/l aq. caustic potash soln. A current is applied between the anode and the cathode at a current density of 4 mA/cm2 for 1 hour. The mixt. is recovered from the cell and dried. 90 pts. wt. of the dried mixt., 7 pts. wt. polyethylene latex, 1 pt. wt. synthetic fibre and 2 pts. wt. CMC are mixed to make a paste. A Ni plate is coated with the paste and heated at 150-200 degrees C to provide a Ni electrode.    Ni electrode with good performances are obtd.
Fe powder is mixed with an aq. soln. contg. a binder to make a paste. After oxidising part of the Fe powder, the paste is coated onto a metal porous member and then sintered to give the Fe electrode.    In an example, an aq. soln. contg. 2 wt.% carboxy methyl cellulose is added to electrolytic Fe powder of &gt;200 mesh to produce a paste. The paste is allowed to stand in air at 25-28 degrees C for several hours to oxidise part of the Fe powder. A porous Ni plate is immersed into the paste, and passed through rollers. The plate coated with the paste is dried at 80 degrees C for 30 minutes and sintered in a hydrogen atmos. at 950 degrees C for 30 minutes to make a sintered Fe electrode.    A pore increasing agent is not required and e electrodes with good characteristics are provided since iron oxide is uniformly produced on Fe particles.
In a silver oxide cell including a positive electrode of Ag2O, a negative electrode of Zn or Cd, and a separator disposed between positive and negative electrodes, a conductive washer is provided between the positive electrode and the separator.    The conductive washer is made of metal foil, metal net or expanded metal plate. The separator consists of cellophane and nylon nonwoven cloth. The negative electrode comprises amalgamated Zn and carboxymethyl cellulose.    The discharge voltage of the cell is not decreased at the beginning of discharge, and the discharge capacity is increased because electrons flow rapidly from the casing to the positive electrode through the conductive washer.
The plates are moved along a conveyor to an injection station. The arrival of a plate at the station is sensed and the plate is lifted from the conveyor to the moulding device. Arrival of the plate in the device is sensed and the device closed and the injection effected. After injection the sealed plates are transferred back to the conveyor and removed by it.    Automatic device for effecting strong end seals esp. if the plates are of non-woven fabric is provided.
Prodn. of sintered electrodes for batteries involves pyrolysis of a plastics foam contg. metal powder and sintering off the remaining metal powder, having the skeletal structure of the foam, to a highly porous metal skeleton, the metal powder being mixed with the foam precursor, before foaming and hardening.    The foam is pref. of the thermostable, thermosetting type, and is esp. a semi-rigid polyurethane foam, the metal powder pref. being added to the polyol component in a wt. ratio of metal of foam precursor of 0.5-1.5:1, esp. 0.8:1.    Dust problems are avoided, large amts. of metal powder can be incorporated in the foam and the process is simple. Plates of the desired size can be cut from large slabs of foams or the foam can be made directly in a suitable mould.
Method comprises (1) mixing unvulcanised hard rubber compsn. contg. hydrogel of silicic acid or hydrogen of silicate having water content of &gt;70 wt. % in a solvent to form a dispersion soln. of the compsn; (2) coating the dispersion soln. on a porous sheet; (3) removing the solvent from the coated soln.; and (4) vulcanising the compsn. in the coated soln. to form a porous rubber separator, where evapn. of the water is prevented.    The porous rubber separator is used in storage batteries. The separator is thin and it has a high electric resistance.
The cathode activator placed in a nickel cathode case used as a cathode terminal comprises a silver oxide activator body consisting essentially of silver oxide powder and a metal silver layer formed on the surface of the activator body. The metal silver layer is formed by the redn. of the surface of the activator body. The metal silver layer faces a separator sepg. the cathode activator and an anode activator. The anode activator consists of Zn and/or Cd. The surface of the silver oxide body is reduced by anhydrazine soln.    The silver oxide storage battery including the cathode activator has a large short-circuit current and high discharge characteristics. In an example, pressed silver oxide (Ag2O) activator body is placed in the nickel plated steel case. A sheet of polyamide contg. the hydrazine soln. is placed on the body. The separator of a polyamide unwoven cloth is placed on the sheet. The surface of the body is reduced by the hydrazine to form the silver layer. A mix. of the amalgamated zinc and an alkaline electrolyte is formed on the separator.
The cathode activator placed in a Ni cathode case used as a cathode terminal comprises a Ag oxide activator comprising Ag oxide powder and a metal Ag layer formed on the surface of the activator. The metal Ag layer is formed by the redn. of the surface of the activator, and faces a separator sepg. the cathode activator and an anode activator.    In an example, the pressed silver oxide (Ag2O) activator is placed in the Ni plated steel case. The surface of the activator is contacted with the reducing agent of H2O2 water to reduce the surface, and the separator of polyamide unwoven cloth is placed on the metal silver layer. A mixed body contg. the anode activator and an alkaline electrolyte is placed on the separator and the case is sealed by an anode cap. The anode activator consists of amalgamated Zn powder (98 wt. %) and carboxyvinyl polymer powder (2 wt. %).
The cathode activator placed in a Ni cathode case used as a cathode terminal comprises a Mn O2 activator having a hollow and a nickel oxide activator filled in the hollow. The nickel oxide activator faces a separator sepg. the cathode activator and an anode activator. The manganese dioxide activator comprises 85-90 wt.% MnO2 and 10-15 wt.% conductive agent. The Ni oxide activator comprises 85-95 wt.% nickel oxide and 5-15 wt.% conductive agent.
The separator comprises a laminate sheet mainly consisting of single crystal of crystalline polymer (e.g. high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene-1, polyamide, polyoxymethylene, etc.). The laminate sheet may be further pressed, rolled or heat-treated.    The separator has smaller average pore dia. cf. conventional separators, and has high tensile strength and breaking strength in spite of its large pore volume.
Separator is produced by coating a paste-liquid obtd. by adding starch to an aq. soln. of hydroxypropyl cellulose on zinc surface of carbn-zinc composite electrode.    Contact between the zinc surface and air is effectively prevented by the separator coated on the zinc surface, so that the shelf life of the separator for a layer built dry cell is prolonged.
The paste is prepd. by adding 1-2 g of 1 benzoic acid or salt, or sorbic acid or salt to 2 kg of separator paste-contg. watr, tackifier and gelatiniser.    Viscosity of the paste is stabilised. In an example, the paste comprises 100g polyvinylmethyl ether, 50g xanthan rubber, 60 g etherified starch, 250 g corn starch and 1000 g water.
A gas-diffused electrode is impregnated with a lipophilic and hydrophilic organic solvent, e.g. (m)ethyl alcohol or acetone, and then impregnated with an aq. dispersion of water-proofing agent, e.g. fluoro-resin.    The electrode is used as an anode for a metal-air cell useful as the power source of an electric motor-car, etc. It uses oxygen in the air as anode active material. One of the surfaces contact the gas and the other contacts the electrolyte. Deterioration in performance and life of the battery is reduced.
Process comprises (1) heat-treating MnO2 at 350-430 degrees C; (2) adding an electroconductive agent (e.g. acetylene black and a binder (e.g. PTFE); (3) pressing the mixt.; and (4) heating the pressed body at 200-350 degrees C.    By using the MnO2 as an anode active material, the cell exhibits improved discharge characteristics, shell life, etc.
A separator base material of synthetic resin is coated with polycarboxymethylene. When the base is heated and dried, a film with uniform polycarboxymethylene is formed on the surface. Such a film adheres well to the base. Since the separator has high electrolyte and acid resistances and good electrolyte retaining property, cell performances are not lowered even if charge-discharge cycles are repeated.
Separator base member of synthetic resin is coated with ethylene-acrylic acid polymer to obtain a separator for alkaline cells. When the coated base member is heated and dried, a uniform film of polymer is formed on the surface. The polymer film adheres well to the base member, and does not dissolve in electrolytes. The separator has high electrolyte and acid resistances, and good electrolyte retaining property.
Adhesive sealing portions of a panel type cell are secured by means of resin rivets. The cells have high mechanical strength and good liq. leakage resistance, and are useful for electronic wrist watches, etc.    Specifically, negative active material is disposed on a positive active material through a separator. These members are covered with positive and negative collectors which are secured to each other at the peripheral portions through a binder by means of resin rivets. For securing the collectors apertures for rivets are pre-formed in the periphery of each collector. The binding surface of collector is coated with epoxy resin, and the cell is assembled. A resin rivet is inserted into respective apertures before curing the epoxy binder, and then hot pressed. As resin rivets, nylon, polyethylene, hard PVC etc. are pref.
Anode active material is bound with both polyvinyl alcohol and methyl cellulose to provide a positive electrode. The positive electrode has high mechanical strength and adequate liq. absorption effect. Non-aq. electrolyte cells with high discharge performances are provided.    In an embodiment, MnO2 is heat-treated at 375 degrees C to form an anode active material. 85 wt. % powdery active material is mixed with 9 wt % C powder as conductive agent, 3 wt. % polyvinyl powder and 3 wt. % methyl cellulose to produce a mixt. 60 pts. wt. hot water is added to 100 pts. wt. mixt. to form a paste. A stainless steel net is coated with the paste. After drying the net is pressed and dried in vacuum at 120 degrees C to make an anode. The anode is assembled together with a Li metal cathode and an electrolyte to provide a non-aq. electrolyte cell.
A spongy metal porous body (e.g. of Ni, Fe, Pb or Cd) having a 3-D continuous structure is provided. A paste material consisting of active material powder (e.g. of Ni hydroxide, Fe, Pb or Cd)is filled into the porous body and then they are shaped under pressure. Then, the shaped body is impregnated with a suspension of fluororesin finely divided powder and dried to complete a cell electrode. The concn. of fluororesin in the suspension is pref. 2-15 wt. %.    The spongy metal porous body with the paste is highly densed by shaping under pressure, and the fluororesin powder is immersed mainly in the surface portion of the porous body. As a result, increases of resistivity caused by deeply immersing of fluororesin is prevented to improve efficiency and charge-discharge cycle life.
A lead storage cell separator consists of a dry acrylonitrile copolymer film. The copolymer film has non-uniform structure in which the porosity in the surface regions is smaller than that in the inner region. The average porosity is 20-70 vol. %.    Acrylonitrile copolymer is inert, resists oxidn. and is used as cell separator. Surface regions with smaller porosity increases mechanical intensity and improves wetting property.
Positive terminal is impregnated with fluorocarbon resin dispersion before or after its mfr. Resin is present in the dispersion as 4-20 wt. %.    Cell, e.g. for cars, lifts etc., has increased energy density per unit wt. or vol., and a long service life even with frequent deep charging and discharging. Addn. of resin prevents softening or removal of active material without pressing, and a high energy density and a long cycle life are obtd.
A fibrous band plate (e.g. of a woven or an unwoven cloth of a natural- or synthetic fibre such as polypropylene, rayon, polyamide, vinyl chloride, polyethylene or PVA) is worked by blanking, then, portions to be peripheral portions of required cell separators are solidified by mechanically pressing, fusing, by heating, or painting or immersing with adhesives. After, separators (3) with solidified peripheral portions (10) are separated from the band plate by blanking at the solidified portions.    The dfge of each separator is solidified to prevent napping or fluffing, and leakproof cells are obtd.
The negative electrode activator consists of 0.1 to 1.5 pts. wt. of a gelling agent, such as natural or synthetic paste, 1 to 10 pts. wt. of a metal powder of the negative electrode activator and 50 to 70 pts. wt. of an alkaline electrolyte.    The gelling agent is CMS, polyacrylic acid, polyacrylate or PVA. The synthetic resin powder is PVC powder, polypropylene powder, polyamide powder or polyethylene powder. The metal powder is Zn, Cd or Cu powder.    The negative electrode activator has a large surface area. The battery has a high discharge property.
The separator comprises hollow fibres of organic high polymer. The dia. of the fibers is &gt;30mu m. The high polymer consists of polyethylene terephthalate and/or polypropylene.    The separator separates a positive electrode and a negative electrode effectively. It preserves electrolyte effectively and has high mechanical strength.    In an example, metled polyester is spinned into hollow fibres of dia. 56mu m. The fibres are deposited aon a substrate and heated at 200 degrees C to form a sheet of the fibres of 70 g/m2 having 0.08 mm thickness.
Process comprises (a) inserting an anode activator in a metal case; (b) inserting a separator of a hollow cylinder having a base into the activator; (c) pouring an alkaline electrolyte in the hollow cylinder, and (d) filling zinc gel in the cylinder to wet the separator with the electrolyte.    A high degree of absorption of electrolyte in the separator is attained.
Ventilating system for alkaline battery uses a trap, which is a cylinder fixed in the battery cover. The gas (aerosol) generated by the battery is collected under its cover, enters into the trap holes and passes through the layer of a filler to a hydroseal. The latter prevent the air from entering into the battery. The gas exerts pressure in the condensate in the hydroseal and it passes through the drum holes into the inner tube of the hydroseal. The inner tube
A mixed slurry of (A) metallic powder (e.g. Ni carbonyl powder, etc.) for sintering; and (B) aq. soln. of organic binder (e.g. carboxymethyl cellulose, etc.) is coated on a surface of a metallic wire (e.g. Ni or ni-plated Fe steel of 0.1-0.2 mm dia.).    The wire formed with fine cracks is sintered, and then filled with an active material for use as an electrode.
The panel type silver oxide (Ag2O) storage battery comprises a positive electrode activator consisting of Ag2O, a negative electrode activator consisting of Zn and an electrolyte of aq. NaOH soln. having pH 8-13. The storage battery is charged by a photo-electromotive force. The thickness of the storage battery is &lt;2 mm.    The battery is used in a crystal wrist watch. Electrolyte does not leak from the storage battery.    In an example, the positive electrode activator 2 consisting of Ag2O, graphite and mixture of manganese dioxide and nickel hydroxide is coated on a positive electrode collector 1. A separator 3 of cellophane is placed on the activator 2. A negative electrode collector 5 is stuck to the separator 3. A negative electrode activator 4 is placed in the negative electrode collector 5. The electrode of NaOH solution is poured in the battery from througholes 8 of the collectors.
A terminal is integrally moulded with an electrode column, and projects from the battery cover. The space between the electrode column and the battery cover is filled with thermoplastic resin, which replaces the conventional bushing. Pref. a collar is attached to the electrode column and buried in the resin.    In the moulding process of the battery cover or casing. it is not required that a subbing is buried into the cover as in known structures. The terminals are easily mfd. because they are integrally moulded with electrode columns.
Packing material for a battery comprises 60-90 wt.% of polyethylene having a melt index 1.3-3, and 10-40 wt.% of polypropylene having a melt index 0.5-5. The material is used in an alkaline battery or a Leclanche cell. It has stable resistance to stress cracks and good adhesion to a current collector and battery container.    In an example, 90 wt.% polyethylene having a melt index 2 and 10 wt.% polypropylene having a melt index 1 were mixed to prepare packing material. The packings formed from this amterial were used in alkali-Mn-batteries. The rate of generation of liquid leakage is 4% in preserving the batteries for 4 months. When 100 packings were dipped in a soln. of a surface active agent at 50 degrees C for 700 days, the rate of generation of stress cracks is 5%.
The cathode consists of Zn metal powder, zinc (hydr)oxide powder, at least one other metal (hydr)oxide powder, a powder of gelling agent stable to alkaline electrolyte and a powder boron cpd. and/or crystallised cellulose. The metal is stable to the alkaline electrolyte and it is basic more than Zn.    The cathode has improved discharge characteristic and long life time.
Method comprises (1) forming a sheet consisting of thermoplastic resin, inorganic fine powder and soluble material, (2) immersing the sheet in a liq. dissolving the soluble material to form a fine porous sheet and (3) pressing the fine porous sheet at a temp. lower than the m. pt. of the thermoplastic resin to form a separator having many fine holes.    An electrolyte can therefore be impregnated fully in the separator.
The dry cell comprises electrodes, an electrolyte and a separator. The separator comprises a sepg. paper and a separating layer coated on one surface of the paper. The sepg. layer consists of an electrolytic paste and further contains xanthan gum of mol. wt. is approx. 2,000,000.    The presence of the xanthan gum improves the adhesion force of the separating layer and gives dry cell of good discharge property. The electrolyte consists essentially of ZnCl2 and NH4Cl. The xanthan gum is soluble to the chlorides and it is not reduced by MnO2.
An electrolyte of a closed type Ag oxide flat cell consists of caustic soda aq. soln. of pH 8-13.5 and contg. ZnO. Hydrogen gas is not generated from a Zn electrode prevent the cell from unwanted expansion.    Specifically a positive active material is attached to a positive collector through an Ag layer. The positive active material is composed of Ag oxides (Ag2O and AgO), MnO2 and a binder. A negative active material is also attached to a negative collector through a Zn layer. A separator is disposed between positive and negative active materials. The collectors are binded at peripheral portions using a binder. NaOH aq. solution having pH value of 8-13.5 and ZnP is poured into the cell through an aperture. The aperture is sealed with an In ball and covered with epoxy resin.
Positive active material is attached to a positive collector through an Ag layer. The positive active material is composed of silver oxides (Ag2O and AgO), MnO2 and a binder. A negative active materials is also attached to a negative collector through a Zn layer. A separator is disposed between positive and negative active materials.    The collectors are binded at peripheral portions by means of a binder Ag NaOH soln. having pH 8-11 and contg ZnO is poured into the cell through an aperture. The aperture is sealed with an In ball and covered with epoxy resin.    Hydrogen gas is not generated from a Zn electrode to preventing the expansion cell. The flat cells are useful for digital quartz wrist-watches.
An anode can is filled with positive active material, which is pressed to form an anode with fine irregularities at its surface.    The anode is impregnated with an electrolyte; and covered with a cathode via. a separator. The cathode is covered with a negative.    The electrolyte is rapidly absorbed by the anode because of the irregularities, thus decreasing prodn. time.
Nesa film is formed on glass plates e.g. pyrex glass. For making positive and negative electrodes, Zn is deposited on the glass plate,. Fine particulate material composed of MnO2 and Pd-activated charcoal is added to the Zn layer. The glass plate is coated with a mixture of Ag oxide, MnO2 carbon, and PVA to make a positive active.    A separator is disposed between electrodes. The assembly is sealed with resin. Then an electrolyte e.g. 30% KOH soln. is poured into the cell through an aperture.
In an alkaline sec. battery comprising a cathode, an anode and a separator the cathode is made by adding electrically conductive material to a mixt. of 20-80 wt.% of gamma-MnO2 and 20-80 wt.% gamma-NiOOH electrochemically reducing the mix.    An alkaline secondary battery is obtd. having excellent cycle life characteristics.
An electrode for an alkaline battery comprises active material thin layer deposited on a surface of a metal core. The active material layer has porosity 50-70%, and it is fabricated by holding cathode-constituting material (consisting mainly of cathode active material) in netted fibres of fluororesin as a binder.
A nickel-zinc storage battery contains a nickel electrode as a cathode, a separator and a zinc electrode as an anode placed in a Ni container which serves as a cathode terminal. An opened portion of the Ni container is closed by a metal closure which serves as an anode and insulating material is interposed between the metal closure and the Ni container. An upper portion of the cathode is covered with Ni sintered plate. The separator is fabricated by coating alkali-proof non-woven fabric e.g. acrylonitrile vinyl chloride copolymer with a mixt. of polyvinyl alcohol and a boron cpd. e.g. boric acid or metal oxide having low solubility in an alkaline soln. and drying the mixt. The anode is fabricated by depositing a mixt. consisting of zinc oxide, zinc, bismuth oxide and fluororesin on a current collector.
A zinc electrode comprises a thin layer of cathode active material formed on a surface of a metal core. The thin layer is fabricated by holding zinc active material in netted fibres of fluororesin. The amt. of the fluororesin is 4-15 wt.% to the wt. of the zinc active material. An alkaline electrolyte is contained in a can. The concn. of the alkaline electrolyte is 6-9N.
A porous substrate is coated with a mixed soln. contg. synthetic resin, a solvent and non-solvent. The coated porous substrate is dipped in a refrigerant at &lt;10 degrees C. The solvent and the non-solvent are then extd. and removed from the coated porous substrate.    Pref. the synthetic resin is polyvinyl chloride or a polyvinyl chloride-polyvinylidene chloride copolymer; the solvent is DMF dimethylacetoamide or diethyl formamide; and the non-solvent is water, ethanol or ethylene glycol.
In a battery comprising a cathode mix consisting of carbon cathode active material and an electrolyte aq. soln., a cathode current collector and an anode of metal having high electronegativity, the cathode active material consits of halogenoid of N,N'-bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-4,4'-dipyridium of formula (I) where X is Cl-, Br- or I-.    In an embodiment N,N'-bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)dipyridium dichloride (DNP) is used as cathode active material. A cathode mixt. is produced by mixing 10g of a mixt. of 20 wt.% of DNP and 80 wt.% of acetylene black and 200 g/l of a starch aq. soln. contg. MgBr2. An anode comprises a Mg plate having a purity of 99%; a cathode current collector comprises a carbon rod; a separator consists of a cellophane film. The battery has an open voltage of 1.85 volt, a mean discharge voltage of 1.53 volt, a mean discharge current of 255mA and a discharge electricity quantity of 91.8 coulomb, at an outer load of 60 ohm, respectively.
A fluorocarbon-organic electrolyte battery comprises an anode using light metal as active material, a cathode using fluorocarbon as active material, an organic electrolyte, and a current collector of the cathode coated with electrically conductive carbon paint. The paint contains fluorocarbon powder or an inorganic cpd. having standard electrode potential higher than that of the fluorocarbon.    Decrease of starting voltage and a flat voltage in discharge of the battery after storage can be prevented.
TFE resin porous prods. are produced by (a) moulding THF resin into a sheet by extrusion, rolling, etc.; (b) stretching the sheet in 1 direction in the unsintered state to impart porosity and melt-adhesion to it; (c) winding round porous supports single fold or multifold, and (c) then heating and melting it at a higher temp. than the sintering temp. of the resin.    The resin is used for electrolysis diaphragms. Supports of any shape and size may be produced without large scale equipment.    Void fraction pore dia. and thickness of the TFE resin prods. are easily controlled.
Ni Powder is mixed with phenol-aldehyde resin balls, acrylic resin, and novolak-type phenol-aldehyde resin soln. to make a paste. After heating the paste to remove organic solvent, the paste is sintered to form a spongy porous Ni member. The member is filled with positive active material to give a positive electrode.
Method comprises (1) impregnating a binder selectively on a separator sheet with stripe shape; (2) laminating a glass mat on the separator sheet to bond the mat and the sheet; and (3) cutting the separator sheet along the stripe shaped binder to form the separators having protecting layers of the binder on the both sides of the separators. The binder consists of thermosetting or thermoplastic synthetic resin.    The binder layers formed protect the sepator. The separator has a high mechanical strength. In an example, the binder of phenol resin soln. is coated on the separator sheet selectively with the stripe shape. The glass mat is placed on the separator sheet. Then the binder is dried at 100 - 150 degrees C for about 2 minutes to bond the glass mat and the sheet. The sheet is cut along the coated binder with a cutter to form the separators.
Nickel powder is mixed with a carboxymethylcellulose binder soln. contg. as a solvent an aq soln. contg. 15-50 vol.% of a water-soluble volatile organic solvent, to form a slurry. A porous metal plate is coated with the slurry, dried and sintered to obtain a sintered substrate.    Even if a porous metal plate is thickly coated with a slurry to form a substate, the substrate can be uniformly dried in a short time and no cracks are generated on sintering.
The electrode plate comprises a lattice substrate fabricated by uniting a lead or lead alloy lattice and an acid-proof thermoplastic resin lattice as one body, the lattice substrate being filled with paste, and mats being formed on front and back surfaces of the lattice substrate by hot melting. The resin lattice has at its contact surfaces resin-escaping portions.    Since resin-escaping portions are formed in both surfaces of a resin lattice, molten resin can be prevented from flowing out on mats when the mats are hot-pressed on a lattice substrate. Therefore, the porosity of the electrode plate can be increased. Since the mats are eaten into paste, adhesion between the mats and paste is good and active material is held well.
A manganese dry cell comprises a cathode consisting mainly of manganese oxide, an anode consisting mainly of zinc, an electrolyte consisting of ammonium chloride and zinc chloride, a container contg. the cathode, the anode and the electrolyte, and a closure plate fixed to one end of the container. The closure plate consists of carbon dioxide gas-permeable material of silicon rubber, diene plastics, cellulose-plastics, polyurethane plastics, polystyrene, butyl rubber, polyvinyl butyral or polyvinyl chloride contg. 20 wt.% of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate.    Since a closure plate is formed of material having great carbon dioxide permeability, carbon dioxide generated in a dry cell can be discharged to the exterior with high efficiency. Therefore, it is possible to prevent breakage of a manganese dry cell due to the press. of carbon dioxide gas. It is not recognized that water is vaporised through the closure plate from the cell, oxygen in the air invades through the closure plate into the cell and an electrolyte leaks through the closure plate from the cell.
A cathode and a separator assembly are placed in a cathode container having a bottom and a side wall the diameter of which increases gradually outwards. An anode and an alkaline electrolyte are placed in an anode container having an opening edge to which a gasket is attached. The anode containder is inserted into an opening portion of the cathode container. The opening edge of the cathode container is clamped toward the inside.    Specifically, the cathode container is Ni-plated steel. The cathode consists of a mixt. of e.g. Ag2O, acetylene black. The cathode together with a stainless steel pedestal having the L-shaped cross-section is placed in the cathode container contg. an alkaline electrolyte. The separator assembly comprises a microporous film of polyethylene, a semipermeable membrane of cellophane and a liquid-holding sheet of non-woven fabric of polyethylene fibres treated with a surfactant.
Alkaline battery has a separator comprising an alkali-proof porous plate which holds a mixt. of polyvinyl alcohol a boron oxide cpd. and an alkali-proof gelling agent.    The alkaline battery has the improved separator making it possible to reduce self-discharge of the battery and short-circuit during storage and to increase its life.
Electric storage battery has a sealed container with anode, cathode and electrolyte inside it. It has a hydrogen oxidation auxiliary electrode in the container. Between the anode and the auxiliary electrode there is a resistance allowing the electric current to flow in one direction but not in the counter-direction.    The battery is safe in operation and cannot by over-charged. Any potential over charge can be accurately determined. It can be combined with a charging installation adapted to cut off the charging when over-charge in indicated.
Dried porous acrylonitrile polymer membranes are comprised mainly of small interconnected pores combined with surface layers connected to the carrier layer to form a single acrylonitrile polymer phase. At least one of the surface layers contains pores with an average size of 0.001 to 0.05 mum and the carrier layer contains pores with a larger average dia. than the pores in the surface layer(s).    The membranes have a porosity of 20-70 vol.% (porosity = (1-M/Sg.V) x 100, where M is the wt. of the membrane, V is the vol. of the membrane and Sg is the specific gravity of the polymer), and brittleness (JIS C2311-1958) of &lt;30. Pref. both the surface layers contain pores with an average size of 0.001-0.05 mum and a thickness of 0.1-20 mum or one of the two layers has pores with an average size of 0.001-0.05 mum and a thickness of 0.1 mum to half the thickness of the membrane.    The membranes are useful as separator plates between the positive and negative plates in lead accumulator batteries, as membranes for reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration as adsorption membranes or chromatography paper, as membranes for the absorption of proteins or for fixing enzymes etc.
The battery comprises a pair of electrodes consisting of conductive glass, conductive ceramic or metal; electrode activator layers formed on the electrodes; a separator between the activator layers; and NaOH electrolyte impregnated between the electrodes.    Edges of the electrodes are bonded with each other to seal the storage battery. The electrodes are insulated from each other.
The electrode plate comprises a spongy shaped porous metal plate having a part where a lead is attached, a reinforcing member formed on the part to where the lead is connected, and an activator formed on the porous metal plate. The reinforcing member is conductive powder of conductive net consisting of metal which is the same electrochemically as the metal of the porous metal plate. The reinforcing member is pressed onto the part.    A lead connection of high mechanical strength is obtd.
Electrode plate comprises flat, long, parallel casings two pairs of metal plates holding the ends of the casings and coated with synthetic resin.    The casing comprises composite thin layers of synthetic resin of high electrolyte-resistance and a metal. The synthetic resin layer is on the outside of the casing, and the composite thin layers have many through-holes. Electrode activator is filled in the casings.    The electrode plate is covered with the synthetic resin layer, thus eliminating the need for a separator, Specifically the casing comprises Ni plate of thickness 0.1 mm and a polypropylene film of thickness 0.2 mm. The activator consisting of Ni(OH)2 (90 wt.%) and graphite (10 wt.%) is filled in the casing. The holding plates are covered with epoxy resin.
Method comprises placing a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, a separator and an electrolyte in a positive electrode case, and covering the case with a sealing plate for use in a negative electrode through a packing to seal the case.    The surface of the packing is covered with a coating layer of a sealing agent having high alkali proof characteristics which is dissolved in an organic solvent. The coating layer is dried. The organic solvent is coated on the sealing agent layer to dissolve the layer partially when the packing is sealed.    By the sealing agent layer which is partially dissolved, the storage battery is effectively sealed. Leakage of electrolyte in the battery is decreased remarkably.
The method comprises (1) mixing metal or metal oxide powder which is used as an electrode activator in an organic binder to form particles, (2) pressing the particles to form a plate and (3) anodising the plate in an electrolyte. The electrode plate has a high porosity.    In an example, PbO powder was mixed in 10 wt.% of an aq. soln. of PVA of concn. 10%. The mixture was dried to form particles of PbO and PVA. The particles were pressed at 1 to 40Kg/cm2 to form the plate which was immersed in electrolyte and anodised. The PVA of the organic binder in the electrode plate was dissolved in the electrolyte, so that the plate was porous. The porosity of the plate was 50 to 75%.
The cell comprises (1) a negative electrode case of Zn contg. a positive electrode activator, a negative electrode activator and an electrolyte, (2) a paper pipe on which a cation exchanger in chelate resins is coated and (3) an outer sheath covering the paper pipe. The negative electrode case is covered with the paper pipe.    The cation-exchange or chelate resin is bonded to the heavy metal ions, such as Hg ions, contained in the soln. of the electrolyte.
Battery comprises a battery case, a hollow cylindrical electrode placed along the inside wall of the battery case, a hard member placed under the cylindrical electrode and on the base of the battery case, a hollow cylindrical seperator placed along the inside wall of the cylindrical electrode and on the hard member, an inner electrode placed in the separator and an electrolyte filled in the separator. The underpart of the cylindrical electrode is compressed.    The hard member may consist of conductive material or non-conductive material. The non-conductive material is selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, fluorocarbon polymers, polyvinyl chloride and polystyrene. The conductive material is Al, Ti or stainless steel. The electrolyte is an alkaline solution. The cylindrical electrode is a negative electrode of Li or Zn.    The underpart of the cylindrical electrode is compressed so that the electrode and the case are perfectly connected with each other.
Prodn. comprises; (1) pouring a non-aq. electrolyte, of low viscosity into the part of a battery jar contg. a positive electrode and (2) pouring a non-aq. electrolyte of high viscosity into the part of the battery jar contg. a negative electrode.    The positive electrode is selected from manganese dioxide or carbon fluoride. The negative electrode comprises Li. The non-aq. solvent is selected from gamma-butyrolactone, dimethoxyethane, propylene carbonate and tetrahydrofuran. The electrolyte is selected from lithium boride-fluoride and lithium perchlorate.
In a zinc alkaline cell including a cathode, and anode, and a separator, the separator consists of one separator layer having large pores and placed at the cathode side, and another separator layer having fine pores and placed at the anode side.    Zinc alkaline cell with good heavy load characteristics and cycle life are provided.
Soluble inorganic filler, slightly soluble inorganic filler, and surfactant or soluble polymer are added to polyolefin. The mixt. is then moulded to make a sheet. The soluble inorganic filler is extracted by acid, alkali or water and the sheet then treated with anion surfactant to produce the separator.    The total amts. of soluble and slightly soluble inorganic filler are pref. 50-80 wt.% against the total amts. of polyolefin and inorganic fillers. The amt. of the slightly soluble inorganic filler is pref. 10-60 wt.% against the total amts. of inorganic fillers. The grain size of each inorganic filler is pref. 0.01-5u.    The separator for batteries has high acid and alkaline resistance, good electrolyte permeability, and low electrical resistance.
Dry battery has a conventional zinc casing sealed with a cover made of thermoplastics. The cover is assembled by first coting the edge (9) with an adhesive that is melted by heat. The cover is then pressed over the electrode (7) until the edge contacts its under-surface.    Ultrasonic vibration is then applied to the outer edge of the top surface of the cover. This ultrasonic vibration softens the plastic cover so that a groove is formed in its surface by the edge of the casing. At the same time the adhesive is melted and bonds the two parts together.
Metal inter-cell connectors are mounted and sealed in an accumulator casing having integral thermoplastic partitions by heating the connectors and/or the partition tops sufficiently to melt the plastic and allow the connectors to settle or be pressed down until level with or below the tops of the partitions. The melt is then chilled to seal the connection through the partition.    Used esp. for mfr. or Pb/acid accumulators in cases of polypropylene etc., to allow the connectors to be as short as possible and thus reduce wt. and internal electrical resistance. Avoids use of ancillary fastenings.
Galvanic cell has a container the upper end of which is radially compressed about a cover to form a seal and the edge of the cover beyond the seal is turned over the top surface of the cover. A grease cpd. pref. silicon polymer is provided at the interface of the container and cover and a pressure vent passage is formed between the container and cover by providing a recess in the top surface of the cover or a notch in the turned over upper edge of the container.    Provides a resealable pressure relief valve which is reliable, occupies a minimum of space, and is inexpensive to produce.
The battery comprises a cathode contg. AgO as main active material, an anode, an alkaline electrolyte, and a metal-coated hydrophilic sheet formed on the cathode. The metal is capable of reducing the main active material and is in intimate contact with the cathode.    Pref. the metal is Zn, Cu, Sn, Cd or Pd used in amt. 0.05-3% w.r.t. the electrochemical capacity of the cathode. The hydrophilic sheet is natural cellulose paper, regenerated cellulose paper, non-woven fabric of synthetic resin subjected to hydrophilic treatment or a film of it.
Ag oxide battery is prepd. using polycarboxymethylene (I) as gelling agent for alkaline electrolyte gel whose surface is coated with particles of anode active material.    (I) adsorbs O2 generated from the cathode, eliminating adverse effects on anode active material. Expansion of the battery and electrolyte leakage are prevented.
In a silver oxide battery, a mixt. of polycarboxymethylene (I) and polyacrylate (II) is used as a gelling agent for prepd. a gel-like alkaline electrolyte with which surfaces of particles of anode active material are coated.    Electrolyte can be prevented from moving to a cathode side by the always stable gelling function of polyacrylate and decompsn. of silver oxide can be suppressed. (I) can be fixed to anode side by (II). Oxygen gas generated from the cathode is adsorbed by (I) and anode active material is surely protected.
In a silver oxide battery, a mixt. of polycarboxymethylene and CMC of high degree of substn. is used as a gelling agent for prepg. a gel-like electrolyte with which surfaces of particles of anode active material are coated.    The electrolyte can thus be prevented from moving to the cathode side and decompsn. of silver oxide can be suppressed. Oxygen gas generated from the cathode is adsorbed by the polycarboxymethylene.
In a button silver oxide battery having an anode placed on a cathode, a thin layer of a mixt. of carboxymethylene and carboxymethylcellulose having high degree substitution is formed between the anode and the cathode.    The anode consists of amalgamated Zn powder and a gel-like electrolyte and is placed in an anode can. The cathode is composed of a formed body of AgO with a metal pedestal and placed in a cathode can. A microporous film of polypropylene, a semipermeable membrane comprising a thin layer of a mixt. of carboxymethylene and carboxymethylcellulose having a degree of substitution of 1.5-formed on an upper surface of cellophane and liquid-absorbing paper of non-woven fabric of polypropylene are placed on the cathode.    The mixt. of carboxymethylene and high substitution degree carboxymethylcellulose adsorbs oxygen gas generated from a cathode, and passivation of anode active material and leakage of an electrolyte due to oxygen gas can be prevented.
In a button-shaped Ag oxide battery having an anode disposed on a cathode, a thin film of a mixt. of carboxymethylene and acrylate is formed between the anode and the cathode.    Since a thin film of a mixt. of carboxymethylene and acrylate adsorbs oxygen generated from the cathode, passivation of the anode and leakage of alkaline electrolyte can be prevented.    The anode mixt. specifically consists of amalgamated Zn powder and a gel-like electrolyte and is placed in anode can. The gel-like electrolyte consists of 38 pts. wt. 25wt. % NaOH aq. soln. and 5 pts. wt. carboxymethylene powder. A cathode is composed of a formed body of AgO with a metal pedestal and placed in a cathode can. A microporous film of polypropylene, a semipermeable membrane comprising a thin film of polycarboxymethylene and acrylate formed on cellophane, and liq.-absorbing paper of polypropylene non-woven fabric are placed in the cathode. An insulating gasket is interposed between the anode can and the cathode can.
In a button-shaped silver oxide batterh in which an anode is placed on a cathode, a thin layer of polycarboxymethylene is formed between the cathode and the anode. Since the thin layer of polycarboxymethylene adsorbs oxygen generated from the cathode, oxygen does not exert a bad influence upon the anode. Therefore, a Ag oxide battery is obtd. having good storability and resistance to leakage of electrolyte.    An anode is composed of a mixt. of amalgamated Zn powder and a gal-like electrolyte and placed in an anode can. The gel-like electrolyte consists of 38 pts. wt. 25wt.-% NaOH aq. soln. and 5 pts. wt. polycarboxymethylene powder. A cathode is composed of a formed body of AgO with a metal pedestal and placed in a cathode can. A microporous film of polypropylene, a semipermeable membrane comprising a polycarboxymethylene thin film formed on cellophane and liquid-adsorbing paper of polypropylene non-woven fabric are placed on the cathode. A gasket is interposed between the anode can and the cathode can.
Ag peroxide battery, a porous metal layer, e.g., a net is placed on a Ag peroxide layer and a ring of oxidn.-resistant elastic material e.g., Teflon (RTM) is placed between the porous metal layer and the Ag peroxide layer.    In an example, a cathode mix consisting mainly of Ag peroxide is placed in a cathode can which serves as a cathode lead. A ring of Teflon (RTM) is placed on a peripheral portion of the cathode mix. A stainless steel net, a separator, electrolyte-holding material and an insulating packing are placed on the cathode mix. An anode mix of amalgamated Zn is placed in an anode can which serves as an anode lead.    Electrolyte permeates into only a surface portion of the cathode mix and the period of high voltage is shortened.
In a high-frequency welder in which an article to be welded is claimed between upper and lower electrodes charged with high-frequency potential to weld the article, the improvement comprises that both of the electrodes have the same contact shapes as a welding shape or an area to be welded.    The article produced, consisting of a cloth disc and a plastic disc, is used as a small dry cell.
Battery has, as cathode active material, a polyiodine cpd. (I) of an organic cpd. (II) having a quat. ammonium gp.    Pref. (II) is a choline cpd. or a quat. heterocyclic nitrogen cpd. e.g. quat. pyridinium or -pyrimidium salt. Pref. (I) is N-methyl pyridinium-, N-ethyl pyridinium polyiodide, N-n-hexyl pyridinium polyiodide, N-methyl-4-methyl pyridinium- or N-methyl-4-ethyl pyridinium polyiodide.
Silver oxide storage battery of small size comprises a positive electrode activator of silver peroxide, a negative electrode activator of Zn, an alkaline electrolyte and a finely porous separator contg. holes of dia 10-100 angstroms. The electrolyte may, conventionally, be impregnated into an absorbant material (in an example, a PVC non-woven cloth).    Separator decreases internal resistance of the silver oxide storage battery.
In a sealed alkaline storage battery the sealing material consists of 10-50 wt. pts. of polyethylene chlorosulphate, 25-70 wt.pts. of pitch and 10-50 wt. pts. of polybutene. The sealing materials is filled between a metal sealing cap, which is used as a negative terminal, and a battery case which is used as a positive electrode. The sealing material prevents leakage of alkaline electrolyte from the case.
Biological fuel cell comprises 1 pair of electrodes consisting of an O2- electrode (A) sepd. from a fuel electrode (B) by a membrane. (A) is attached to a rigid electrode frame, and attached to the side of (B) remote from the membrane is a device (C) for pressing (a) (B) onto the membrane and (b) the membrane onto (A).    Esp. (C) is placed between the B's of 2 electrode pairs and may consist of a spring, or it may be an elastomer, esp. silicone rubber, or a swellable gel, esp. a hydrogel with acidic or basic groups. Specifically the gel is a copolymer of 80-90 mole % 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and 10-20 mole % 2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, or it is an ion-exchanger esp. of (meth)acrylic acid crosslinked with 2-5 mole % divinylbenzene.    Used as an implantable power unit for heart pace-makers etc. By applying pressure, penetration of liq. between the membrane and electrodes is prevented and the useful lifetime of the cell is increased.
An attachment to an accumulator such as a starter battery automatically maintains a working temp. which is beneficial to the battery when the ambient temp. is low. An electric heater is in close contact with the battery. Its power supply from the battery is automatically controlled by a thermometer probe which senses the actual temp. of the battery.    This facilitates car starting on cold mornings. The new system can be added to any existing conventional batteries.    Specifically, the starter battery is put on a heater, consisting of a metal case, a hot-plate, two insulating foils and a heat insulating slab, pref. of polystyrene foam. A thermostat is attached to the battery wall to sense its temp. The system is controlled by a switch on the dashboard.
A battery separator comprises a pair of non-woven fibrous sheets and has a tensile strength of at least 400 dm2. The fibres of both layers are of the same thermoplastic material and are formed by melt blowing. One of the sheets has a tensile strength of 5000m and a tear resistance of &lt;300 dm2, and the other sheet has a tensile strength of &lt;2000 m and a tear resistance of &gt;1000 dm2. The fibres of the higher tensile strength sheet are 1-10 mu in dia. and the sheet has a high degree of self bonding, and the fibre of the lower tensile strength sheet are 10-40 mu and have a low degres of self-bonding and a high degree of entanglement.    The various properties of the sheets are modified by variation of the extrusion rate and temp. the distance of the collector from the extrusion die, and the rate of blowing. By combining sheets of suitable properties a laminate having the desired overall properties can be made.
A conducting particle, hydrophobic bonded, substrate supported, gas diffusion electrochemical cell electrode is prewetted by (a) exposing the electrode to electrolyte without wetting the substrate; (b) applying an electrical potential across the electrode to increase the rate of electrolyte infiltration and wet the conducting particles; (c) maintaining (b) until complete wetting has occurred; and (d) removing the electrical potential. Specifically the electrolyte is phosphoric acid and the conducting particles are graphite or carbon black.    Impregnation time is reduced from e.g. 50-500 hrs to only 15 mins. The method is esp. for fuel cells and once pre-wetted catalyst can be selectively deposited.
Powdery carboxymethyl cellulose is dispersed in a high concentration caustic potash electrolyte. Water is added to the mixt. to lower the caustic potash concn. dissolving the carboxymethyl cellulose in the electrolyte. A high concn. caustic potash electrolyte is then added to gelatinise the electrolyte.
Mfr. comprises firstly placing an insulating plate on the bottom of a zinc anode can and covering the inner surface of the can with a separator paper coated with a paste. The cylindrical moulded cathode mixt. is inserted into the can and a carbon rod is inserted in the cylindrical moulded cathode mixt.    The surface of the cathode mixt. is pressed with a jig having a circular wedge projection. The jig consists of a corrosion resistant metal or alloy such as Co, Ti, Ni, Cr and W, or a synthetic resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, Teflon and phenol resin.    Using the jig, the cathode, mixt. intimately contacted with the separator paper and the carbon rod to improve the discharge characteristic of the cell.
Heat-treatment of hydrophilic polymer foil or film comprises foil or film immersion, at a higher temp., in a liq. medium capable of swelling the hydrophilic polymer material. Hydrophilic polymer is esp. a graft copolymer, in which a hydrophilic comonomer is grafted on a hydrophobic main chain- or basic polymer, or on a sulphonated or a quat. NH4 gp. -contg. polymer.    Polymer film/foil properties are improved, to make it more suitable for use as battery separator. Prod. has reduced electrical resistance, increased OH ion permeability, reduced wetting period (measuring electrolyte absorption rate by separator) and increased equilibrium water content. Treatment causes no chemical exchange activity, no copolymer weight loss and no leaching accompanied by formation of pores through removal of material.
The separator consists of a (non)woven fabric of polyamide, polyester, polypropylene, polyacrylic acid and/or cellulose fibres, supported by a coagulated microporous matrix of a copolymer of acrylonitrile and &gt;0 to 5 mole-% vinyl chloride, acrylic acid and/or acrylates on and between its fibres.    The separator is used in galvanic and electrochemical cells and batteries and esp. accumulators. The separator has a uniform and particularly fine microporous structure and a low electrical resistivity when impregnated with the electrolyte. The micropore radius has a narrow range and is &lt;15 mu m.    The fabric is impregnated with a 4-12% soln. of the copolymer in DMF, opt. contg. 20-100 pts. acetone/100 pts. DMF for esp. fine-pored separators. Coagulation is effected by dipping in water at is not &gt;15 degrees C or in a is not &lt;1 M aq. soln. of a water-soluble substance at room temp.
Pb storage battery has separators of a polyethylene film having a graft rate of &gt;100 (e.g. by graft polymerisation of acrylic acid.    Films have low electric resistivity and aparent thickness 2-5 times as thick as true thickness, and are suitable for holding electrolyte.
The lattice comprises a lattice frame formed of thermoplastic synthetic resin; and lattice pieces formed of lead or lead alloy.    The lattice pieces are fixed to the lattice frame and are formed into one body.    The lattice is light, and the amt. of lead (alloy) used is reduced. There are no accidents due to expansion and contraction of the lead (alloy). The resin is e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene, or polystyrene.
An uneven portion (I) is formed on the bottom of a battery case. A moulded cathode is impregnated with an organic electrolyte outside the battery case and then pressed against (I). A separator and an anode are then assembled in the battery case. Specifically (I) is a metal net or expanded metal resistant to the electrolyte.    In an example, a disk-shaped cathode was mfd. from a fluoride, acetylene black and fluororesin binder. The cathode was impregnated with an electrolyte contg. propylene carbonate, dimethyoxy ethan and 1 mol./litre of Li borofluoride.
Zn powder is dispersed in a soln. contg. In and Pb. The Zn-In-Pb alloy powder is washed with water, dried and compacted into a formed body. This Zn anode is used in an air cell. The process makes it possible to fabricate a An anode having excellent discharge characteristics.
Dry cell has a (a) first terminal formed by a receptacle with a base and sidewall (b) a second terminal within the receptacle and spaced therefrom, (c) an ion permeable liner between the second terminal and the receptacle, (d) a mass of depolariser mix and electrolyte within the receptacle, and of a height less than that of the liner, and (e) a band of electrically insulating material over the interior surface of the receptacle extending from a point below to a point above the upper edge of the liner to insulate a segment of the wall. The band is separate from the liner and secured to the wall of the receptacle. Pref. the insulating band is an alkyd resin and the cell a Leclanche zinc carbon dry cell.    Insulating band around the can wall at the top of the liner prevents smears of depolariser mix formed during filling of the cell, extending over the top of the liner into contact with the receptacle wall and shorting out the cell. The band does not reduce efficiency of the cell but is inexpensive and reduces battery rejects.
To prepare a moulded battery case to receive and locate cell elements centrally between partition walls which are initially flat and unribbed, selected positions on the walls are heated to softening point and embossed with the aid of a tool or die to form spacers.    A simple universal case can be prepared to house elements of different thickness e.g. nine plates per pack for a low energy battery or fifteen plates per pack for a high energy one. Mould costs are less. Absence of loose spacers facilitates assembly. Tooling is simple and inexpensive.
Electrolytic cell comprises a metal tank of Ni-plated Fe used as an anode and an annular anodic material (II) (i.e. a mixt. of MnO2 and graphite flake, solidified with CMC, PVA, or polyisobutyrene) inserted in (I).    A separator of polypropylene non-woven fabricated sheet, an insulating disc of nylon, polystyrene or polyethylene and a cathode (i.e. a mixt. of calomel, Zn powder, KOH, ZnO, water and CMC) are fitted inside (I). A collector of brass nails is fitted in a middle zone of (I) by means of a ring and the collector is spot-welded with a cathodic terminal. A peripheral rim of the said cathodic terminal is compressively sealed between a sealing packing means and an annular ring.    A filler layer to inhibit a creep of adhesive agent is fitted at a confronted surface of the cathodic terminal with the sealing packing means. The filter layer is of oxalic acid and vaseline. This filler layer prevents leakage of alkali electrolytic soln. and creep of the adhesive agent.
A positive electrode plate consisting of silver chloride or lead chloride and a negative electrode plate consisting of magnesium or magnesium alloy are fitted inside an electrolyte tank; and a thin film of polyvinyl alcohol or water sheet having oleo-insolubility is used as a separator. Usually, oil is filled in the electrolytic tank and the oil is replaced with an electrolytic soln.by injection.    The cell is used with intermittent discharge and the discharge is quickly initiated. It is used as an auxiliary electric source.
A spongy porous metal plate is filled with an active material to make an electrode plate. After the electrode plate is impregnated with water or e.g. ethanol, it is wound together with another electrode plate and a separator to make the spiral electrode.    The active material within the porous metal plate is made paste condition, and the plate is easily would spirally, therefor unwanted cracks and damage is prevented.
In an AgO cell including a cathode active material of AgO, an anode active material of Zn, and an electrolyte consisting of an alkaline soln., the cathode active material is moulded without using graphite to make a cathode, and the cathode includes 5-20 wt. % electrolyte. The anode is composed of the anode active material, a gelling agent and an electrolyte, and includes 23-40 wt. % electrolyte. The electrolyte concn. of the cathode is different from that of the anode.    Typically, AgO powder is treated in a nitrogen atmos. at 120 degrees C for 9 hrs. to cover the particle surface with Ag2O.    The powdery material is pressed to make a cathode. The cathode is placed in a cathode can at the bottom of which 20 wt. % NaOH soln. is dropped. The anode is composed of Zn powder and 25 wt. % NaOH soln. gelatinised with sodium polyacrylate.    The contact resistance between the cathode and the cathode can is decreased since the electrolyte concn. is defined by 5-20 wt. %. In addition, the discharge reaction is effectively accomplished at the anode because the electrolyte concn. is defined by 23-40 wt.%.
Active AgO material is covered with Ag2O to make a cathode. The cathode is immersed in a hydroxide soln. of alkali(ne earth) metal. The impregnated cathode is then placed in a cathode can. AgO cells with flat discharge performance and high discharge capacity are provided because the AgO active material is covered with Ag2O.    Specifically AgO powder is treated in a Na atmos. at 120 degrees C for 8 hrs. to cover AgO particles with Ag2O. The powdery material is pressed to make a cathode. The cathode is immersed for 3 hrs. in 40 wt. % NaOH soln. at 40 degrees C. The alkaline soln. is removed from the pores of the cathode. A small amt. of electrolyte of 25 wt. % aq. NaOH soln. is dropped into the bottom of a cathode can. The cathode is then disposed in the can. An acid-resistant fine porous film of polypropylene, a semipermeable membrane of cellophane and a liq. absorption paper are successively disposed on the cathode. An anode can having an anode is mounted on the cathode can through a gasket.
Process comprises first forming a cathode or anode mixt. on a porous thermoplastic resin sheet to make a flexible plate. The sheet is rounded and inserted into a cylindrical casing and heated and pressed to attach it to the inner surface of the casing. Finally, an electrolyte is poured into the casing.    Stable, cylindrical cells having a small dia. (is approx. 8mm) are effectively produced. In an example, a polypropylene net was used as resin sheet.
A positive collector is welded to a bottom of a cell casing used as a positive terminal. A mixt. for a positive electrode consists of solid carbon fluoride, acetylene black and resin fibre, and is disposed on the collector. A negative electrode of Li is placed on the positive electrode through a polypropylene separator. The negative electrode is formed by punching a Li sheet and has a camber at the centre. A negative collector of Ni net is spot-welded to the interior of a sealing plate which is attached to the casing through a gasket. The positive electrode, the separator and the negative electrode are impregnated with an organic electrolyte which is obtd. by dissolving 1 mol/1. Li borofluoride in a mixed organic solvent of propylene and dimethoxy ethane.    Since the camber is applied, the negative electrode is tightly attached to the negative collector in the assembling process.
Method comprises (1) providing a porous metal substrate (2) coating with a paste contg. an electrode activator and liq. e.g. water or ethyl alcohol, in the metal substrate, (3) removing excess liq. from the substrate and recoating with the paste.    The liq. is impregnated in the metal substrate, so that the electrode is uniformly formed in the porous metal, substrate.
Method comprises (1) providing a three dimensional sponge shaped metal porous substrate, (2) impregnating liq. e.g. water or ethyl alcohol in the substrate and (3) impregnating a paste contg. an electrode activator in the substrate to form the electrode. Uniform impregnation of activator is achieved.    For example porous Ni substrate of porosity 97%, was immersed in water to impregnate water in amt. of 0.1 to 0.3 g/l. Nickel hydroxide powder and is approx. 15 wt. % nickel powder are mixed with aq. soln. of 1% carboxylmethyl cellulose to form the paste. The paste is coated on the substrate and pressed to form the electrode.
The electrode contains a core material of conductive porous material (e.g. nickel screen or sponge-like nickel porous body) and an active material layer (e.g. of nickel hydroxide powder as active material, carbonyl nickel powder as conductive material, and binder).    The binder at the inner portion of the active material layer is semipermeable material (or water soluble or water swelling material (e.g. CMC ethyl cellulose, or PVA), and the binder at the surface portion of the active material layer is insulating material (or water insoluble material e.g. polyethylene, polystyrene, PVC, or fluororesin).    The electrode is pref. used for a nickel positive electrode in an alkaline storage cell. The semipermeable binder near the core material is ion conductive and polarisation while (dis)charging is decreased. The insulating material at the peripheral portion has excellent binding ability, and the removal of active material is prevented. Lower polarisation and long service life are obtd.
A cellulosic fibrous permeable battery separator is impregnated with a resole resin compsn. derived by reacting 1.0-3.0 moles HCHO per mole phenol in the presence of an alkaline catalyst. The improvement comprises the presence of an alkaline hydroxy org. acid salt (I) formed by neutralising the resole resin with sufficient hydroxy org. acid to adjust the resin pH to 7-9.    (I) do not salt out or ppte out in the resin when stored at low temps. e.g. 3.0 degrees C. The resin also has improved oxidn. resistance c.f. a resin contg. Na sulphate salt.
Storage battery plug esp. of polypropylene has a gas discharge passage with a number of downwardly projecting hair-like elements to form a funnel-shaped formation in the passage. The plug is integrally moulded.    The simple moulding which is effective to reduce electrolyte leakage due to vibration or evaporation.
Galvanic cell has a tubular envelope with a polysulphone end cap extending across its open end to seal the interior space. A vent passage extends through the end cap for the escape of gas from the cell and a polysulphone plug of uncompressed dia. greater than that of the vent passage, is compressively fitted in the vent passage. Ann outer cap is fitted over the end cap and a terminal extends through the end cap into electrolyte in the cell.    The end cap exhibits a sufficiently low characteristic creep that the pressure produced by the compressive fit of the plug remains substantially constant, providing a reliable seal with venting at a predetermined pressure.
Method comprises treating a woven or nonwoven fabric of polyolefin fine fibre with a soln. contg. a surfactant and a high polymer. Process improves the affinity for an electrolyte and the mechanical strength of the separator.    Typically a 0.22 mm thick polypropylene nonwoven fabric is immersed in a soln. contg. 10 wt. % of PVA and 1 wt. % of a nonionic surfactant. The polypropylene nonwoven fabric to which the soln. is stuck is then dried at 120 degrees C, to form the separator.
Dendrite-inhibiting electrolyte comprises a soln. contg. a Zn cpd. 5-50 wt. % of an organic solubiliser and 0.001-10 wt. % of a non-ionic surfactant CF3(CF2)m-SO2N(R)-CH2-CH2(O-CH2-C(R')H)nOH, (where m is 3-15; R is 1-10C alkyl; R' is H or CH3 and n is 0-30); and mol. wt. is 550-1500.    Pref. electrolyte contain 1 wt. % of the surfactant and 25 wt. % butyrolactone as solubiliser; and 0.1 wt. % of the surfactant and 5 wt. % dimethyl-sulphonamide as solubiliser. Pref. cells include an ion exchange membrane between the electrodes with the above electrolyte in each compartment.
An electrical generating device comprises a housing, pref. perforated to allow passage of electrolyte, with two immersed irradiated with electromagnetic radiation of 1.378 angstroms (equivalent to 8950 e V) or by electromagnetic energy of 104-107 e V. The second electrode is of an element selected from gp I, II, VI, VII and/or VII, pref. 2 from gp. I, II and VIII. The electrodes are electrically connected to provide an external electrical output.    The cell is partic. useful for ion detection. It is a rugged solid state state device, adaptable for a wide variety of uses and can be made small. The cell is not subject to shelf life deterioration.
Rechargeable battery has envelope separators between and in spaced parallel relation with the plates and supplied with electrolyte which is forced outwardly through the envelope and over substantially the entire surface of the battery plate which it faces, to flush away waste prods. from the plate.    The envelope separators are pref. formed of microporous polypropylene sheets bonded at their edges with the electrolyte conducted under pressure to the interior of the envelope. Separator ribs are positioned within the envelopes to separate the envelope sheets.    Used partic. in a battery for use as the power source in an electric vehicle. Electrolyte flushes waste, gas, and loose active material, from the plates and increases the concn. of electrolyte over the plate surface so as to increase the battery efficiency.
Silver battery comprises an anode active material, an electrolyte, and a cathode active material. The active materials are solidified by a binder of epoxy resin. The batteries have high charge efficiency and long service life.    In an example, 8 pts. wt. carbon and 8 pts. wt. manganese dioxide are added to 100 pts. wt. silver oxide (Ag2O or AgO) powder. These materials are mixed in a ball mill to make an anode mixt. 3 wt.% epoxy resin binder is added to the anode mixt. and the mixt. is pressed. The pressed member is hardened at 150 degrees C for 2 hrs., and then activated to produce an anode. Cd or Zn particles are also solidified by a resin binder to produce a cathode.    A small silver secondary battery comprises a Ni alloy anode can, a cathode cover, the anode, a separator, an electrolyte retaining member, the cathode, and an insulating packing.
The cathode mixt. for an alkaline cell consists of 100 wt. pts. (amalgamated) Zn powder, 0.1-1.5 wt. pts. Na polyacrylate (PAS), and a desired amt. of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) which amt. is less than that of PAS. The grain size of (amalgamated) Zn powder is pref. 35-150 mesh.    Alkaline cells with high capacity are provided.
Metal mould for injection-moulding prod. having multilayer partition walls or ribs comprises a mechanism for regulating balancing of resin flow in the injection moulding by turning a handle of a level gear to slide a torpedo upwardly and downwardly in a sprue bush channel of a hot runner so as to regulate the opened sectional area of an injection port. The metal mould comprises a male mould core, a movable mould bed and a stationary mould bed.    The resin flow may be automatically balanced in the injection moulding without trouble, to provide uniform articles such as battery cases having stable and uniform multilayer partition walls, by mass production.
The cathode mixt. consists of silver (per)oxide active material with 0.01-2 wt. % carbon fluoride (CF)n.    The anode active material is Zn. Using the small amt. of the carbon polyfluoride, the cathode mixt. can be easily moulded without the degradation of moulds.    In an example, the cathode mixt. is made by press-moulding 90 wt. % silver oxide powder of particle size 5-15 mu m, 0.2 wt. % carbon fluoride particle size 10-30 mu m, 8 wt. % graphite flake and 1.8 wt. % polyethylene binder.
An Li halide battery comprises (a) an Li anode receiving vessel (b) a cathode current collector having a non-conductive positioning frame and a lead attached to the frame, the lead being insulated over a large section of its length and having a large portion of the insulated section embedded in the Li of the vessel, (c) cathode material contacting the cathode current collector and (d) Li halide electrolyte between and contacting and vessel and cathode. Pref. an anode current collector having an anode lead is provided on the outer side of the anode vessel. Vessel and current collector are encapsulated in a fluoroplastic film.    Batteries of different lengths can be made using a single vessel-forming mould. The embedded cathode lead maximises any possible path for depolariser leakage.
A high performance lead-acid storage battery has a novel microporous separator between the oppositely charged plates. The separator comprises a sheet of heat meltable synthetic resin containing film of less than 0.5 mm thick with submicron pores. The sheet has a plurality of embossed parts projecting toward the positive plate and has more 50 per square 100 cm2 of sheet.    The parts have an area of &lt;1 cm2 and height of &lt;1.5mm and have pores at least partly closed. The gas formed in the cell escapes through embossed channels connected with the embossed parts.    The cell has low electric internal resistance, sufficient electrolyte between the cell plates and sufficient elasticity of the separator to prevent active material shedding, giving a high performance at a high discharge rate and long life.
An improvement in the filling of tube electrodes for lead storage batteries comprises reducing dust binding by incorporating 0.1-3.0 wt. % of polytetrafluoroethylene (PT-FE) in the oxidised Pb powder which fills the space between a conductive inner rod and a porous outer sheath. The mixt. of oxidised PB powder are PTFE is heated to 80 degrees C, and shear stresses applied, to form the PTFE into fibres for redn. of dust binding. The degree of oxidn. of the Pb powder is 70-100%. The PTFE is pref. present at 0.2-0.5 wt. % of the mix. A pref. method of shearing the mix is between the walls of a rotating drum and rotating cylinder.
Clearances between the anode plate and separator and between the cathode plate and separator are 0.03 to 0.2 mm, prevent deterioration of the separator.
The lattice type electrode substrate for use in a lead storage battery comprises an expanded lattice member consisting of lead alloy and a resin substrate having an electrode activator stuck to the lattice member. The lattice member comprises a terminal part and a lattice part. Meshes of the lattice part became gradually larger going away from the terminal. The resin substrate is lattice type. The meshes of the resin substrate became gradually smaller going away from the terminal of the lattice member.    A lead storage battery contg. the electrode substrate has a low self-discharge and a longer service life.
The lattice type electrode substrate for use in a lead storage battery comprises an expanded lattice consisting of a lead alloy and a resin substrate having an electrode activator attached to teh lattice member. The lattice comprises a terminal section and a lattice section. Meshes of the lattice became gradually larger as the meshes leave the terminal.    The lead storage battery having the above electrode substrate has a low self-discharge and a long life.
Powder of nickel hydroxide, electrically conductive material and a binder are mixed to prepare a mixt. The mixt. is packed into a porous metal body. The packed metal body is impregnated with a soln. of nickel salt and subjected to heat treatment in an atmos. of steam ot decompose the nickel salt.    The method makes it possible to fabricate a nickel electrode having a long life.
Cracks and voids in a sec. battery sealant are repaired while the battery is in use by (a) preparing the sealant area (b) positioning a repair tape comprising 95-60 (75-85) wt. % atactic polypropylene, 5-40 (25-25)% nonconductive filler, over the defective area and (c) heating to a temp. sufficient ot coat and repair the defective sealant area.    The battery consist of a container cotg. cell elements of anode, cathode, separator and electrolyte, and a cover. The sealant area comprises a sealant space, and a sealant located in the sealant space and nearby areas of container and cover.    The battery is safety repaired without interrupting its operation. Thee tape is low temp. melting, is unaffected by electrolyte and adheres to thermoplastic materials.
Higher activity catalyst for the electrodices used in low temp. fuel cells and electrolytic cells are obtd. by impregnating C-contg. material with diaminonitronitronitratoplatinum (I) in aq. alcohol, and reducing with heating at 250-300 degrees C. The resulting material shows increased activity and stability in the acidic and alkaline media. Carbon powder used has specific surface area of 1200 m2/g. and the resulting Pt powder has specific surface area of 190 m2/g.
The separator has a thickness of 3-150 mu sulphonic gps. with an exchange capacity of 1-4 equiv./g. a water content of 20-100 wt.%, an electrical conductivity of &gt;4 x 10-3ohm-1cm-1 and a zinc acid ion-inhibiting capability of &gt;1 hr.cm2/mg. Pref. separator consists of a copolymer of ethylene anda component of formula (I) (where R1 is H or M and R2 is 1-6C alkyl or alkali(ne earth) metal).    In an example, a film of vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer contg. 3.2 mole % vinyl acetate was treated in fuming sulphuric acid contg. 66 wt. % free SO3 at 25 degrees C for 5 mins. to form a separator.
A zinc anode alkaline battery comprises a cathode plate and an anode plate sepd. or enclosed by a cation exchange film, the cathode plate and the anode plate disposed in a container contg. an electrolyte. The cation exchange film has a thickness of 3 to 150 mu. sulphonic gps. with and exchange capacity of 1-4.5 equiv./g, a water content of 20 to 100 wt. % an electric conductivity of 4 x 10-3 ohm-1. cm-1 or above, a zinc acid ion-inhibiting capability of 1 hr. cm2/mg, and a bending strength of &gt;10 times.    The cation exchange film consists of a thin polymer film formed from a component contg. vinyl monomers having polar functional gps. of formula -OR1 or -COOR2 (where R1 is H, alkyl or -CO-R3; R3 is H or CnHin+; n=0-5; and R2 is H, alkyl or alkali(ne earth) metal) and a component contg. vinyl monomers opt. substd. by halogen.
The cathode of a silver oxide (AgO) storage battery consists of silver oxide (AgO) particles covered with silver iodode. The AgO particles are pressed to form the body of the cathode. Density of the cathode is &gt;5 g/cm2.    The AgO particles are covered with silver iodide so that a storage battery having a cathode with uniform discharge characteristics is obtd.
The cathode of the silver oxide (AgO) storage battery consists of silver oxide (AgO) particles covered with silver iodide. The AgO particles are pressed to form the body of the cathode.    The AgO particles are covered with the silver iodide so that a storage battery having a cathode with uniform discharge characteristics is obtd.
Separator comprises an electrolyte-impregnated are region and a semi-permeable region.    The separator has hydrophilic radicals, low electric resistance e.g. for 100 mu thickness.    In an example, separator was polyolefin with hydrophilic radicals. One side of the separator is perforated with holes of 10-100 mu. The other side of the separator is semipermeable of thickness 5 mu.
The separator consists of acrylonitrile polymer film cross-linked with hydrazone (salt) cross linking agent.    The separator has improved alkali-proof property. The separator is applied to alkaline storage batteries having Zn electrodes. The acrylonitrile polymer is made from a monomer such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, butyl acrylate or octyl acrylate.    In an example, copolymer (1000 g) consisting of 94 wt. % acrylonitrile and 6 wt. % methyl acrylate is dissolved 70% HNO3 soln. (301). The soln. is filtered and coated on a glass substrate. The coated soln. solidifies in a 35% HNO3 soln. at -5 degrees to form a layer of Ca-100 mu thickness. The layer is immersed in the hydrazone cross linking agent at 50 degrees C for 4 hrs. By the hydrazone, the layer is cross linked. The layer is used as the separator.
Battery has positive and negative electrodes sepd. by an electrolyte permeable separator which extends beyond the periphery of the electrode, and inter cell connectors between adjacent pairs of cels, the connector extending outwardly beyond the periperty of the cell electrodes. The separator is of nonconductive porous inhreintly sealable polymeric film material which is sealed around its periphery to the inter cell connector, without adhesive, to form a liquid and electrolyte impermeable seal.    Used for a forming a flat multicell battery. Allows simple fabrication of a very thin battery.
Adhesive consists of an organic solvent contg. the material of the casing, such as ABS resin; epoxy resin and fibrous material. The amts. of solvent and epoxy resin are 10-50 wt. % and 50-90 wt. % respectively. Amt. of fibrous material is 1-10 wt. % wrt total mixture.
Ion exchange membrane comprises a polymer as a base material composed of olefin monomer contg. halogen element, mono-olefinic hydrocarbon monomer and vinyl monomer having polar functional gps. of formula OR1 (I) or COOR2 (II) and 1 halogen element in a ratio of 20-99 mol. %: 30-1 mol. %: 0-50 mol. % having 2-200 micron thickness, ion exchange equiv. for sulphonate gp. of 0.2-1.2 eq./m ol. no. of the vinyl monomer, specific resistance of 10-1000 ohm.cm, water absorbing ratio of 5-120 wt. % and bending strength of &gt;100 times. The membrane is produced by moulding the polymer of base material to film or tube, and sulphonating with a sulphonating agent out of fuming sulphuric acid contg. 3-65 wt. % free SO3, chlorosulphuric acid and adduct of SO3 at a temp. of -20 to 80 degrees C for 1 sec. to 3 hrs.    In the formula R1 = H or COCmH2m+1, m is 1-5; R2 = CnH2n+1, where n is 0-6 or metal element. The ion exchange membrane is used as separator for cells with aq. acidic soln. or aq. inorganic salt soln. used as electrolytes, separator for cells with non-aq. electrolytic soln., diaphragm or electrolyte for fuel cell, diaphragm for electrolysis, diaphragm for dialysis, membrane for ultrafiltration or membrane for reverse osmosis.    The membrane has improved oxidn. resistance, mechanical and electrochemical properties, and better conductivity.
Ion exchange membrane with improved oxidn. resistance comprises a polymer as base material composed of halogenated olefin monomer, monoolefin hydrocarbon monomer and vinyl monomer contg. functional gps. of formula OR1 or COOR2 (where R1 is H or COCmH2m+1; m is 1-5; R2 is CnH2n+1, where n is 0-6, or metal), in a ratio of 20-99 mol%: 0-50 mol% and 30-1 mol%. Material is 2-200u thick. Material has an ion exchange equiv. for sulphonate group of 0.2-1.2 eq./mol. no. of the vinyl monomer, specific resistance of 10-1000 ohm.cm, water absorbing ratio of 5-120 wt. % and bending strength of &gt;100 times. Material is produced by moulding the polymer base material into film or tube, and sulphonating with a sulphonating agent from fuming sulphuric acid contg. 3-65 wt. % free SO3, chlorosulphuric acid and adduct of SO3 at -20 to 80 degrees C for 1-sec. to 3 hrs.    The ion exchange membrane is used as a separator for cells with acidic aq. soln. or aq. inorganic salt soln. used as electrolytes, separator for cells with non-aq. electrolytic soln., a diaphragm or electrolytes for fuel cells, diaphragm for electrolysis, diaphragm for dialysis, membrane for ultrafiltration or reverse osmotic membrane. The membrane shows improved oxidn. resistance, mechanical and electrochemical properties, and better conductivity.
The membrane shows stability on storage, and comprises a moulded thin membrane as a base material from an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer of a vinyl acetate content 3-18 mol. %, having 0.2-4 meq/g sulphonic acid, &lt;4.7 meq/g hydroxyl and &lt;0.1 meq/g residual acetic acid.    The membrane has a water absorption rate of 10-200 wt. % and an electrical resistance 0.002-20 ohm. cm2, and is produced by sulphonating and saponifying a moulded thin membrane of ethylene vinylacetate copolymer with a vinyl acetate content 3-18 mol. % to incorporate 0.2-4 meq/g sulphonate and &lt;4.7 meq/g hydroxyl.    The residual acetate is present in an amt. of &lt;0.1 me1/g and gives a water absorption of 10-200 wt. %, and an electrical resistance of 0.002-20 ohm.cm2.    The membrane has an exchange vol. of 0.5-3.5 meq/g electrical resistance 0.002-10 ohm.cm2, folding resistance of &gt;10 and thickness 100-5 mu. The sulphonating agent is fuming sulphuric acid, being reacted for 10 sec-2 hrs.
Microporous membrane is produced by mixing 7-42 vol% inorganic fine powder, 30-75 vol% organic liquid of SP value 8.4-9.9 and 10-60 vol% polyolefin resin of Mw 300,000 and Mw &gt;15000, subjecting to a melt-moulding and extracting the organic liquid from the moulding.    The inorganic powder is e.g. of silicic acid, Ca silicate, CaCO3 or TiO2 of particle size 0.005-0.5 mu and a specific surface area 50-500m2/g capable of absorbing organic liquid of &gt;2/3 times by volume. The organic liquid is e.g. DOP, dioctyl adipate or a glycol.    The process produces porous membrane with continuous micropores of 0.05-0.5 mu and porosity 30-75%, being 0.05-1 mm thick and having improved physical properties, flexibility and a lowered electrical resistance of 0.006 ohm.dm2/piece, partic. in electrolytic soln.; thus being useful for partition membrane in batteries, diaphragm membranes in electrolysis, etc.
Cathode and anode sheets are spirally wound through a separator so that the outer layer becomes the cathode, thereby providing a gp. of electrodes. A cylindrical separator is placed between the cathode and a casing which accommodates the electrodes. The separator consists of an electrically insulating sheet which does not permeate an electrolyte. The separator is pref. formed by a fibrous porous sheet which has electrolyte retaining and gas permeable characteristics.
The cathode consists of a fibrous, mesh shaped member of PTFE and a zinc active material binded on the member. The heavy load characteristic and low temp. characteristic of alkaline cells are improved by using the cathode.    In an embodiment, PTFE powder and zinc active material such as amalgamated zinc are mixed with an aq. suspension by means of a ball mill to produce a plastic mixt. The mixt. is rolled to make a sheet. The sheet is folded into two and the folded sheet is again rolled. The processes are repeated. As a result, the zinc active material is binded to the fibrous mesh shaped member of PTFE to provide a cathode.    For applying the cathode to an alkaline cell, a metal cover used as a cathode terminal is mounted through a packing to an upper portion of a metal casing used as an anode terminal. An anode and the cathode are arranged in the casing through an ion permeable separator. An alkaline electrolyte is sealed in the casing.
The separator consists of alkali resistant fibre of 2-5 denier. The alkali resistant fibre consists pref. of mixed synthetic resin fibres such as vinyl chloride fibre, polyamide fibre, polyethylene fibre, polyvinyl alcohol fibre and polypropylene fibre. Regenerated fibre such as rayon fibre is pref. added to the fibre.    The discharge performance and the liquid leakage resistance of the alkaline cell are improved. Typically 1 wt-pt. rayon fibre of 2 denier is mixed with 1 wt. pt. polyamide fibre of 5 denier in air. The mixt. is dropped to make a sheet of non-woven cloth having 0.2mm. thickness. The sheet is punched to make non-woven separators.
Battery comprises a positive electrode activator of Ni cpd. a negative electrode of zinc cpd. having a higher discharge capacitance than the anode; an electrolyte and a waterproof complementary electrode. A resistor electrically connects the anode with the complementary electrode.    The battery has long life as the complementary electrode absorbs hydrogen gas generated in the battery case.
The method comprises (1) forming an organic polymer layer on that part of the anode terminal where a resin mould is formed and (2) moulding that part of the anode terminal to seal the battery case. The organic layer is formed by electrolysis.    The battery case is sealed perfectly. The mould is adhered to the polymer layer with high rigidity.
The battery comprises an anode activator of Zn, a cathode activator and an electrolyte contg. a copolymer of diallyl amine monomer and (SO2) to prevent Zn corrosion. The electrolyte consists of NH4Cl and/or ZnCl2 or caustic alkali.    Pref. the dially amine is dimethyl-dially ammonium chloride, methyl diallyl amine, diallyl amine sulphate, methyl-ethyldiallyl ammonium paratoluene sulphonate or methyl-benzyl-diallyl ammonium chloride. The anticorrosion agent not only prevents the corrosion of zinc but also the generation of gas in the battery.
A silver oxide battery has a cathode using silver oxide as active material. The cathode contains 2-6 wt. % graphite and 1-10 wt. % silver to the total wt. of silver oxide. The graphite and silver serve as electrically conductive material.    Discharging capacity of battery is increased by reducing the amt. of graphite. Initial discharge voltage and a discharge-maintaining voltage is increased by adding silver powder to silver oxide active material.
Zinc active material is coated on a support member and pressed to form a base zinc plate. A current collector for chemical conversions is disposed on a part of the base zinc plate. The plate is subjected to chemical conversion, then washed with water and dried. The current collector for chemical conversion is removed from the plate to fabricate a zinc plate. It is possible to fabricate a zinc plate having great mechanical strength, uniform thickness and excellent weight-volume efficiency.
Battery comprises anode active material of light metal, cathode active material of silver tungstate or copper tungstate and a non-aq. organic electrolyte. Cathode can consist of an Al-Mn alloy, an Al-Mg alloy or an Al-Mg-Si alloy; it contains the cathode active material and serves as the positive electrode terminal. The cathode is light and cheap and has excellent corrosion resistance.
The cellulose separator is impregnated with a Ti/Ag complex. Pref. the cellulose is regenerated; e.g. paper, sausage skin material; nitrocellulose foil, cellulose triacetate foil or rayon with high wet strength.    An alkaline electrolyte is pref. used with electrodes of Ag/Zn; Ni/Zn; Ni/Cd; or HgO/Cd. The separator pref. contains Ag, whereas cathode contains a Ti cpd. from which charged particles migrate to react with the Ag and form the Ti/Ag after a sequence of discharge/charge cycles. Alternatively, the Ti cpd. may be in a negative inter separator located between cathode and the separator.    The Ti cpd. is pref. the titanate of K, Na, Zn, Ca, Mg, Ce, Ba, Zn-Mg and/or of Pb or Pb-Zr titanate.
The accumulators are crushed, pref. to max. size 76 mm, and then added to an aq. suspension of a magnetic powder for sepn. of Pb and Pb cpds. The magnetic powder is then recovered, and the plastic is sepd. from the inert material.    The density of the aq. suspension pref. results in the settling out of Pb and its cpds., the magnetic powder being magnetite ore with size below 0.149 mm. After recovery of the magnetite, by magnetic sepn., flotation in an aq. medium is employed to remove the plastic from the inert material.    When the plastic is mixed with pitch, several alternative methods are pref. for sepg. the two materials; (a) the mixt. is added to a soln. of alcohol and water with density below 0.975, so the pitch sinks but the plastic floats; (b) the mixt. is congealed in water so the pitch sinks but the plastic floats; (c) the pitch can be removed by a solvent.    In addn. to recovering Pb and its cpds., the invention also recovers the plastic used in the battery casings, e.g. polypropylene or copolymers of propylene.
A protective coating for chrome electrodes in lead accumulators contains (in mass %): emulsion PVC 25-45, and plasticiser 55-75. It has high reliability.
Fuel cell for a gaseous fuel and a gaseous oxidant with an alkaline electrolyte has a cathode with a porous electrically conductive layer with an anion exchange membrane connected directly to the cathode on the liq. side. The same method of construction may also be applied to the anode. Pref. the porous electrically conductive layer and the ion exchange layer are bonded together and are based on a common binder which is pref. a polymeric material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC or (esp.) PTFE.    The presence of the ion exchange membrane allows the fuel cell to be run on air contg. CO2, which causes the formation of carbonate ion in the electrolyte, which has previously caused a deterioration in the electrochemical processes in the cell. With the ion exchange membrane in position, the operation of the cell is not interrupted by the presence of carbonate ion in the electrolyte, so that CO2 need not be washed out of the air used to run the cell.
Porous electrode contains a porous electrically conductive layer contg. a binder, in contact with an ion exchange layer contg. the same binder as the conductive layer. The two layers may be in direct contact, or they may make contact via an intermediate layer which contains the same binder as the other two layers. Pref. the binder is a polymeric material, esp. PTFE, and the concn. of binder in the electrically conductive layer is 5-50 wt. %, esp. 8-30 wt. %, and in the ion exchange layer 5-50 wt. %, esp. 5-15 wt.%. The electrically conductive layer is pref. sufficiently porous to allow permeation of gases and liquids, but is sealed with a gas-permeable, liquid-tight layer of the same material as the binder in the electrically conductive and ion exchange layers.    The electrodes are useful in electrochemical cells in which 1 of the materials is gaseous, whereby one side of the electrode is in contact with the gas and the other side with a suitable electrolyte, so that the electrode reactions occur in the pores in the region of the gas/liq. contact interface. The ion exchange layer protects the electrode against penetration of harmful ions from the electrolyte into the electrochemically active material. In particular, the fuel cell may be run on air contg. CO2, which causes the formation of carbonate ion in the electrolyte, which has previously caused a deterioration in the electrochemical processes in the cell. The electrodes have high mechanical strength so that the chance of parting of the layers in use, is overcome. The electrodes can be made easily by standard methods, and can be made very thin so that the internal resistance of the electrode can be lower than when using unbonded ion exchange membranes.
A powdery gelling agent and a binder are added to a mixed material which consists of a positive active material and a conductive material. The mixt. is coated on an electrode collector and heat-treated under vacuum at the melting temp. of the binder. The gelling agent pref. has good liq. absorption properties.    The positive electrode is applicable to a cell which includes a negative electrode using Li or Al as a negative active material, a non-aq. electrolyte, and a positive active material comprising an oxide such as manganese dioxide, sulphide, etc. Cells with high discharge performance and high utility rate of active materials are provided.
An organic electrolyte cell includes a negative electrode using a light metal as active material, a positive electrode a non-aqueous electrolyte, and a separator disposed between electrodes. In the cell, a porous mat of graphite fibre is placed between the separator and either electrode.    The internal resistance of the cell is lowered by the presence of the porous mat. In addition, the discharge performance is improved because the required amount of the electrolyte is maintained by the porous mat.
An organic electrolyte cell includes a negative electrode comprising light metal as an active material, a positive electrode comprising solid carbon fluoride as an active material, and an electrolyte composed of 2 solvents and 1 solute. The solvents include ethylene carbonate and 1,2-dimethoxyethane. The discharge performance of the light metal-carbon fluoride system cells is improved using this electrolyte.
Method comprises crushing used batteries, washing the crushed batteries, sepg. ABS resin from lead by floatation, further crushing the ABS resin in a mixer, adding butadiene to the crushed ABS resin, heating the mixt. to polymerise it, and then extruding the polymer.    ABS resin and lead can be recovered from used batteries effectively and the resin can be remoulded into suitable plastic articles.
Nonfluid paste is prepd. consisting of anode active material and a solvent contg. a binder. The nonfluid paste is coated on a core member and pressed thereon to form an anode plate. The anode plate is dried to remove the solvent. The amt. of active material in an anode plate and its thickness can thus be controlled.
Fluid past is prepd. consisting of anode active material and a solvent contg. a binder some of the solvent is removed from the fluid paste to prepare nonfluid paste. The nonfluid paste is pressed on and packed into a core member then the nonfluid paste on and in the core member is dried to remove the solvent completely therefrom.    Charging and discharging cycle life of a sealed zinc alkaline storage battery can be prolonged using an anode made by this method.
A silver oxide battery has a positive electrode of silver oxide made by halogenating a surface of a spongy porous body consisting mainly of metal silver to form silver halide thereon, reducing it and anodising the spongy porous body. It is possible to prolong a charging and discharging cycle life of a silver oxide battery by using a spongy porous body of silver as a positive electrode.
In a battery, cationic synthetic material is interposed between gaskets and metal parts e.g. a container, a closure and an electrode pole. This prevents leakage of alkaline electrolyte since cationic synthetic material electrically neutralises anions on the surfaces of parts and generates good adhesion thereto.    As cationic synthetic material, cationic rubber latex is pref.
An inorganic filler soluble in acid, alkali or water, and a surfactant or a soluble polymer are mixed with polyolefin. The mixt. is formed into a sheet. The sheet is stretched. The soluble inorganic filler is extracted and removed from the sheet.    The sheet obtd. is treated with an anion surfactant.    Pref. filler is barium carbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium sulphate, titanium oxide or magnesium oxide.
Dry cell comprises a cylindrical separator interposed between a cathode mix and a cathode zinc can, and synthetic paste insol. in an electrolyte coated on a part of an inner surface of the cylindrical separator opposite to the cathode mix.    Since synthetic paste insol. in an electrode is coated on part of a separator easily affected by oxygen in the air within the cathode zinc can, it is possible to suppress growing of crystals of basic zinc chloride and to improve preservation performance of the dry cell.
A film of polyvinyl alcohol is stood at a constant temp. in an atmos. having a constant humidity to control the amt. of moisture absorption of the film to a desired value. The film is then subjected to acetalation.    The separator is used in a silver-zinc battery, a nickel-zinc battery or a nickel-cadmium battery. The method makes it possible to uniform oxidn. resistance and electric permeability of the separator.
A sealted type alkaline silver secondary cell has with a supplementary separator between a cathode active material and a protective film for preventing a main separator (e.g. consisting of an ion exchange membrane and a polypropylene resin micro-porous film) from deterioration by contact with the cathode mix.    The supplementary separator is pref. of an ion exchange membrane, a micro-porous plastic film, or a combination of these.    The separator film is pref. coated with alkali resisting material
Peroxysulphuric acids (I) for oxidn. of organic material in conc. H2SO4 on site, are produced by first withdrawing a portion of the main H2SO4 stream, and diluting with water to 40-70, esp. 50%. The diluted acid is then passed at 5-20 degrees C at a specified flow rate through an electrolysis appts. to produce a predetermined amt. of (I). The withdrawn portion, now contg. (I) is recycled to the main stream to oxidise the organic material and decolourise the acid.    The cell anode is fitted with a porous membrane, esp. of microporous PVC; hydrophilic polypropylene, PVC-vinyl acetate; ceramic; or ion-exchanger to define an anolyte space.    Used esp. for oxidising C in acid by-prod. from roasting of sulphide ores. By producing (I) on site difficulties of storing unstable oxidising agents are avoided. The cells are compact and have high (I) prodn. rates of their size.
Accumulator comprises zinc electrodes (1), and an auxiliary electrode (3) which has a surface resistant to Zn deposition and consisting of an electrocatalyst with a low overvoltage for hydrogen evolution. Electrode (3) is connected to the negative electrodes (1) during charging, so that the excess current w.r.t. the current on the positive electrodes (2) is taken up by electrodes (1,3) and thus any change of state of electrodes (1) is prevented or greatly reduced.    The accumulator is pref. Ni/Zn; Ag/Zn; MnO2/Zn; Zn/32; or a Zn/air cell; and electrode (3) pref. takes 10% of the current during charging. The accumulator pref. contains very little electrolyte and a ZnO electrode which includes PTFE.
A battery comprises conductive elements insulated from each other by a fluorocarbon polymer contg. recurring units of formula:- (where n is 2 and X are gps. of which at least one is not F in each repeating unit and is pref. Cl, Br, H, -RY3 and/or -ORY3, Y is halogen and/or H and R is 1-6C chain.)    The pref. polymers are fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer, polyvinyl(idene) fluoride, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, chlorotrifluoroethylene polymers and polymers comprising a fluorocarbon skeleton and a perfluoro alkoxy side chain.    The polymer has a resistivity 1013, is moisture resistant and has dimensional stability, elasticity, tensile strength and good adhesion. It flows at high temps. (150-400 degrees C) and is resistant to electrolyte.
A separator for planar batteries comprises a rectangular support grid or hot melt material having a rectangular opening and a non woven fabric across the grid and opening. Most of the fibres in the fabric are within the grid opening. Fibres adjacent the grid are oriented parallel to the axis of the adjacent grid portion, remaining fibres in the opening are randomly oriented and the minority of fibres on the grid are oriented normal to its axis.    The fabric pref. consists of a blend of nonthermoplastic fibres and 10 wt. % thermoplastic fibres. It is specifically a 50-50% blend of fibres of a polymer of vinyl acetate and vinyl chloride and acrylic fibres.    The low fibres density of the fabric across the grid allows secure seals to be made to adjacent separators and similarly made electrodes without using a thick grid. Thickness and cost are reduced while eliminating leakage problems.
An alkaline soln. is contained in an alkali-proof substrate having fine pores. A polyvinyl alcohol film contg. 0.02 to 15 mole % or boron oxide boric acid, metaboric acid or material having 1 boron-oxygen is placed and pressed on the alkali-proof substrate to form a separator.
Nickel anode contains at least a nickel cpd. active material and cobalt sulphate, and the cobalt sulphate content as CoSO4.H2O is 2-20 wt.% based on the amt. of active material. Specifically claimed are (1) the electrode comprising at least an active material, an electroconductive member and a synthetic resin binder; and (2) the electrode comprising a porous nickel substrate having a three-dimensional structure with which the active material is packed.    Nickel anode having sufficient capacity density is obtd.
The porous sintered Ni is immersed in mixed soln. comprising Ni(NO3)2 with 5-15 mol.% cobalt nitrate. The dried impregnated body is steam treated at 230-240 degrees C to form hydroxides in the pores.    In an example, a porous nickel sintered substrate is obtd. by coating a carbonyl nickel powder on a nickel-plated porous steel plate using a 3% carboxymethyl cellulose aq. soln. as a binder, and sintering the steel plate.
In a cell having a metal anode container and an anode active material of AgO, an electric insulating layer is arranged at the side where the anode active material contacts with the anode container.    The electric insulating layer is pref. a synthetic resin thin film having good acid resistance and alkali resistance such as polyethyliene, polypropylene, ethylene tetrafluoride, polyamide resin, etc. Alternatively insulating layer comprises a metal oxide film.    Voltage variation of the cell is prevented, and the cell has a lower open-circuit voltage and smaller scatter in comparison with conventional cells having no electric insulating layer. The cell is suitably used in electronic wrist watches, cameras, etc.
In an organic electrolyte battery comprising a cathode of light metal active material (e.g. Li, Mg, Al, etc.) an anode of cupric oxide active material, a separator which is laid between both electrodes, and an organic electrolyte, the improvement comprises inserting a porous steel between the anode and a casing which acts as an anoe terminal.    A miniature battery having excellent discharge voltage, discharge time characteristics as well as high energy density can be obtd.
Prodn. of a sintered base plate for an alkaline storage battery e.g. nickel-cadmium, comprises filling a mixed slurry consisting by wt. of 35-45 pts. carbonyl nickel powder and 65-55 pts. 2-4% CMC aq. soln. in density of 0.5-0.7g/cc. between moisture absorbing films on a centre support to form a plate filled with the slurry.    The plate is then delivered into a prim. drying furnace at 150-170 degrees C, the thickness adjusted through a roll and delivered into a sec. drying furnace at 180-200 degrees C to have substantially equal moisture content even to the interior. The film is peeled by spraying water and winding into roll and sintered in the furnace at 850-950 degrees C to obtain a base plate of thickness 1.5mm. and porosity 80-83%. The base plate is free from cracks.
The anode of the alkaline storage battery comprises a pair of anode activator sheets and a metal core placed between the anode activator sheets. The sheets and core are bonded with an alkali-proof resin layer contg. metal powder used in the anode activator.    The metal core and the activator sheets are firmly bonded. The battery has improved discharge properties.
The paste type lead storage battery comprises a battery jar, an electrolyte filled in the battery har, an anode, a separator, an electrolyte preserving sheet and a cathode. The cathode, the anode, the separator and the sheet are immersed in the electrolyte. The separator consists of a paper contg. &gt;50 wt. % of phenol resin fibre of dia. &lt;5 mu. The electrolyte comprises dilute H2SO4 having a specific gravity of 1.32-1.45 measured at 25 degrees C.    The battery has high capacitance, high power and a long life.
Zinc chloride dry cell comprises a cathode activator of manganese dioxide, an anode of zinc, an electrolyte consisting of zinc chloride and an anode case of zinc contg. the cathode activator, the anode activator and the electrolyte. The opening has an opening having a dia. of D cm. The of the case is sealed with a sealing board. The difference between the inside pressure of the case and the outside pressure of the case is P kg/cm. Gas leak velocity of the dry cell is 0.20-50cc/hr. at 20 degrees C. 15 degrees C when P is 4/D. The electrolyte contains 15-45 wt. % of zinc chloride and &lt;10 wt. % ammonium chloride.    The pressure difference stabilises electric properties of the dry cell.
The method comprises (1) reducing surfaces of silver peroxide particles, (2) pressing the silver particles to form a pellet, (3) placing the pellet in a cathode case and pressing the pellet and (4) re-reducing the surface of the pellet in the cathode case.    The reduced surface of the pellet has an improved capacitance and a flat output voltage.
In an example, silver peroxide powder is placed in a cathode case, then pressed to form the cathode activator. A stainless steel net is placed on the cahotde activator followed by a separator of synthetic unwoven cloth. An electrolyte impregnating sheet impregnating the electrolyte contg. Ag fine particles is placed on the separator. The anode activator is placed on the sheet.
Cathode mix contg. silver oxide as main component and not contg. carbon powder is put in a cathode can. A porous layer or ring of alkali-resistant, oxidation-resistant metal, e.g. Ni or stainless steel is placed on a surface of the cathode mix opposite to an anode.    Since battery does not contain carbon powder, e.g. graphite, discharging capacity per unit wt. can be increased. Since a porous metal layer is formed on the cathode mix, the internal resistance of the battery canbe decreased.
A rechargeable gas electrode is produced by (a) mixing an aq. suspension of a hydrophobic agent (esp. PTFE) and carbon powder prepd. by dissocn. of CO, the PTFE and carbon being in the ratio 32.5-48:67.5-52, (b) partly eliminating water by vacuum filtration or evaporation, (c) compressing the mixt. under 40-250 kg/cm2 pressure for 10-100 min. (pref. 250 kg/cm2 for 50 min) in a grill made from an electrically conducting material (e.g. Ni) so that the latter becomes covered with the mixt., and (d) baking at 270-350 degrees C for 30-60 min (pref. 350 degrees C for 30 min). After cooling, the electrode can be directly used in an electrochemical generator, esp. one based on zinc and gas.    The electrode is used to consume oxygen and discharge and release it under weak polarisation on charge. The performance of the generator, esp. in relation to voltage and output, depends, other things being equal, on the efficiency of such electrodes. Only dendritic carbon, prepd. by dissocn. of CO in presence of Ni, Fe or Co as catalyst, gives rechargeable electrodes with optimal properties.    If such electrodes are subjected to alternate charge and discharge with a current of 10-20 mA/cm2, they generate a potential of 700-800 mV w.r.t the hydrogen electrode which remains constant even after up to 1500 charge-discharge cycles.
Galvanic cell has an anode, a gas depolarisable cathode an electrolyte carrying separator, and a container with anode and cathode terminal portions. There is at least one opening in the cathode terminal portion of the casing.    A membrane of hydrophobic microporous material is interposed between the openings and the cathode to provide venting of gas between the cathode and outside atmosphere. A metal ring is disposed between the membrane and the cathode in electrical contact with the container in which it is an interference fit, with a portion of the membrane positioned between the ring and container and compressed to zero porosity.    Metal ring and cathode terminal portion of the casing together with the membrane protion sandwiched between provides a seal both for the membrane and for the electrolyte in the cell.
The silver peroxide battery comprises an anode activator, an electrolyte, a cathode activator and a cathode case including the anode activator, the electrolyte and the cathode activator. An insulating layer is formed between the cathode case and the cathode activator. The insulating layer consists of a metal oxide layer formed by anodic oxidation or an alkali-proof and oxidation resistant polymer layer. The insulating layer has an opening on a base of the cathode case. The opening prevents decrease of battery capacitance.    The silver peroxide battery is applied to a power source of an electronic wrist watch. The insulating layer prevents permeation of the electrolyte into a gap between the cathode activator and the cathode case. The battery improves discharge characteristics.    In an example, a fluorocarbon polymer powder is added in a paint. The paint is coated on an outside wall of the cathode case. The coated paint is hardened to form an insulating layer.
The silver peroxide battery comprises an anode activator (I), an electrolyte (II), a cathode activator (III) and a cathode case including (I), (II) and (III). An insulating layer is formed between the cathode case and the cathode activator. The insulating layer consists of a metal oxide layer formed by anodic oxidn. or an alkali-proof and oxidn. resistant polymer layer.    The battery used as a power source for an electronic wrist watch. The insulating layer prevents permeation of the electrolyte into a gap between the cathode activator and the cathode case. The battery has improved discharge characteristics.
A layer built dry cell is provided with a cathode mixt. formed by mixing MnCo2 powder with C powder, adding to the mixt. Xanthan Gum as binder, and then making the mixt. into a sheet. The amt. of the Xanthan Gum is pref. 5-15 wt. % to the amt. of MnO2 powder. The thickness of the cathode mixt. is pref. &lt;1.5mm.    The cell is thinner than comparable cells and pref is used in a transistor radios or electronic calculators. Xanthan Gum is a water soluble high molecular polysaccharide produced by metabolic effect of microbiological Xanthomonas Campestris. The mol. wt. thereof is ca. 2000000. The thickness of the cathode mix. is decreased using Xanthan Gum to improve use efficiency of MnO2 and excellent heavy load discharge property is obtained.
The mixt. compsn. consists of 90-10 pts. wt. polypropylene and 10-90 pts. wt. ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (contg. 5-50 wt. % vinyl acetate).    The mixt. has high impact resistance excellent flexibility, improved crack-resistance property and excellent adhesion to carbon bar and a zinc can. Electrolyte leakage is prevented and long storage is possible.
A gelling soln. (e.g. an alkaline soln. of polyacrylic acid salt of 3 to 8 wt. %) is poured into a hollow portion of a cylindrical cathode (e.g. a shaped body of a mixt. of manganese dioxide and flaky graphite put into a cathode can. A cup-shaped separator (e.g. of vinylonrayon mixed paper) is introduced into the hollow portion of the cathode and the gelling soln. is forced up between the cathode and the separator to fill the space therebetween.    An improved alkaline cell such as an alkaline manganese cell or a nickel-zinc cell is fabricated. Oxidation-resisting material is pref. used as the gelling material to prevent worsening of the separator by the cathode mixt. Worsening of current property is prevented by filling the space between the cathode and the separator with the gelling material. Increased short-circuit current is obtd. even after high temp. storage.
In a silver oxide battery using a cathode consisting mainly of silver oxide and an anode consisting mainly of zinc, bismuth oxide is added to the cathode. By adding bismuth oxide, a two-stage discharging voltage appears near the end of discharging. Therefore, the end of discharging can be predicted.
In a silver peroxide battery using a cathode mix consisting mainly of silver (II) oxide (AgO), a AgO layer contg. &gt;20 vol. % of synthetic resin powder is located between the cathode mix and the cathode can. The resin has resistance to alkali, resistance to oxidation, elasticity and water repellency, and it is pref. polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The battery has no two stage discharging voltage and no expansion during preservation.
Elements of the generator from the interior to the exterior, have a negative collector grid, a porous separator, a porous, active, catalytic layer, and a positive collector grid. These elements are fed in series with an electrolytic soln. comprising an active material in suspension, e.g. zinc powder, and the soln. is force fed through the interiors of the elements.    The elements are grouped in a number of modules each of which delivers a difference of potential and they are connected electrically in series. The modulus themselves are connected in series also and are fed by teh electrolyte in parallel. The soln. is stored in a vessel from which it is pumped towards the modules along inlet pipes and returned along waste pipes after passing through the modules.    Each feed pipe and each return pipe has an electrolytic resistance fitted through which the soln. circulates. The resistances are connected in such a way that the inlet resistance is suitable for varying the potential of the soln. from the value of the potential in the storage vessel to the value of the input potential of the module. The outlet resistance is suited to adjusting the value of the potential of the soln. from the potential at the outlet of the module to the value fo teh potential in the vessel.    The positive terminals of the inlet resistances as well as of the outlet resistances are each connected to a terminal of the module, whilst their positive terminals are connected to the negative terminal of the generator, so that the inlet resistance raises the value of the potential whilst the outlet resistance lowers the potential of the soln.    Raises the limits on the number of elements in a module, ensuring electrolyte at a sufficient pressure to enable the porous catalytic layer to work.
Prim. batteries have anodes of light metal (pref. Li, Na or Mg) and cathodes consisting of charge-transfer complexes of formula R.Ix (where R is a quat. ammonium, pref. pyridinium or quinolinium, salt; x 1).    The complexes are highly stable at normal temps. and pressures, so that iodine vaporisation is minimal. They can be produced in the form of plastic polymers, allowing great flexibility in battery design.    A typical complex is prepd. by quaternising poly(4-vinylpyridine) with MeI and reacting the prod. with iodine vapour.
The foamed plastics cover strip is continuously applied to tubular electrodes of lead accumulator batteries. The electrode plates are inserted with their lower edge into a shaped rail, while a strip of foamed plastics is continuously applied from an extruder onto the plate edge entering the shaped rail.    The plate carries the strip into the rail, where by foaming and deformation the space between the rail and plate edge is filled. At the plate end the plastics strip is automatically cut-off. High pressure polyethylene is pref. used as strip material. The device for this process contains a transporter for the electrode plates and the shaped rail, in front of which is located the nozzle of the plastics extruder.
In a silver oxide-zinc sec. battery using a separator made of a cellophane and an alkali resistant cloth, the cloth comprises weaving (a) single fibre bundles comprising a plurality of single fibres as both woof and warp, (b) single fibre bundles comprising a single fibre as warp and a plurality of single fibres as woof, or (c) single fibre bundles, comprising a single fibre as woof and a plurality of single fibres as warp to obtain a net-like structure. The each single fibre is woven so that it is single to thickness direction of the cloth. The cloth is used at an anode side.    The separator using the cloth and a cellophane has good liquid preservative property and low electrical resistance, and a cycle service life of a battery is increased by restraining deterioration of the cellophane caused by the oxidation of silver oxide without deteriorating its voltage characteristics.    The alkali resistant cloth comprises synthetic fibres such as nylon, polypropylene, etc.
Cell container consists of electroconductive anode can and cathode cap, in which silver peroxide anode and zinc cathode are kept apart by a separator and a partly reduced silver chloride sheet is inserted between the silver peroxide anode and the separator and/or the container so that the sheet contacts therewith electrically and physically.    The cell has a constant height, exhibits a constant discharge voltage and is stable in performance.    Pref. the separator is made of vinylon non-woven fabric and cellophane which contains 28% sodium hydroxide aq. soln. electrolyte. The partly reduced silver chloride sheet is obtd. by dipping a silver chloride sheet in a photographic developer for 1-5 min. to reduction-ppte. a silver layer on its surface.
Fuel-cell electrode consists of (I) an active layer, (II) a hydrophobic layer, (III) a porous layer and (IV) a carbon fabric enclosed in layer (I). Layer (Ie ensures reaction at its level of one of the reactants in the presence of the electrolyte. Layer (II) is immediately underneath layer (I), and has predetermined hydrophobicity and porosity so as to permit the reactant to reach layer (I) while avoiding passage of the electrolyte. It also has sufficient electronic conductivity to lead away the electrons resulting from the reaction.    Layer (III) is beneath the hydrophobic layer and has sufficient conductivity to remove the electrons. The surface of this layer not in contact with the hydrophobic layer is fed with reactants.    The electrode is thin, light, and exhibits improved electrical characteristics.
Fuel cell electrode prodn. comprises adding a cationic surfactant (I) to an aq. suspension of electrocatalyst particles (II): mixing with an aq. suspension of colloidal hydrophobic plastics particles (III); applying to a conductive substrate (IV); and sintering. Specifically (I) is a polyvalent metal oxide or colloidal soln. of this or a salt and is added in an amt. of 10-2 to 10-7 M. Pref. (II) is Pt on a C substrate or Pt black and (III) is PTFE.    The electrodes have improved electrochemical capacity and the process is more reliable than usual, so that much higher yields are possible.
Plates for accumulators are made of a plastic sheath which embeds the current collector and the active mass. The current collector is a massive plate, which is covered on both sides by the active mass. The outer perforated plastic housing (pref. made of PVC foil) is lined on the outside by a porous layer with a surface area increased by (pyramidal) profiling, and holds the assembly together.    The result is an optical space utilisation and a longer life of the plates because the active mass cannot break out. The massive current collector has a greater resistance to decomposition by charging and discharging operations.
Fe electrode is made by mixing Fe powder or Fe (hydroxide with a mouldable org. resin having a carbonising temp. of 950 degrees C, in a wt. ratio of 1-8:1. C black is also added, in an amt. sufficient to maintain conductivity between matrix and Fe particles after carbonisation, and the mixt. is then moulded and slowly heated to 950 degrees C in an inert atmos. to carbonise the resin into a strong porous matrix. Prefd. wt. ratio of Fe : C black : resin in the initial mixt. is 8:1:2.    Used in high energy storage batteries. Electrodes have performance at least that of conventional fibre grid electrodes (e.g. sintered Ni grid electrodes) but have lower wt. and cheaper cost.
Two or more sheets having numerous discontinuous cracks in one direction are placed upon each other to form a fibre assembly. This then stretched and expanded in the direction of the cracks and impregnated with adhesive and water-soluble resin.    The resin is rendered insoluble by heat-treatment.
Reinforced fibre separators or microporous ebonite plates are placed on an inner surface of a mould. An electrode plate assembly and a mixture of thermoplastic resin powder and hydrated silica gel powder are placed in the mould and heated, melted and hardened by satd. steam at 100 degrees C.    The electrode plate assembly is embedded in the hardened mixt. having separators or ebonite plates, on the outside, to form, an assembly blok.
An aluminosilicate salt (e.g. Sericite powders of chemical compsn. Al2O3, SiO2 and K2O and a granular dia. 0.2-1.0 mu is dispersed in aq. pasty soln. contg. polyvinyl alcohol of low concn. Resulting dispersion is impregnated into fine pores of a textile or non-woven fabricated sheet having anti-alkaline nature and it is dried.    Textile is pref. of polyamide. Separator has a low self -discharge nature and acts simultaneously as a diaphragm. It is durable and has long life.
An electrolyte tank is made of thermoplastic or thermosetting synthetic resin or ebonite and a group of plates are vertically erected in a parallel in the tank. A cathode plate and an anode plate as a plate group are inserted in the powdered hydrated silica gel of grain size 200-250 mesh is filled with slight vibrating around the plate group, and a mixt. further consisting of hydrated silice gel of 69 wt. % moisture content (3 pts. wt.) and low pressure polyethylene powder (1 pt. wt.). is covered over the original powder.    The filled materials are impregnated with a satd. steam at 100 degrees C and solidified, whereby the plate group is reinforced and fixed, and a layer with a moisture content formed on the surfaces of the plate group. Electrolytic soln. is poured into the cured fillings, and a pole and a lid having an exhaust gas plug are fitted on the electrolytic tank.    The battery is portable, and not liq. leakage occurs with vibration or inversion.
A silver oxide battery includes a cathode contg. silver (II) oxide as main active material and organic high polymer material. As organic high polymer material, natural high polymer material e.g. cellulose, corn starch, potato starch or flower starch or synthetic high polymer material e.g. polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl amine or polyethylene grafted with arylamine is used. Since the high polymer material reduces silver (II) oxide (AgO) into silver (I) oxide (Ag2O) and/or Ag and is insoluble in an alkaline electrolyte, a silver oxide battery having flat discharge voltage of 1.5 V is obtd.    In an example, a cathode is produced by mixing 100 pts. wt. AgO and 5 pts. wt. carboxymethylcellulose. An anode consists of amalgamated zinc powder and a paste agent. A separator consists of cellophane. An electrolyte-impregnated layer consists of cotton felt impregnated with an alkaline electrolyte.
Silver oxide is washed by an alkaline aq. soln. to form fine powder. The fine powder is reduced at below 200 degrees C in a mixed gas of hydrogen and an inert gas of nitrogen.    Typically, 3 Kg silver oxide is placed in 51 of 7 N KOH aq. soln. The mixt. is stirred at 80 degrees C for 10-17 hours, washed and dried. Fine powders of silver oxide are obtd. and impurities such as Fe, Cu, Ca, Mg, Na, Si, etc. are removed. The fine powder is reduced at 80-160 degrees C in a mixed gas of H2 and N2 (1 : 4). Polytetrafluoroethylene is added to the reduced silver oxide powder, and the mixt. is hot pressed at 350 degrees C to provide electrodes.    Since silver oxide is reduced in the form of powder sintering is not required, and oxygen electrodes with high catalytic activity are obtd. even if the powder is moulded.
In an oxygen electrode of multilayer structure, an outer layer adjacent to the electrolyte consists of hydrophilic metal powder and a binder. Pref. hydrophilic metal powder is Raney nickel powder. A small amt. of metal powder or carbon powder is pref. added to the Raney nickel powder. The electrode has high gas pressure resistance and binding strength.    A typical oxygen electrode comprises a liquid-contacting side layer of Raney nickel powder, an intermediate layer of silver powder, and a gas-contacting side layer of nickel powder. To make the electrode, 25 wt.% PTFE is added to nickel powder, and the mixt. is moulded to make a gas side member. 20 wt. % PTFE is added to silver powder to make an intermediate member. 5 wt.% PTFE is added to stable powder which is produced by drying and oxidising Raney nickel powder, thereby obtaining a liquid side member. These members are laminated and moulded at a temp. at which PTFE is melted.
Positive plate of sintered Ni plate is superposed on a negative plate of sintered Cd and intervening separator. After impregnating these plates with an electrolyte of aq. caustic potash, they are placed in a synthetic resin tube. To seal the plates at the tube ends, metallic powder such as carbonyl nickel is mixed with carboxylmethyl cellulose aq. soln. to make slurry. The peripheries of lead plates are coated with the slurry. After the coated layers are dried, they are sintered in an inert gas atmosphere to obtain porous metal layers having a porosity of 80%. The pores are impregnated with synthetic resin which is the same kind as the tube. Then the tube ends are thermally sealed to the lead plates at suitable position.    Alkaline cells with high leakage resistance are provided because the tube ends are completely sealed to the lead plates.
Cathode active material for an alkaline cell consists of amalgamated zinc powder each particle being coated with a film of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and/or sodium polyacrylate (PAS). Since the cathode active material is accurately weighed, alkaline cells with uniform discharge characteristic can be mass-produced.    In an example 2 wt.% PAS and 0.2 wt.% CMC are added to a mixed soln. of 40 wt.% pure water and 60 wt.% methanol to make a mixt. 120 wt.pts. amalgamated zinc powder (10% amalgamation rate) having 3-120 mesh is mixed with 100 wt.pts. mixt. Such a mixed material is stirred at 50 degrees C to evaporate water and methanol to produce an amalgamated zinc material of which the particles are coated with a gelling agent of CMC and PAS. For assembling an alkaline cell, a cathode can is filled with the cathode active material at a hopper. The amt. of material is weighed by an electronic balance and modified by another hopper, including cathode active material. An electrolyte is supplied to the can by means of an appts. and the can continues to the remaining assembly processes.
A small silver peroxide cell includes an anode active material consisting of silver peroxide powder, a cathode active material of Zn, and an alkaline electrolyte. The cell has 1.85 V open voltage and 1.5-1.6 V discharge voltage when discharge at a current of below 10 mu A. Pref. a separator is placed between anode and cathode active materials and consists of vinylon non-woven cloth and cellophane. The electrolyte may be 28% caustic soda aq. soln.    The cell capacity is checked by the open voltage and the discharge voltage due to a current &gt;10 mu A. Therefore, accurate quality control is accomplished to provide silver peroxide cells having uniform, stable cell performances.
The gas diffusion electrode comprises a net shaped porous metal sheet, catalyst particles bonded to the net and a thin film having an air flow ability formed on one surface of the sheet. Pref. the metal sheet consists of Ni. The catalyst, selected from Pt, Pd and Ag. ionises fuel gas molecules. The catalyst is firmly bonded to the metal sheet, so the electrode can be used for a long time.
Small size silver peroxide battery comprises a Zn negative electrode, a silver peroxide positive electrode and an alkaline electrolyte soln. The battery is pre-discharged for a prescribed number of hours with a pulsating current.    Pre-discharge treatment ensures that a flat constant discharge voltage is generated from the battery.
Casing having an open topped box-like configuration with a number of internal partition walls dividing the casing into a number of cells, is injection moulded using a mould portion with a rectangular cavity closed by second mould portion carrying a number of core members which co-operate with the cavity to form the side walls, bottom, and partition walls, of the casing. Molten thermoplastics material is injected into the cavity through a primary inlet sprue communicating with a cold runner system feeding inlet gates positioned in predetermined spaced relation about the exterior perimeter of the mould cavity in a plane substantially transverse to the side walls of the mould cavity.    Used in forming a battery casing. Multiple inlet gates provide a more equalised distribution of plastics material preventing core shifting, and producing a casing with more uniform walls.
Casing having an open topped box-like configuration with a number of internal partition walls dividing the casing into a number of cells, is injection moulded using a mould with a rectangular cavity and a number of spaced cores to define together the four side walls, bottom, and partition wall mould cavity. Molten thermoplastics material is injected into the cavity through a primary inlet sprues communicating with a cold runner system feeding inlet gates positioned in predetermined spaced relation about the exterior perimeter of the mould cavity in a plane substantially transverse to the side walls of the mould cavity.    Used in forming a battery casing. Multiple inlet gates provide a more equalised distribution of plastics material, preventing core shifting and producing a casing with more uniform walls.
Cell comprises (a) an electrode on each side of a matrix, (b) a container outside the cell separately contg. H2 and Cl2, connected to the cell to supply H2 and Cl2 to opposite electrodes, (c) an anhydrous electrolyte, pref. anhydrous H3PO4, in the matrix, dissolving reacting gas in the cell and (d) a tank outside the cell receiving HCl evolved during discharge.    Use of anhydrous electrolyte avoids the corrosive action of Cl2 and HCl gases dissolved in or carrying moisture from aq. electrolyte. The gases readily dissolve in the electrolyte but can also be readily evolved or evaporated from it.
The fuel cell comprises (a) a pair of electrodes sepd. by a matrix, (b) a container outside the cell separately contg. H2 and Cl2 gases and supplying them to respective electrodes, and (c) an aq. electrolyte of NaCl or HCl in the matrix, dissolving evolved HCl.    More specifically, the rechargeable cell has chambers on the sides of the electrodes opposite the electrolyte, the matrix being optimal. H2 and Cl2 are supplied to the chambers from tanks on discharge and removed to the tanks on charge. An electrolyte container is provided outside the cell and electrolyte is recirculated between container and cell.    The lower overvoltage of Cl2 compared with O2 gives an increased energy efficiency around 70%, minimises corrosion and improves reversibility of the cell.
In fuel cell operation the anode and cathode exhaust from a number of fuel cells is burnt in a burner a portion of the exhaust from which is fed, together with a carbonaceous fuel into fuel conditioning device which converts the fuel to hydrogen which is fed to the anode side of the fuel cells. A second portion of the burner exhaust is vented.    Used in production of electrical power. Provides a high efficiency since the exhaust is recycled with all the heat energy needed for fuel conditioning and power for cathode air compression being derived from the exhaust from the cell. Recycling of the anode exhaust increases the hydrogen partial pressure at the anode exit giving improved performance and efficiency.
The filter consists of a thin film of Pd or Pd alloy (I) vacuum-deposited on a porous base (II) so that the film completely covers the open pores of (II). (I) is e.g. Pd-Ag with Ag content of &lt;50 wt %. (II) is e.g. sintered alumina, silica, etc.    Used for fuel cells, high purity H2 prodn. etc.
A refuellable battery comprises (a) a cell contg. a normally positive electrode for halogen redn., electrically contacting a normally negative electrode which electrically contacts an oxidisable metal during discharge, (b) a reservoir contg. halogen hydrate and (c) an aq. metal halide electrolyte. The cell and reservoir are connected so that electrolyte circulates through them, bringing halogen hydrate and its decompsn. prods., halogen and water, into the cell on discharge.    The battery is refuelled by introducing (i) oxidisable metal, beyond that present in the circulating electrolyte, (ii) halogen hydrate which has not been formed by the circulating electrolyte, into the cell to replenish (part of) that consumed during discharge and by (iii) withdrawing (part of) the electrolyte formed during discharge to maintain the vol. within a selected range.    The battery is easily and rapidly refuelled, e.g. in a vehicle; halogen hydrate may be replenished after 200 miles, oxidisable metal after 10000 miles.
Gas fuel cell includes a gas distribution layer (I) with a second surface in contact with an electrode catalyst layer and comprising a porous layer of open cell vitreous C foam which is 80% porous and permits free gas flow in both parallel and perpendicular manner. A gas impermeable separator layer contacts the first surface of (I).    Distribution of gases to the catalyst layer(s) is improved.
The performance of current-delivering electrochemical systems which use Br2, Cl2 and/or I2 as the electrochemically active agent, is improved by adding halogen complexing cpd(s). (I) to the electrolyte system. (I) exist as H2O-insol. liqs. at the operating temp. of the system in the presence of 1 equiv. of halogen, have a cationic N-symmetry No. is not &gt;3, and are 1-7C (halo)alkyl quat. NH4 halides.    Resulting halogen (I) complexes in the electrolyte give rapid halogenation and dehalogenation, and are well suited for halogen storage in battery and fuel cell applicns. In addn., the cpds. eliminate the need for additional depolarisers, etc. but significantly increase the useful temp. and H2 concn. range at which the cells can operate, provide increased halogen complexing ability, and thus enhance the shelf life and capacity of the cells and batteries.
A F-contg. polymer (I) contg. COOH gps. is prepd. by oxidising a F-contg. polymer contg. attached sulphonyl halide gps., at is not &gt;250 degrees C. A specific copolymer is of tetrafluorethylene and perfluoro-(3,6-dioxa-4-methyl-7-octene sulphonyl halide) (II). The polymer may be treated in the form of granules, powder, fibres.    An electrolysis process, using a diaphragm of the polymer (I) is claimed. In partic., an alkali salt is electrolysed. The membrane may also be used in (ultra)filtration as a cation-exchange membrane, in fuel cells, and for diffusion and pressure dialysis. The sulphonyl halide gps. are converted to COOH gps. by a simple, efficient process. The polymer (I) has high chemical resistance. Electrolysis of alkali salts is more rapid and give higher current efficiency than asbestos diaphragms.
Water produced as a by-prod. in a fuel cell is treated for use in a steam generator and raw hydrocarbon fuel reformer. Water produced in the cell is heated in a deaerator tank to remove dissolved gases using heat from the fuel cell exhaust gases. Water vapour present in the exhaust gases is then condensed and the condensate returned to the deaerator tank for heating.    Prior to use in the steam generator and reformer water from the deaerator is cooled and then treated in a filter and a demineraliser to remove materials which would have a deleterious effect on the steam generator and reformer.    The water treatment system integrates with the fuel cell power plant using waste heat for deaeration and existing air flow for cooling the condensers and the water from the deaerator. Thus little extra power is required to operate the water treatment system.
This is an addn. to 2121748, which described the mfr. of an Ag catalyst for electrochemical cells, esp. fuel cells, where an Ag salt was reduced to ppte. Ag onto a metal hydroxide gel using w.r.t. to the Ag, 0.5-5 wt.% each of the hydroxides of Bi, Ni, and Ti.    The novelty in the present invention is the redn. of an Hg salt together with the Ag salt, so an Ag-Hg alloy is pptd. onto the gel; and the catalyst contains 10-17% Hg w.r.t. its total wt., esp. 10-12% Hg. An aq. formaldehyde soln. is pref. used for the redn. of the Ag- and Hg-salts. The catalyst pref. contains 1.5-2% metal hydroxide w.r.t. the wt. of Ag, esp. 0.7-0.8% Bi, 0.4-0.5% Ni, and 0.4% Ti.    The life of the catalyst is increased, esp. in fuel cells using air.
Fuel cell consists of an anolyte chamber housing an anode, a catholyte chamber housing a cathode collector and an ion permeable separator between them. A liquid fuel reducing agent is fed to the anolyte chambers, reacting therein at the anode, and withdrawn in the liquid state, via suitable ducting. A liquid oxidising agent is fed to the catholyte chamber, reacted at the cathode and withdrawn via suitable ducting in the liquid state. Anolyte and catholyte chambers are interwoven to obtain max. ion permeable membrane area between the chambers. The anolyte soln. comprises sulphite or bisulphite as solute while the catholyte contains a persulphate. The cation for the two solutes is common.    Precipitation does not take place is inside the cell to produce blocking action. The products of reaction can be withdrawn for use as by products, opt. via common ducting. The effluent may be regenerated.
Photosynthetically-driven biological fuel cell consists of a growth chamber with a transparent top exposed to sunlight contg. an aq. nutrient medium. In the medium is a suspension of isolated mesophyll cells which produce malate on exposure to sunlight, a substance (I) to act on the malate to produce NADH, an anode and a cathode electrically connected to an external load, and a potential mediator (II) to transfer electrons from NADH to the anode.    Mesophyll cells are pref. isolated from Digitaria sanguinalis, (I) is pref. a malic enzyme, (II) is pref. a reducible dye and transfer of electrons is esp. catalysed by xanthine oxidase. The nutrient soln. is capable of sustaining the mesophyll cells in an autotropic state and of initiating malate transfer from the illuminated cells to the soln.    The cell directly converts sunlight into useable direct electric current.
Electrical energy storage system comprises a cathode active material from CaMn3O6, CaMn4O8 and CaMN7O12 in combination with an anode and an electrolyte. The cathode material may be mixed with C. Specifically a battery comprises a container, a cathode active material as above and either (a) An, Pb or Cd metal anode and aq. basic electrolyte or (b) Li, Na or K metal anode and nonaq. electrolyte. CaMn3O6 and CaMn4O8 are used as oxygen redn. electrodes.    The cathode materials are useful in prim. batteries and, except CaMn7O12, in fuel cells. CaMn3O6 is stable in H2 to 400 degrees C and in O2 to 925 degrees C; CaMn4O8 is stable in H2 to 250 degrees C. and in O2 to 900 degrees C; CaMn7O12 is stable in H2 to 500 degrees C and in O2 to 950 degrees C.
A fuel cell electrolyte, including alkali metal cpds. and a support material of rod-shaped Li-Al2O3 particles is pred. by (a) contacting Al2O3 particles with a soln. contg. LiOH and cations of at least a second alkali metal, (b) evaporating solvent, forming Al2O3 particles impregnated and coated with a mixt. of alkali metal cpds. and (c) maintaining at 100-450 degrees C. to react LiOH and Al2O3, forming rod-shaped Li-Al2O3 particles esp. &gt;2 mu m long, &lt;1 mu m dia.    Prepd. pref. incudes, (d) convering alkali metal cpds. to carbonates and (e) comminuting, classifying to &lt;100 mu m and pressing to form a compact.    Well shaped particles are simply prepd. by moderate temps. and give good electrolyte retention.
A rechargeable metal oxide-H2 battery comprises a series of modules, each having an electrode stack with a pair of adjacent positive electrodes (74) (back-to-back), with electrode separators (72,76) on their open faces and a negative electrode (78) having a hydrophobic surface, pref. teflon (TRM) adjacent each electrode separator. A module separator (80) pref. of PTFE, polyethylene or polypropylene, separates negative electrodes of adjacent cells, and esp. has a gas transport layer on one surface.    The negative electrodes of one module are coupled together and the positive electrodes of the succeeding adjacent module, which are also coupled together, forming a series-coupled high-voltage battery. In an alternative embodiment, the negative electrodes of each module are coupled together by a first bus bar (94). Positive electrodes are coupled with a second bus bar (92), forming a parallel coupled cell. A terminal is provided on each bus bar.    The double electrode structure reduces stresses and likelihood of shorts due to buckling. Electrolyte contact between adjacent modules is prevented.
An adhesive material such as glue, albumin, gelatin, etc. is added to hydrazine fuel or a mixt. of the fuel and an electrolyte.    The consumption and the utility rate of the fuel in the liquid fuel cells are increased due to the adhesive.
The fuel cell comprising a hydrogen electrode and an air electrode, includes a hydrogen generating appts. in which interaction of a metal hydride and a water vapour takes place. The water vapour is generated from water in a tank by heat generated from the fuel cell. The excess water vapour is condensed and withdrawn in the tank.    The water is contacted with the metal hdyride in vapour form, so that uniform contact is achieved to generated the H2 gas effectively.
A gaseous fuel cell comprises (a) a cell contg. an aQ. inorganic acid electrolyte, (b) a first, and (c) a second, gas-impermeable, ion-impermeable, tubular electrode formed of is not &lt;1 fine filamentary, perfluorosulphonic acid-substd. PTFE hollow fibre with ion-exchange capacity, immersed in the electrolyte, with a glass inlet and a gas outlet, a gas-permeable layer of catalytic metal deposited only on the inside, the current collectors of high surface area in contact with the catalytic deposit, (d) means for supplying a fuel gas to one of the inlets and means for supplying a gaseous oxidant to the other inlet, and (e) means connected to both current collectors, to extract energy from the cell.    High power densities can be obtd.
Electricity is produced through an electrochemical reaction in a fuel cell to which gaseous fuel is supplied from a reformer, which generates the fuel from a fuel stock and steam mixture, via a demand valve which is controlled to regulate the flow of fuel as a function of the load on the cell. The reformer is in fluid communication with an accumulator to which fuel stock and steam are fed through respective valves which are sized to deliver a greater flow than required for full power operation of the fuel cell and which are controlled to provide flow to the accumulator when the pressure in the accumulator falls below a predetermined level.    Fuel and steam mixture are stored in the accumulator under pressure so that the cell can respond to changes in load much faster than in previous cells.
Electrochemical cell consists of two parallel disc shaped electrodes mounted inside a frame of insulating material to form an enclosed electrolyte space. The cell is mounted on a horizontal axis and can be rotated about this by a drive wheel contacting it.    The cell can be of circular or square cross-section. In the electrolyte space formed by the frame and the electrodes, a further pair of electrodes can be mounted. These are polarised by the two outer electrodes. The chambers in the electrolyte space are connected by channels.    The cell has reduced energy and space requirement. Often this is achieved by recirculation through the cell but the problem with this is that the flow pattern is not uniform, gives erosion in some areas and dead spots in others. The cell described avoids this.
In catalytic reactios involving dehydrogenation of alcohols or hydrocarbons or hydrogenation, and effected by (a) passing the reactants over a catalyst, (b) condensing and separating liq. products, and (c) withdrawing an off-gas contg. CO and/or H2, the improvement comprises oxidising the off-gas in a fuel cell to generate electricity.    USE -   The use of the method in NH3 synthesis and methanol synthesis is specifically claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   The electricity generated can supply the secondary energy requirements of the (de)hydrogenation process (e.g. to drive pumps for air, hydrocarbon feed and boiler feed water, ventilators, etc.); this avoids the use of inefficient small turbines.
A fuel cell operating system has fuel flow and pressure regulating valves preceding a sulphur removal unit, then the gas mixed with steam is pumped into a gas reformer which has a burner, a carbon dioxide converter and a superheater, giving a mixture of gases and water. This passes to a condenser where the water is separated, and relatively pure hydrogen is fed to the stack of fuel cells. These treatment units form a processor.    Between the condenser and the fuel cells is a pressure control valve and preceding it is a pressure regulator interconnected with other regulating valves at the pump, the input to the sulphur remover, the reformer, the superheater, the converter and the output of heat exchanger for the fuel cells. This forms a control system which ensures that an output greater than that required for full load conditions is obtained.
An electrochemical energy system includes an electrolytic cell which dissociates a working medium using thermal and electrical energy from a heat source and fuel cell. The diassociated medium flows to the fuel cell through a counterflow heat exchanger, where it is cooled by recombined and compressed medium flowing from the fuel to the electrolytic cell. The working medium is pref. water, the electrolysis taking place at 1200-1500 K and the recombination at 530 K.    The system achieves a practical efficiency &gt;50%.
Electrochemical cell has a dense, nonporous, self-supporting solid electrolyte part, which conducts 0-ions, 1 surface of which is in intimate contact with a porous layer of less dense solid 0-ion-conducting electrolyte, and a porous catalytic electrode on (part of) this porous layer. The surface area of the porous layer exposed to the electrode is not &lt;50, pref. not &lt;100 times that of the underlying dense electrolyte.    The cells are used esp. as oxygen sensors and as fuel cells. The cells have a lower impedance and can operate at lower temps. than conventional cells of the same thickness.    The nonporous electrolyte is a stabilised Zr oxide (stabilised with Y oxide) or Ce oxide plate and has a thinner section in the middle, with the porous electrolyte over this. A Pt. porous catalytic electrode is used.
A support frame for the electrolyte spaces in electrochemical cells, e.g. fuel cells or in water separation cells, has flow channels for the electrolyte which are entirely free from bottlenecks. Two thin porous extremities of the frame are separated by parallel ribs with even spacing.    This ensures that no trouble can arise by any accumulation of gas bubbles in the electrolyte spaces. The long-term performance of fuel cells is greatly improved thereby.
In an electricity generating, distributing and storage system using O2/H2 fuel cells with NaOH electrolyte the improvement comprises producing the fuel gases by (a) electrolysis of a saline-water medium, in response to excess electrical energy prodn. to produce H2 and Cl2 at respective electrodes and form a NaOH soln. which is subsequently extracted and used as the fuel cell electrolyte and (b) air liquefication of steam and carbon dioxide to provide a pressurised store of O2.    Excess generated electrical energy is more efficiently stored by this method than with conventional storage batteries. It utilises excess process steam for converting and storing gases, liquid and solids and then reprocesses them to generate electric power. It can be used in conjunction with large and small scale systems utilizing hydroelectric, solar, nuclear and fossil fuels.
Integrated power generating plant includes a fuel cell for partly reacting a fuel to generate electricity, and an auxiliary electrical generating system including an electrical generator and a thermal engine to drive it, using fuel effluent to supply heat to the engine and a burner for burning the partly reacted fuel. The working fluid is passed through the thermal engine in a closed cycle in which the fluid is vaporised, superheated, expanded and then liquefied.    The complete amt. of sensible heat available in the fuel is used to poer the thermal engine, witout the need for sepg. the unreacted fuel in an independent operation, giving improved efficiency of fuel utilisation (up to 50%) to produce electricity. The superheating step heats the working fluid to a high enough temp. to significantly increase the Carnot efficiency.
High-refractory, electro-conductive material suitable for prodn. of refractory articles, solid electrolytes, fuel cell components, thermoelectric resistors etc. is made from 82.9-91.6 wt.% ZrO2, 6.0-12.0 wt.% Y2O3, 0.9-1.9 wt.% CaO and 1.3-3.2 wt.% MgO. The material has good conductivity and stability.
Catalytic material consists of a carbonised pyropolymer of large surface area impregnated with 1 catalytically active metal to an amt. 5-5 wt.% w.r.t. the carbonised pyropolymer. The catalytically active metal is selected from Pt and Pd alone or Pt with Re or Rh and Pd with Ru.    The catalytic compsn. is prepd. by first treating a refractory inorganic oxide with a pyrolysable inorganic cpd. in conditions of pyrolysis to form the carbonised pyropolymer on the surface of the refractory oxide. The oxide is then impregnated with a soluble salt of the catalytically active metal and the mixt. is leached to remove the refractory oxide using a strong acid, or base and the catalyst is recovered.    Used as electrocatalysts for forming electrodes for use in an electrochemical cell, esp. a fuel cell. The catalyst exhibits an extended working life with improved stability.
Fuel cell power plant has a number of stacks each comprising a number of molten carbonate fuel cells, each stack having an anode side and a cathode side. Fuel is supplied to the anode side of the stacks. CO2 produced at the anode side of all the stacks is mixed with process air, preheated to provide a predetermined cathode feed temp., before feeding it into the cathode side of the first of the stacks and from the first stack in series through the cathode sides of the remaining stacks, heat being removed from the cathode side exhaust between each pair of consecutive stacks in the series to provide a desired cathode feed temp. to the inlet of each stack after the first stack.    Arrangement yield a low power plant cost per kilowatt by permitting the combination of the best features of single pass process air cooling and separate air cooling.
Electrochemical fuel cell using oxygen and hydrogen electrodes is brought into service by supply of hydrogen to the hydrogen chamber for a period of 1-10mins. Before the supply of oxygen, free hydrogen in the battery is replaced by inert gas e.g. nitrogen.    Due to high sorption characteristics, the hydrogen electrode retains its potential after filling the chamber with inert gas. When the oxygen electrode is filled with oxygen, measurement is made of generated emf. in the cell. For hydrogen-oxygen cell, deviation of tested emf in the cell. For hydrogen-oxygen cell, deviation of tested emf from 1 - 1.1V indicates faulty condition.    Owing to presence of inert gas in hydrogen chamber, the prepn. method of battery eliminates danger of explosion when a short circuit develops during testing.
Molten carbonate fuel cell electrolyte comprising 30-5 wt.% inert support portion and 50-70 wt.% alkali metal carbonates is claimed in which the inert support portion is mainly LiAlO2 with a crystalline structure having an average L/D &gt;3 (3-10) and a surface area &gt;5 (5-30) esp. 10-20 m2/g. The carbonates compsn. is selected from ternary Li2CO3. K2CO3. Na2CO3, binary Li2CO3. K2CO3 and binary Li2CO3. Na2CO3, the compsn. having a thermal expansion coefft of (1.5-3.5) x 10-5/degree C. pref. (1-75-2.25) x 10-5/degree C.    The electrolyte permits thermal cycling of the fuel cell between reaction temps. and room temp. without significant decrease in cell output. It also permits construction of thinner electrolytes, of larger area, without the accompanying disadvantage of serious loss of output in two or three thermal cycles as in prior art.
Fuel battery for conversion of chemical energy into electricity consists of a stack of hydrogen and oxygen electrodes mounted in plastic discs with vertical channels for supply of fuel gases and cooling water.    Plastic discs interlock by peripheral extensions fitting into matching grooves. Similar circular glands seal vertical channels. The stack of plastic discs is clamped between square metal plates by bolts.    The electrodes are mounted in flexible corrugated extensions which compensate axial distortion of the assembly. The simplified design hermetically seals the battery made of small number of basic components.
Rhenium hydrogen bronze cpd. of formula HxReO3 (x = 0.01-0), useful as fuel cell material, is produced by heating rhenium trioxide powder with water at 60 degrees C, pref. ca. 100 degrees C. The value of x depends on reaction conditions. Prod. is in the form of plate crystals of average size 1-5 mu.
Fluorine-contg. cation exchange resin material is composed of a copolymer of a fluorovinyl ether of formula (I) CF2=CXORf(CH2)nA (I) and a fluorinated olefin cpd. formula (II): CF2=CYY' (II), (where X=F or CF3; Rf=1-10C perfluoroalkyl, A= -CN. -COF, -COOH, -COOR1, -COOM or -COONR2R3; R1 = 1-10C alkyl; R2 and R3 = H or R1; M = alkali metal or quartz. ammonium group; n = 1-5; Y = Y'=H, Cl, F or -CF3.    (II) is present in amt. 1-50 mol.%. The ion exchange resin material has, e.g. a glass transition pt. of -80 to 75 degrees C, a thickness of 20-1000 mu and ion exchange volume of 0.5-0.33 milli eq./g dried resin.    The resin material is useful as ion exchange granules in soln., as separators in electrolytic redn., fuel cells and diffusion-phoresis, and as diaphragm in two-chamber electrolytic bath.
Compsn. consists of a mixed oxide of manganese and 1 other metal. claimed compsns. are (1) CuxMn3-xO4 (where x is 1-1.8 (1-1.5) and pref. has one of the specific values, 1, 1.1, 1.2 and 1.4); (2) Ni-zCuzMn2O4 (where O z &lt;1 (z = 0-0.7) and pref. z has the specific values 0.25, 0.5 and 0.6); (3) Ag Mn2O4. The compsn. pref. also contain 12-16(14) wt.% graphite.    Used in electrocatalysis, electrolysis, electrosynthesis and in prim. sec. and fuel cell batteries. It is specifically, for reduction of O2 in fuel cells where the cathode has the claimed compsn. The compsns. can be used equally in neutral, alkaline and slightly acid media. They give rise to current densities at least equal to those obtd. using Pt and Ag, and they are much cheaper.
Biological fuel cell comprises 1 pair of electrodes consisting of an O2- electrode (A) sepd. from a fuel electrode (B) by a membrane. (A) is attached to a rigid electrode frame, and attached to the side of (B) remote from the membrane is a device (C) for pressing (a) (B) onto the membrane and (b) the membrane onto (A).    Esp. (C) is placed between the B's of 2 electrode pairs and may consist of a spring, or it may be an elastomer, esp. silicone rubber, or a swellable gel, esp. a hydrogel with acidic or basic groups. Specifically the gel is a copolymer of 80-90 mole % 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and 10-20 mole % 2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, or it is an ion-exchanger esp. of (meth)acrylic acid crosslinked with 2-5 mole % divinylbenzene.    Used as an implantable power unit for heart pace-makers etc. By applying pressure, penetration of liq. between the membrane and electrodes is prevented and the useful lifetime of the cell is increased.
Oxygen-hydrogen fuel cell consists of a tank with electrolyte in which is suspended from a cover a packet of hollow positive and negative electrodes. Supply of gases to electrodes is provided by external pipes and horizontal hollow bolts also used for tightening the assembly.    Each bolt is in contact with electrodes of one polarity and is insulated by separators from electrodes of other polarity. The gas is distributed to electrodes through radial holes of lower bolt. The gas is collected from the axial channel of the upper bolt.
Nickel plates are used to take out electric current and act as support for electrodes. Outlets are used as exhaust opening for gas produced from a chamber of electrolytic soln. and an anolyte chamber and an anolyte outlet and an anolyte inlet are fitted on external surface of the cell. A hydrazine electrode consists of a porous base plate of electroconductive silver having 25 cm2 of electrodic area.    An external frame of the cell consists of an acryl resin plate and an air outlet and an air inlet are perforated on the external surface. An air electrode having 25 cm2 of electrodic area and the chamber of electrolytic soln. are fitted inside the cell.    The cell generates nitrogen gas alone in discharge. It is of small portable size and used as a movable source of electric power.
A fuel battery has an electrode supporting frame which is composed of a heat pipe. In operation by-product heat can be speedily removed from a body of the battery.    The heat pipe comprises a heat transferring appts. which performs (a) transference of heat accompanied by evapn. of liq., transference of vapour and condensation of vapour; and (b) circulation of liq. by capillary action. The closed plate-like vessel of e.g. glass, ceramics, metals, etc. is provided with a wick (e.g. fine mesh wire net, sintered metal, fibrous material, etc.) which produces capillary action. The closed vessel is filled with a liq. which is easily evapd. (e.g. methanol, ethanol, acetone, hydrocarbons, water, etc.) at the wick-inserted part.
A fuel battery has electrolyte chamber-forming frame composed of a heat pipe. In operation, the fuel battery is advantageous in that by-product heat can be speedily removed from a body of the battery.    The heat pipe comprises heat transferring appts. which performs (a) transference of heat accompanied by evapn. of liquid, transference of vapour and condensation of vapour; and (b) circulation of liquid by capillary action. The closed plate-like vessel of e.g. glass, ceramics, metals, etc. is provided with a wick (e.g. fine mesh wire net, sintered metal, fibrous material, etc.) which produces capillary action. The closed vessel is filled with a liq. which is easily evaporated (e.g. methanol, ethanol, acetone, hydrocarbon, water, etc.) at the wick-inserted part.
Ion exchange membrane comprises a polymer as a base material composed of olefin monomer contg. halogen element, mono-olefinic hydrocarbon monomer and vinyl monomer having polar functional gps. of formula OR1 (I) or COOR2 (II) and 1 halogen element in a ratio of 20-99 mol. %: 30-1 mol. %: 0-50 mol. % having 2-200 micron thickness, ion exchange equiv. for sulphonate gp. of 0.2-1.2 eq./m ol. no. of the vinyl monomer, specific resistance of 10-1000 ohm.cm, water absorbing ratio of 5-120 wt. % and bending strength of &gt;100 times. The membrane is produced by moulding the polymer of base material to film or tube, and sulphonating with a sulphonating agent out of fuming sulphuric acid contg. 3-65 wt. % free SO3, chlorosulphuric acid and adduct of SO3 at a temp. of -20 to 80 degrees C for 1 sec. to 3 hrs.    In the formula R1 = H or COCmH2m+1, m is 1-5; R2 = CnH2n+1, where n is 0-6 or metal element. The ion exchange membrane is used as separator for cells with aq. acidic soln. or aq. inorganic salt soln. used as electrolytes, separator for cells with non-aq. electrolytic soln., diaphragm or electrolyte for fuel cell, diaphragm for electrolysis, diaphragm for dialysis, membrane for ultrafiltration or membrane for reverse osmosis.    The membrane has improved oxidn. resistance, mechanical and electrochemical properties, and better conductivity.
Ion exchange membrane with improved oxidn. resistance comprises a polymer as base material composed of halogenated olefin monomer, monoolefin hydrocarbon monomer and vinyl monomer contg. functional gps. of formula OR1 or COOR2 (where R1 is H or COCmH2m+1; m is 1-5; R2 is CnH2n+1, where n is 0-6, or metal), in a ratio of 20-99 mol%: 0-50 mol% and 30-1 mol%. Material is 2-200u thick. Material has an ion exchange equiv. for sulphonate group of 0.2-1.2 eq./mol. no. of the vinyl monomer, specific resistance of 10-1000 ohm.cm, water absorbing ratio of 5-120 wt. % and bending strength of &gt;100 times. Material is produced by moulding the polymer base material into film or tube, and sulphonating with a sulphonating agent from fuming sulphuric acid contg. 3-65 wt. % free SO3, chlorosulphuric acid and adduct of SO3 at -20 to 80 degrees C for 1-sec. to 3 hrs.    The ion exchange membrane is used as a separator for cells with acidic aq. soln. or aq. inorganic salt soln. used as electrolytes, separator for cells with non-aq. electrolytic soln., a diaphragm or electrolytes for fuel cells, diaphragm for electrolysis, diaphragm for dialysis, membrane for ultrafiltration or reverse osmotic membrane. The membrane shows improved oxidn. resistance, mechanical and electrochemical properties, and better conductivity.
A combined process for storing and producing H2 from a H store consisting of LiBHx with 0&lt;X4 by decomposing at least part of the borohydride to H2 and a compsn. contg free or combined B and free or combined Li is described. The compsn. contg. B and Li is hydrogenated to reconstitute at least in part the H store.    Process is used to provide energy e.g. as a fuel in internal combustion engines (without polluting, the atmosphere) or in H-air fuel cells generating electricity for electric motors or in compressor stores.    The decompsn. prod can be a mixt. of B and LiH. The prodn. of H2 is suitable carried out at 200-550 degrees C pref 350-450 degrees C at 100 bars, pref. 10 bars. The reconstitution of the H store is suitably carried out at 300-750 degrees C pref. 600-650 degrees C and at 0.1-200 pref. 100-160 bars.
An electrolyte reservoir layer for use adjacent the catalyst layer of a fuel cell is porous throughout and includes (a) a catalyst facing surface, impregnated with hydrophobic material to a shallow depth over a major portion and including uniformly distributed areas not impregnated with hydrophobic material, and (b) uniformly distributed non-electrolyte-retaining portions extending from the non-catalyst-facing surface to the hydrophobic portions of the first surface. The non-electrolyte-retaining portions are only a small portion of the reservoir layer vol. Regions other than the non-electrolyte-retaining portions and the hydrophobic impregnated portions are hydrophilic.    The reservoir layer accommodates changes in electrolyte vol. without cell flooding or drying out. It allows reactant flow to the catalyst while having a large vol. able to retain electrolyte. The reservoir layer may also serve as an electrode substrate.
A C substrate material having a fibrillar microstructure and a porosity of 70-90% is mfd. from acrylic polymer filaments having a dia. commensurate with the desired porosity and contg. 50% acrylonitrile. The filaments are stabilised by heating in an oxidising atmos. until 3-15 wt.% O2 is introduced into the polymer. The stabilised filaments are reduced to fibres of selected average length.    The fibres are felted to produce a layer of uniform thickness with random fibre orientation. This is impregnated with resinous binder, forming a sheet material contg. 12-25 wt.% binder and the binder is cured at high temp. The structure is then heated at 1000-1200 degrees C in a nonoxidising atmos. to pyrolyse the fibres and binder and form the substrate material.    Used for fuel cell catalyst supports and reservoir plates. The C 'paper' is made from inexpensive fibres and uses a single pyrolysis step. There is good control of physical and mechanical properties, with e.g. resistivity controlled by porosity and pyrolysis temp. to give a lateral resistivity of 0.01-0.6 OMEGA cm for 15-20 mil. thick paper.
Silver oxide is washed by an alkaline aq. soln. to form fine powder. The fine powder is reduced at below 200 degrees C in a mixed gas of hydrogen and an inert gas of nitrogen.    Typically, 3 Kg silver oxide is placed in 51 of 7 N KOH aq. soln. The mixt. is stirred at 80 degrees C for 10-17 hours, washed and dried. Fine powders of silver oxide are obtd. and impurities such as Fe, Cu, Ca, Mg, Na, Si, etc. are removed. The fine powder is reduced at 80-160 degrees C in a mixed gas of H2 and N2 (1 : 4). Polytetrafluoroethylene is added to the reduced silver oxide powder, and the mixt. is hot pressed at 350 degrees C to provide electrodes.    Since silver oxide is reduced in the form of powder sintering is not required, and oxygen electrodes with high catalytic activity are obtd. even if the powder is moulded.
CO2 is removed from gas by absorption using a membrane composed of a porous layer of a hydrophilic material of which the two faces are covered by a layer composed of 10-90 wt. % hydrophobic substance and 90-10 wt. % hydrophylic substance. The hydrophilic part of the layers is impregnated with a catalyst which promote the conversion of CO2 into bicarbonate ions and the decomposition of the bicarbonate into gaseous CO2. The concn. of the catalyst is 0.1-3 M at a 2-14 N alkali metal buffer soln.    Pref. the hydrophilic layer of the membrane is a porous fibrous material of 50-200 mu thickness. The hydrophobic -hydrophilic layer is composed of a mixt. of PTFE and carbon black, the hydrophilic substance being present in an amt. of 70-90 wt. %. The thickness of each outer layer is 25-200u. The buffer soln. is KHCO/K2CO3 or CsHCO3/Cs2CO3 and the catalyst is mixed with K- or Cs fluoride. The catalyst may be meta arsenite, or boric acid and diethanolamine. The mole ratio of KF or CsF to alkali metal in the buffer soln. is 4:1 to 1:2.