(DE3116738-C)      The normally hydrophobic synthetic fibres in an electrolyte-resistant mat made without binders and used as a separator for electrochemical energy stores (battery cells) and containing labyrinthine pores of 0.2-50 microns radius are made hydrophilic by plasma treatment, esp. in a chamber contg. air or a gas whose molecules include elements with high electro-negative activity. The fibre surfaces have a final O:C ratio, as measured by electron spectroscopy of approx. 0.3-0.4.    For acid electrolyte the fibres are pref. polyester, polyolefin, polycarbonate or polysulphonate, while for alkaline electrolyte they may be polyamide, polyolefin, or polysulphonate; the mat may be strengthened by spot welding. After plasma treatment the mat may be treated with unsaturated organic acids such as acrylic acid to increase wettability by the electrolyte.    Used for Ni-Cd etc. cells made by rolling thin strips of active positive and negative material with an intermediate separator to absorb electrolyte. Surfactants, which could contaminate the electrolyte, are not needed. (22pp)    (GB2098636-B)      Separator material for electrochemical energy-storage units, consisting essentially of an electrolyte-resistant nonwoven fabric made from synthetic fibres bonded without binder and having labyrinthically arranged pores of radius from 0.2 to 50 microns, at least the surface of the fibres of the inherently hydrophobic nonwoven fabric having been rendered hydrophilic by a plasma treatment. Separator material according to claim 1, in the form of a sheet-like structure which is made from electrolyte-resistant fibres of hydrophobic polymeric material but has hydrophilic properties without the addn. of any kind of surface-active substances and the surfaces of whose fibres have an oxygen:carbon atomic ratio of 0.3:1 to 0.4:1. Separator material according to claim 1 or 2, in which the fabric is bonded by spot-welding or other thermally-induced bonding. Separator material according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the nonwoven fabric is made from polyolefin, polycarbonate, polyamide, polysulphone and/or polyester fibres. A process for the mfr. of separator material according to claim 1 wherein an electrolyte-resistant non-woven fabric made from synthetic fibres of hydrophobic polymeric material bonded without binder and having labyrinthically arranged pores of radius from 0.2 to 50 microns is passed at a pressure of from 10 -2 to 10 mbar through an evacuated chamber and exposed there to a glow discharge which is generated by two electrodes connected to a constant-voltage generator or an alternating-current voltage or a high frequency generator.