EP0216782A4 - Laminated lead alloy strip for battery grid application and electrochemical cells utilizing same. - Google Patents
Laminated lead alloy strip for battery grid application and electrochemical cells utilizing same.Info
- Publication number
- EP0216782A4 EP0216782A4 EP19850906009 EP85906009A EP0216782A4 EP 0216782 A4 EP0216782 A4 EP 0216782A4 EP 19850906009 EP19850906009 EP 19850906009 EP 85906009 A EP85906009 A EP 85906009A EP 0216782 A4 EP0216782 A4 EP 0216782A4
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- lead
- strip
- calcium
- alloy
- tin
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 229910000978 Pb alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims abstract description 36
- 229910001128 Sn alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 25
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 23
- 229910052787 antimony Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 21
- WATWJIUSRGPENY-UHFFFAOYSA-N antimony atom Chemical compound [Sb] WATWJIUSRGPENY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 19
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 claims description 17
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- ATJFFYVFTNAWJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Tin Chemical compound [Sn] ATJFFYVFTNAWJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 11
- 239000003792 electrolyte Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfuric acid Chemical compound OS(O)(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 7
- 229910052785 arsenic Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000011575 calcium Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 229910052791 calcium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 6
- OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Calcium Chemical compound [Ca] OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- RQNWIZPPADIBDY-UHFFFAOYSA-N arsenic atom Chemical compound [As] RQNWIZPPADIBDY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 abstract description 20
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 abstract description 6
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 36
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 description 23
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 22
- 208000028659 discharge Diseases 0.000 description 22
- 229910052718 tin Inorganic materials 0.000 description 13
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 9
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 8
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 7
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000010923 batch production Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000010924 continuous production Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 4
- 229910000882 Ca alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- RRHGJUQNOFWUDK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Isoprene Chemical compound CC(=C)C=C RRHGJUQNOFWUDK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000000052 comparative effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000001351 cycling effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000000151 deposition Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229910001092 metal group alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229910052761 rare earth metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 150000002910 rare earth metals Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 3
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nickel Chemical compound [Ni] PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910001245 Sb alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000005275 alloying Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000002140 antimony alloy Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910000074 antimony hydride Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- QQHJESKHUUVSIC-UHFFFAOYSA-N antimony lead Chemical compound [Sb].[Pb] QQHJESKHUUVSIC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910052793 cadmium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- BDOSMKKIYDKNTQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N cadmium atom Chemical compound [Cd] BDOSMKKIYDKNTQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000005266 casting Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000008021 deposition Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004070 electrodeposition Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000009713 electroplating Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 238000010030 laminating Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- OUULRIDHGPHMNQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N stibane Chemical compound [SbH3] OUULRIDHGPHMNQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000000153 supplemental effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- VYZAMTAEIAYCRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Chromium Chemical compound [Cr] VYZAMTAEIAYCRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- MYMOFIZGZYHOMD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Dioxygen Chemical compound O=O MYMOFIZGZYHOMD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- GYHNNYVSQQEPJS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Gallium Chemical compound [Ga] GYHNNYVSQQEPJS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Magnesium Chemical compound [Mg] FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910001122 Mischmetal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- ZOKXTWBITQBERF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Molybdenum Chemical compound [Mo] ZOKXTWBITQBERF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- BUGBHKTXTAQXES-UHFFFAOYSA-N Selenium Chemical compound [Se] BUGBHKTXTAQXES-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silver Chemical compound [Ag] BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zinc Chemical compound [Zn] HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- WVOZQBGJYFSVHF-UHFFFAOYSA-N [Pb].[Sb].[As] Chemical compound [Pb].[Sb].[As] WVOZQBGJYFSVHF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- YBOXAZZJNODWJE-UHFFFAOYSA-N [Pb].[Sn].[Ca] Chemical compound [Pb].[Sn].[Ca] YBOXAZZJNODWJE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000010306 acid treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910001439 antimony ion Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052797 bismuth Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- JCXGWMGPZLAOME-UHFFFAOYSA-N bismuth atom Chemical compound [Bi] JCXGWMGPZLAOME-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000022131 cell cycle Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052804 chromium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011651 chromium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008199 coating composition Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910017052 cobalt Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010941 cobalt Substances 0.000 description 1
- GUTLYIVDDKVIGB-UHFFFAOYSA-N cobalt atom Chemical compound [Co] GUTLYIVDDKVIGB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002844 continuous effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007547 defect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000032798 delamination Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910001882 dioxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000007598 dipping method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052733 gallium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052732 germanium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- GNPVGFCGXDBREM-UHFFFAOYSA-N germanium atom Chemical compound [Ge] GNPVGFCGXDBREM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N gold Chemical compound [Au] PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052737 gold Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010931 gold Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000008240 homogeneous mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052738 indium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- APFVFJFRJDLVQX-UHFFFAOYSA-N indium atom Chemical compound [In] APFVFJFRJDLVQX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000002648 laminated material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003475 lamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- WABPQHHGFIMREM-DFNMHJECSA-N lead-195 Chemical compound [195Pb] WABPQHHGFIMREM-DFNMHJECSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052749 magnesium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011777 magnesium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001465 metallisation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000005012 migration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013508 migration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052750 molybdenum Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011733 molybdenum Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052759 nickel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 231100000572 poisoning Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 230000000607 poisoning effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005204 segregation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052711 selenium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011669 selenium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052709 silver Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004332 silver Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005507 spraying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004544 sputter deposition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002344 surface layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052714 tellurium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- PORWMNRCUJJQNO-UHFFFAOYSA-N tellurium atom Chemical compound [Te] PORWMNRCUJJQNO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052716 thallium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- BKVIYDNLLOSFOA-UHFFFAOYSA-N thallium Chemical compound [Tl] BKVIYDNLLOSFOA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910001174 tin-lead alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000007740 vapor deposition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011800 void material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052725 zinc Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011701 zinc Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M4/00—Electrodes
- H01M4/02—Electrodes composed of, or comprising, active material
- H01M4/64—Carriers or collectors
- H01M4/66—Selection of materials
- H01M4/68—Selection of materials for use in lead-acid accumulators
- H01M4/685—Lead alloys
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B15/00—Layered products comprising a layer of metal
- B32B15/01—Layered products comprising a layer of metal all layers being exclusively metallic
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M4/00—Electrodes
- H01M4/02—Electrodes composed of, or comprising, active material
- H01M4/64—Carriers or collectors
- H01M4/70—Carriers or collectors characterised by shape or form
- H01M4/72—Grids
- H01M4/74—Meshes or woven material; Expanded metal
- H01M4/745—Expanded metal
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M4/00—Electrodes
- H01M4/02—Electrodes composed of, or comprising, active material
- H01M4/64—Carriers or collectors
- H01M4/82—Multi-step processes for manufacturing carriers for lead-acid accumulators
- H01M4/84—Multi-step processes for manufacturing carriers for lead-acid accumulators involving casting
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries
Definitions
- This invention relates to laminated lead alloy composite materials for use in fabricating battery ⁇ grids... More particularly, it relates to wrought strips of a lead- calcium-tin alloy laminated on each side with an antimonial lead alloy. The invention also relates to electrochemical cells with grids constructed from these laminated materials.
- a lead alloy is melted and continuously cast into a slab, which is then rolled into a strip.
- the wrought strip is then mechanically expanded into a grid.
- the grid expansion process is more advantageous than the cast method because it is less labor intensive and minimizes the possibility of the occurrence of industrial pollution problems.
- Battery grids produced by the grid expansion method have excellent functional characteristics. They are less vulnerable to failure by grid corrosion.
- Grid material produced by the grid expansion method is devoid of the chemical segregation and structural inhomogeneity of cast grids. For this reason, batteries made from such material usually have a longer useful active life, especially when used as supplemental power source. grids. For this reason, batteries made from such material usually have a longer useful active life, especially when used as supplemental power source.
- lead alloys of lead , calcium and tin are generally used as the material for most grids produced by the expanded grid process. These alloys recrystallize during rolling, however, and thus lack the hardness required for use as battery grid material.
- lead-calcium-tin alloys are not suitable for batteries which undergo deep charge-discharge cycles, such as so called "traction" batteries for small electrically powered vehicles.
- the cycle life of the lead- calcium-tin alloys is significantly inferior to the cycle life of the antimonial lead alloys which have conventionally been used in the fabrication of cast grids.
- Traction batteries are typically made of cast antimonial lead due to the good past adherence of the cast material during deep charging-discharging cycles.
- U.S. Patent 4 ,401 ,730 discloses sealed, deep cycle lead acid batteries constructed with positive grids formed from cast antimony-lead alloys containing no more than about 2 weight percent of antimony and negative grids formed from alloys that are essentially antimony- free. Furthermore, these batteries have a highly porous, easily wetted separator material between the plates and a sufficient void volume to permit oxygen gas transport therethrough.
- This patent discloses the typical construction of sealed lead-acid batteries and its content is expressly incorporated by reference herein. '
- These cast alloys have been subject to various drawbacks and also have not been manufactured by the expanded grid technology.
- Various modifications to cast antimonial lead battery grids have been made to overcome problems such as antimony ion migration, contamination of the battery electrolyte, and deposition on the battery cathode.
- Patent 2,952 ,726 discloses a method for reducing the content of chemically active antimony in batteries, the grids of which are fabricated of antimony- lead alloys. This method involves the reduction of the antimony content in the surface layer portions of the positive electrode plates and pasting the negative electrode plates with an active electrode mass mixed with additives which act against self discharge by binding metallic antimony deposited on the negative plates during operation.
- the additives consist of about 0.1 weight percent of the electrode mass of polymers of isoprene or isoprene derivatives in liquid form.
- the surface antimony content may be reduced either by acid treatment with concentrated sulfuric acid, electrolytic treatment to form hydrogen which reacts with antimony to form gaseous antimony hydride, or by glow discharge treatment which similarly results in hydrogen generation followed by gaseous antimony hydride formation.
- U.S._ Patent.3,933,5_2 discloses the use of non- antimonial lead alloys or antimonial lead alloys with less than 0.5 weight percent of antimony, onto which a coating of pure antimony has been applied to a surface density of from 0.0002 to 0.00132 gm/cm 2 .
- the alloys are used for the fabrication of the positive plates of a battery grid to increase the cycle life of the batteries.
- Such coatings may ⁇ be applied in a number of ways including electroplating, spraying, vapor deposition, sputtering and chemical displacement.
- Such solutions however cause other problems to occur in batteries so fabricated, namely, the grids show the same high charging potential as antimony-free grids under the same conditions.
- the thin deposited coating contains porosity which detracts from its performance.
- the coating composition is selected such that the resulting grid achieves charging potentials of the same magnitude as are achieved with grids formed of lead alloys containing 6 to 12 weight percent antimony, while minimizing the possibility of antimony poisoning of the cathode.
- the surface alloy disclosed,there contains from 3 to 95 weight percent of one or more of the metals copper, silver, gold, zinc, cadmium, germanium, indium, thallium, gallium, tin, - arsenic, antimony, bismuth, selenium, tellurium, chromium, 1 molybdenum, nickel and cobalt.
- the methods for applying the surface alloy there include electroplating, dipping in molten alloy, spray metallization and deposition of evaporated metal in a vacuum. These methods deposit very thin layers of surface alloy, and porosity is again a source of problems in the performance of the alloy.
- U.S. Patent 4,125,690 discloses the use of lead-aluminum-calcium alloys alone or in conjunction with lead-tin-calcium alloys.
- This patent further discloses that where cold-wrought procedures are 0 used, the alloy may either be continuously cast as a slab and then preferably immediately rolled to a sheet or be additionally cooled so that it is rolled at about ambient temperature. The sheet may be rolled to reduce its 5 thickness by a reduction ratio of. from 2 to 20.
- This invention discloses the art of using laminated wrought strip for battery grid applications, especially for so called "traction" batteries used in electrically powered vehicles.
- the strips of the grid material consist of a layer of antimonial lead alloy, laminated to each side of a lead-calcium-tin strip.
- the laminated s.trip is produced by a roll bonding process at room temperature .
- This invention involves a composite metallic allo strip fabricated from a center lead-calcium-tin alloy strip laminated on both sides with an outer layer of antimonial lead alloy.
- the composite metallic alloy strip of the invention is ideally suited for use as a battery grid material, especially, for traction batteries with deep charge-discharge cycles as employed in electrically powered vehicles.
- the composite metallic alloy strip is produced in either a batch or continuous process by roll bonding the individual center and two outer strips.
- the batch process is generally used for smaller scale, lower volume applications.
- the continuous process is preferred for the production of laminated strip material in large scale, high volume applications such as in the manufacture of conventional non-deep charge-discharge lead-acid automobile batteries.
- the roll bonding process is carried out at room temperature. This process, as utilized in the invention, serves to increase the cycle life and deep discharge g characteristics of lead-acid batteries constructed from battery grid material as disclosed herein.
- the preferred composition contains about 0.05 to about 0.15 0 percent calcium and about 0.01 to about 0.1 weight percent tin, with the balance being substantially lead. (Unless otherwise designated, all percentages in this application refer to weight percent.)
- a number of 5 antimonial lead alloys may be utilized for the outer strip layer. It is difficult to roll antimonial lead alloys having greater than about 10% antimony.
- An especially advantageous composition is' about 0.5 to about 2 percent antimony and about 0.05 to about 0.5 percent arsenic, with 0 the balance being substantially lead.
- the components of the lead-calcium-tin alloy include the following: about 0.08 to about 0.10 percent calcium and about 0.1 to about 5 0.8 percent tin, preferably between about 0.3 to 0.7 percent tin. Minor amounts (less than about 0.1 percent) of other alloying elements such as aluminum, silicon, magnesium, etc. which do not detract from the desired strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance of these lead-calcium-tin alloys,
- antimonial lead alloys include the following: about _b_ 0.2 to 0.5 percent arsenic and about 1.2 to 2 percent antimony and preferably about 1.6 to 2 oercent antimony. Minor amounts (less than about 0.5 percent) of other alloying elements such as cadmium, rare earth metals, aluminum, etc., which do not detract from the desired electrical properties of antimony arsenic-lead alloys, may also be present.
- This invention also encompasses the electrochemical cells constructed with a qrid of positive plates fabricated from the composite metallic alloy strip material described above and a separator material intimately contacting the grid and separating the plates thereof from one another.
- the negative plates of these cells may also be constructed from these composite metallic strip materials. From an economic standpoint, however, it is preferable to construct these negative plates from standard lead-calcium-tin alloys.
- the separator material should be at least about 70% porous, easily wettable and capable of wicking the electrolyte;
- the electrochemical cells of this invention also contain an electrolyte, such as sulfuric acid.
- the electrochemical cells of this invention reach at least about 75% depth of discharge after 2 hours and have an overall charge-discharge cycle life of at least about 200 hours, a significant and surprising improvement over batteries constructed with conventional grid materials and/or grid constructions.
- a laminated strip for use as a battery grid can be produced by either a batch or continuous process.
- individual lead-calcium-tin and antimonial lead alloy strips are prepared by first separately melting the alloys and static casting to slabs -measuring 2 inches x 28 inches x 33 inches.
- the lead-calcium-tin alloy slab is then rolled to a strip ranging in thickness from 1 inch down to 0.25 inches, and preferably 0.5 inch.
- the antimonial lead alloy slab is rolled to a strip which can be as thin as can be practicably rolled, and preferably is 0.08 inches.
- the final rolled thickness is 0.042", since this thickness is commonly utilized in the battery industry as a preferred expanded grid size.
- the total thickness may vary widely over a range from about 0.001 to about 0.25. Strips having ' greater or lesser total thicknesses may also be utilized, if desired, withoput departing from this invention.
- ⁇ It is preferred to provide outer- layers of antimonial lead alloys which are sufficiently thick to • improve the electrical properties of the grid but below that which will reduce the contribution of the lead-calcium-tin to the overall strength of the strip.
- the preferred final thickness for each outer layer ranges from 0.0002 to 0.04".
- the preferred thickness for each outer layer will be in the jange ⁇ of about 1:5 to 1:100 (i.e. , rjat o ⁇ of each outer layer to the inner layer) and most.preferably between about 1:20 toi 1:50.
- Alt .ough each outer layer is usually the same thickness, outer layers of different thickness can be easily provided and utilized if desired.
- the rolling of the strip produces a multi-layer structure wherein the outer layers are relatively porosity free and are metallurgically bonded to the inner layer. This also enables the strip to provide the improved I
- the cost of a rolled laminate is signi icantly lower in comparison to providing such outer layers by electrodeposition, coating, or otherwise depositing antimonial lead alloys on lead- calcium-tin substrates.
- the starting thickness of the individual strips can be selected to obtain the desired final thickness for each layer as well as the total thickness. For example,- to obtain a preferred grid structure, two pieces of 0.08" antimonial lead alloy are sandwiched around an inner piece of a 0.5" lead-calcium-tin alloy. As one skilled in the rolling art would realize, however, these thicknesses can be varied to obtained different final thicknesses. Thus, by selecting different layer thicknesses before rolling, different ratios of layer thicknesses can be easily obtained. J. lmi -
- lead-calcium-tin alloy slabs are continuously cast, to a thickness of 3/4 inch . ' The slabs are then directed to a rolling mill where they can be cold rolled to the desired thickness.
- the antimonial lead slabs for use in the continuous lamination process are also initially rolled to a thinner desired thickness before laminating. This thinner gauqe is required for continuous processing so that the antimonial lead strips may be coiled easily.
- One or two pieces of lead-calcium-tin strip are sandwiched between two pieces of antimonial lead strip and pack rolled to a final desired thickness of the laminate.
- the roll b.Q&dlxiCL.operation is accomplished using a rolling mill having a 20 inch diameter roll and capable of handling a 30 inch wide strip. Such machines are well known in the industry as "Two-Hi" rolling mills.
- a reduct on ⁇ of at least about 30% and preferably J50% or more is required to achieve the appropriate bonding between the layers. Typically, an 80 to 95% reduction is utilized.
- Rolling ⁇ is performed "c_oldT_, at ambient temperature, however, the rolled strip experiences. a temperature rise due to frictional heat generated during the rolling operation and attains a maximum temperature of about 185°F at the end of the rolling operation.
- the cast grid was produced using a conventional grid caster.
- the alloys were melted and static cast to slabs of 2 inches x 28 inches x 33 inches. Slabs were then rolled to a finished gauge of 0.042 inch for grid expansion.
- the antimonial lead was rolled to 0.08 inch strip and the lead-calcium-tin alloy was rolled to 0.5 inch strip. Two pieces of lead-calcium-tin strip were then sandwiched between two pieces of antimonial lead strip and pack rolled to 0.042 inch.
- the finished rolled strip exhibited a thickness distribution of 0.037 inch versus 0.0025 inch for the center layer of the lead- calcium-tin alloy and the outer layers of the antimonial lead alloy, respectively.
- Tensile strength of this laminated strip was found to be 7.5 ksi with an elongation of 15 percent. All the 0.042 inch strip was slit and then expanded into a grid having a width of about 2.68 inches.
- the cells were constructed using, as far as possible, methods and procedures similar to those employed in commercial battery fabrication.
- each of the batteries was approximately 6 inches x 4 inches.
- the grids were pasted with a conventional high density formula. Efforts were made to keep the weight of paste per unit area of positive plate constant regardless of grid type.
- Each test cell consisted of three plates. Commercially available separators of the type used in the manufacture of traction type batteries (such as armor-rib with 0.020 glass mat, manufactured by W.R. Grace) were used between the plates.
- the cells were formed conventionally using a sulfuric acid electrolyte with a specific gravity of about 1.11 and constant current. After formation, the cells were dumped and refilled with acid having a specific gravity of about 1.32. Adjustment of the specific gravity of the electrolyte in the individual cells was then made to bring the final value to within the range 1.265 to 1.275.
- the cells were charged for 9.5 hours through current limiting resistors from a regulated 2.6 volt bus.
- the current was limited to a 2 hour rate at the beginning of the charge phase of the cycle. Following the charge phase there was a one-half hour rest period before commencement of the discharge phase.
- the discharge phase was carried out to yield a 75% depth of discharge after 2 hours. As the cells progressed toward the end of the discharge phase, the voltage dropped below 1.75 volts before the end of the 2 hour discharge period. When that occurred, and automatic cell cut-off circuit terminated the discharge at 1.75 volts in order to avoid an unrealistically deep discharge cycle. Cell failure was defined to have occurred when cell capacity fell below 50 percent of the capacity of the 10th cycle. Base capacity was defined as the 10th cycle value in order to avoid initial transients. Cells were cycled at room temperature, separated from each other, to minimize heating effects.
- antimonial lead alloy strips were sandwiched around different thicknesses of lead- calcium-tin alloy strips. These multi-layer strips were then rolled as described in the specification to a desired final dimension. The various thickness of the initial and final strips are illustrated below in Table II.
- the antimonial-lead alloy strip comprises 2% Sb, 0.3% As, 0.2% Sn , balance Pb, while the lead-calcium-tin alloy strip comprises 0.07% Ca, 0.05% Sn, balance Pb .
- Example layer 3 4 5 6 outer layer (top) 0.08 0.16 0.04 0.16 0.16 0.008 inner layer 0.5 ' 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 outer layer (bottom) 0.08 0.16 0.4 0.08 0.01 0.04 B. Laminate Thickness (in.)
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Abstract
A laminated lead alloy strip suitable for deep charge-discharge as well as conventional lead-acid battery grid application. A thin layer of an antimonial lead alloy is laminated on such side of a lead-calcium-tin alloy strip by rollbonding. The inner layer provides good mechanical strength, while the outer layers provide the electrochemical properties needed for long cycle life in deep charge-discharge batteries. Also, methods of making the strip and use of this strip as an expanded grid material in electrochemical cells or batteries.
Description
LAMINATED LEAD ALLOY STRIP FOR BATTERY GRID
APPLICATION AND ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS UTILIZING SAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to laminated lead alloy composite materials for use in fabricating battery^ grids... More particularly, it relates to wrought strips of a lead- calcium-tin alloy laminated on each side with an antimonial lead alloy. The invention also relates to electrochemical cells with grids constructed from these laminated materials.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of grids produced from expanded wrought strip material has become increasingly popular in battery manufacture. As compared with conventional grid casting, the grid expansion process nakes possible the highly automatic production of battery grids.
In the grid expansion process, a lead alloy is melted and continuously cast into a slab, which is then rolled into a strip. The wrought strip is then mechanically expanded into a grid. The grid expansion process is more advantageous than the cast method because it is less labor intensive and minimizes the possibility of the occurrence of industrial pollution problems.
Battery grids produced by the grid expansion method have excellent functional characteristics. They are less vulnerable to failure by grid corrosion. Grid material produced by the grid expansion method is devoid of the chemical segregation and structural inhomogeneity of cast grids. For this reason, batteries made from such material usually have a longer useful active life, especially when used as supplemental power source.
grids. For this reason, batteries made from such material usually have a longer useful active life, especially when used as supplemental power source.
At present, due to their strength and formability properties, lead alloys of lead , calcium and tin are generally used as the material for most grids produced by the expanded grid process. These alloys recrystallize during rolling, however, and thus lack the hardness required for use as battery grid material.
Furthermore, lead-calcium-tin alloys are not suitable for batteries which undergo deep charge-discharge cycles, such as so called "traction" batteries for small electrically powered vehicles. The cycle life of the lead- calcium-tin alloys is significantly inferior to the cycle life of the antimonial lead alloys which have conventionally been used in the fabrication of cast grids. Traction batteries are typically made of cast antimonial lead due to the good past adherence of the cast material during deep charging-discharging cycles.
Thus, U.S. Patent 4 ,401 ,730 discloses sealed, deep cycle lead acid batteries constructed with positive grids formed from cast antimony-lead alloys containing no more than about 2 weight percent of antimony and negative grids formed from alloys that are essentially antimony- free. Furthermore, these batteries have a highly porous, easily wetted separator material between the plates and a sufficient void volume to permit oxygen gas transport therethrough. This patent discloses the typical construction of sealed lead-acid batteries and its content is expressly incorporated by reference herein. '
These cast alloys, however, have been subject to various drawbacks and also have not been manufactured by the expanded grid technology. Various modifications to cast antimonial lead battery grids have been made to overcome problems such as antimony ion migration, contamination of the battery electrolyte, and deposition on the battery cathode.
_U.S. Patent 2,952 ,726 discloses a method for reducing the content of chemically active antimony in batteries, the grids of which are fabricated of antimony- lead alloys. This method involves the reduction of the antimony content in the surface layer portions of the positive electrode plates and pasting the negative electrode plates with an active electrode mass mixed with additives which act against self discharge by binding metallic antimony deposited on the negative plates during operation. The additives consist of about 0.1 weight percent of the electrode mass of polymers of isoprene or isoprene derivatives in liquid form. The surface antimony content may be reduced either by acid treatment with concentrated sulfuric acid, electrolytic treatment to form hydrogen which reacts with antimony to form gaseous antimony hydride, or by glow discharge treatment which similarly results in hydrogen generation followed by gaseous antimony hydride formation.
U.S._ Patent.3,933,5_2 discloses the use of non- antimonial lead alloys or antimonial lead alloys with less than 0.5 weight percent of antimony, onto which a coating of pure antimony has been applied to a surface density of from 0.0002 to 0.00132 gm/cm2. The alloys are used for the fabrication of the positive plates of a battery grid to increase the cycle life of the batteries. Such coatings may¬ be applied in a number of ways including electroplating, spraying, vapor deposition, sputtering and chemical
displacement. Such solutions however cause other problems to occur in batteries so fabricated, namely, the grids show the same high charging potential as antimony-free grids under the same conditions. Also, the thin deposited coating contains porosity which detracts from its performance.
Similarly, U.S. Patent .4,107 ,.407_.discloses a grid for the positive electrode of a storage battery fabricated from a base of lead or lead alloy essentially free from antimony and coated with a lead alloy of a different compo¬ sition. The coating composition is selected such that the resulting grid achieves charging potentials of the same magnitude as are achieved with grids formed of lead alloys containing 6 to 12 weight percent antimony, while minimizing the possibility of antimony poisoning of the cathode. The surface alloy disclosed,there contains from 3 to 95 weight percent of one or more of the metals copper, silver, gold, zinc, cadmium, germanium, indium, thallium, gallium, tin, - arsenic, antimony, bismuth, selenium, tellurium, chromium,1 molybdenum, nickel and cobalt. The methods for applying the surface alloy there include electroplating, dipping in molten alloy, spray metallization and deposition of evaporated metal in a vacuum. These methods deposit very thin layers of surface alloy, and porosity is again a source of problems in the performance of the alloy.
Other references disclose the use of additional materials such as rare earth metals in lead-antimony alloys to improve the performance of battery grids fabricated with the alloy, especially with respect to grain size and corrosion. Thus U.S. Patent 4,433_,405 discloses the addition of between 0.001 and 0.1 percent of mixtures of rare earth metals, including misch metal to lead-antimony
alloys containing less than 4 percent antimony. The reference also discloses the inclusion of between 0.005 and 0.1 percent copper and, optionally, arsenic and tin.
Alternatively, suggestions have been made to use b different lead alloy materials in the construction of these battery grids. For example, U.S. Patent 4,125,690 discloses the use of lead-aluminum-calcium alloys alone or in conjunction with lead-tin-calcium alloys. This patent further discloses that where cold-wrought procedures are 0 used, the alloy may either be continuously cast as a slab and then preferably immediately rolled to a sheet or be additionally cooled so that it is rolled at about ambient temperature. The sheet may be rolled to reduce its 5 thickness by a reduction ratio of. from 2 to 20.
___•S.„Patent 4,279,977 discloses wrought, recrystallized lead-calcium and lead-calcium-tin alloy strips which are less than about 0.07 inch thick fpr use in the manufacture of battery grids. The alloy strips are 0 first cast and then unidirectionally rolled in several successive stages to reduce the thickness of the strip. The rolled strips undergo recrystallizatiόn at room temperature resulting in a microstructure consisting of a substantially homogeneous mixture of equiaxed and columnar grains. For 5 alloys with a low tin content, below about 0.35 weight percent tin, rolling is accomplished according to conventional rolling schedules, whereas with alloys of high tin content, over about 0.35 weight percent tin, a special rolling schedule including at least six substantially equal 0 thickness reductions must be used. The alloys of the patent are claimed to possess a stable tensile strength, both at room temperature and at temperatures up to 150° F. The strips of that invention are fast rolled , such as by a tandem mill. 5
None of these references disclose that antimonial. lead alloys can be prepared by the expanded grid technology in conjunction with calcium-tin-lead alloys to provide a battery grid which has good mechanical strength and an improved deep charge-discharge cycle life.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention discloses the art of using laminated wrought strip for battery grid applications, especially for so called "traction" batteries used in electrically powered vehicles. The strips of the grid material consist of a layer of antimonial lead alloy, laminated to each side of a lead-calcium-tin strip. The laminated s.trip is produced by a roll bonding process at room temperature .
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention involves a composite metallic allo strip fabricated from a center lead-calcium-tin alloy strip laminated on both sides with an outer layer of antimonial lead alloy. The composite metallic alloy strip of the invention is ideally suited for use as a battery grid material, especially, for traction batteries with deep charge-discharge cycles as employed in electrically powered vehicles.
The composite metallic alloy strip is produced in either a batch or continuous process by roll bonding the individual center and two outer strips. The batch process is generally used for smaller scale, lower volume applications. The continuous process is preferred for the production of laminated strip material in large scale, high volume applications such as in the manufacture of
conventional non-deep charge-discharge lead-acid automobile batteries. The roll bonding process is carried out at room temperature. This process, as utilized in the invention, serves to increase the cycle life and deep discharge g characteristics of lead-acid batteries constructed from battery grid material as disclosed herein.
Although any of the commercially available lead- calcium-tin alloys can be used for the center strip, the preferred composition contains about 0.05 to about 0.15 0 percent calcium and about 0.01 to about 0.1 weight percent tin, with the balance being substantially lead. (Unless otherwise designated, all percentages in this application refer to weight percent.) Similarly, while a number of 5 antimonial lead alloys (ranging from almost 0 percent to about 10 percent antimony) may be utilized for the outer strip layer. It is difficult to roll antimonial lead alloys having greater than about 10% antimony. An especially advantageous composition is' about 0.5 to about 2 percent antimony and about 0.05 to about 0.5 percent arsenic, with 0 the balance being substantially lead.
Other advantageous ranges for the components of the lead-calcium-tin alloy include the following: about 0.08 to about 0.10 percent calcium and about 0.1 to about 5 0.8 percent tin, preferably between about 0.3 to 0.7 percent tin. Minor amounts (less than about 0.1 percent) of other alloying elements such as aluminum, silicon, magnesium, etc. which do not detract from the desired strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance of these lead-calcium-tin alloys,
30 may be present.
Also, other advantageous ranges for the components of the antimonial lead alloys include the following: about _b_ 0.2 to 0.5 percent arsenic and about 1.2 to 2 percent
antimony and preferably about 1.6 to 2 oercent antimony. Minor amounts (less than about 0.5 percent) of other alloying elements such as cadmium, rare earth metals, aluminum, etc., which do not detract from the desired electrical properties of antimony arsenic-lead alloys, may also be present.
This invention also encompasses the electrochemical cells constructed with a qrid of positive plates fabricated from the composite metallic alloy strip material described above and a separator material intimately contacting the grid and separating the plates thereof from one another. For certain applications, the negative plates of these cells may also be constructed from these composite metallic strip materials. From an economic standpoint, however, it is preferable to construct these negative plates from standard lead-calcium-tin alloys. The separator material should be at least about 70% porous, easily wettable and capable of wicking the electrolyte; The electrochemical cells of this invention also contain an electrolyte, such as sulfuric acid.
The electrochemical cells of this invention reach at least about 75% depth of discharge after 2 hours and have an overall charge-discharge cycle life of at least about 200 hours, a significant and surprising improvement over batteries constructed with conventional grid materials and/or grid constructions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A laminated strip for use as a battery grid can be produced by either a batch or continuous process. For the batch process., individual lead-calcium-tin and antimonial lead alloy strips are prepared by first separately melting
the alloys and static casting to slabs -measuring 2 inches x 28 inches x 33 inches. The lead-calcium-tin alloy slab is then rolled to a strip ranging in thickness from 1 inch down to 0.25 inches, and preferably 0.5 inch. The antimonial lead alloy slab is rolled to a strip which can be as thin as can be practicably rolled, and preferably is 0.08 inches.
In preparing the strip according to the invention, it is preferred to control the final rolled thickness to 0.042", since this thickness is commonly utilized in the battery industry as a preferred expanded grid size. For other applications, the total thickness may vary widely over a range from about 0.001 to about 0.25. Strips having' greater or lesser total thicknesses may also be utilized, if desired, withoput departing from this invention.
^It is preferred to provide outer- layers of antimonial lead alloys which are sufficiently thick to • improve the electrical properties of the grid but below that which will reduce the contribution of the lead-calcium-tin to the overall strength of the strip. Thus, when the final thickness of the inner_layer, is 0.037, the preferred final thickness for each outer layer ranges from 0.0002 to 0.04". When the inner layer is other than 0.037" thick, the preferred thickness for each outer layer will be in the jangeι of about 1:5 to 1:100 (i.e. , rjat o^of each outer layer to the inner layer) and most.preferably between about 1:20 toi 1:50. Alt .ough each outer layer is usually the same thickness, outer layers of different thickness can be easily provided and utilized if desired.
The rolling of the strip produces a multi-layer structure wherein the outer layers are relatively porosity free and are metallurgically bonded to the inner layer. This also enables the strip to provide the improved
I
-10-
properties when utilized as an expanded grid in an electrochemical cells. In addition, the cost of a rolled laminate is signi icantly lower in comparison to providing such outer layers by electrodeposition, coating, or otherwise depositing antimonial lead alloys on lead- calcium-tin substrates.
Also, the problem of attempting to provide a specific alloy composition by electrodeposition or other coating processes is avoided by this invention. Any specific alloy is easily provided by rolling the desired composition before laminating the layer by roll bonding.
The starting thickness of the individual strips can be selected to obtain the desired final thickness for each layer as well as the total thickness. For example,- to obtain a preferred grid structure, two pieces of 0.08" antimonial lead alloy are sandwiched around an inner piece of a 0.5" lead-calcium-tin alloy. As one skilled in the rolling art would realize, however, these thicknesses can be varied to obtained different final thicknesses. Thus, by selecting different layer thicknesses before rolling, different ratios of layer thicknesses can be easily obtained. J. lmi -
In the continuou -s--**■ - τprmr:.io*n icWef"τsτ"'s, lead-calcium-tin alloy slabs are continuously cast, to a thickness of 3/4 inch .' The slabs are then directed to a rolling mill where they can be cold rolled to the desired thickness. The antimonial lead slabs for use in the continuous lamination process are also initially rolled to a thinner desired thickness before laminating. This thinner gauqe is required for continuous processing so that the antimonial lead strips may be coiled
easily. One or two pieces of lead-calcium-tin strip are sandwiched between two pieces of antimonial lead strip and pack rolled to a final desired thickness of the laminate.
In this continuous process, two antimonial lead strips are continuously fed to the roll bonder from coils on either side of the center lead-calcium-tin alloy strip to form the laminated sandwich. The preferred finished_rolled., strip, exhibits a^thickness distribution of .0.037 inch versus 0.0025 inch for the center layer of lead-calcium-tin alloy and the two outer layers of antimonial lead alloys respectively. . /
/yM~t
The roll b.Q&dlxiCL.operation is accomplished using a rolling mill having a 20 inch diameter roll and capable of handling a 30 inch wide strip. Such machines are well known in the industry as "Two-Hi" rolling mills. In roll bonding, a reduct on^of at least about 30% and preferably J50% or more is required to achieve the appropriate bonding between the layers. Typically, an 80 to 95% reduction is utilized. Rolling^ is performed "c_oldT_, at ambient temperature, however, the rolled strip experiences. a temperature rise due to frictional heat generated during the rolling operation and attains a maximum temperature of about 185°F at the end of the rolling operation.
By following the proper roll bonding procedure, no detectable porosity in the outer layers or delamination defects can be seen at the bonding interface under microscopic examination up to 1000 X. The resulting laminated strips have a tensile strength of about 6 to 9 ksi and an elonqation of about 10-25%." The laminate is then slit and expanded into a grid having the desired dimensions. The slitting operation is accomplished using a conventional strip slitter machine which is well known in the industry.
EXAMPLES
Example 1. Preparation of Comparative Battery Grids
Battery tests were conducted using four types of grids, namely, (1) cast antimonial lead grid, (2) expanded antimonial lead grid, (3) expanded lead-calcium-tin alloy grid and (4) the laminated grid of the present invention. The same alloy composition was used for both the cast and expanded antimonial lead grid. The laminated grid was produced by roll bonding of antimonial lead strip and lead- calcium-tin strip. Chemical analysis of the two alloys used in the preparation of the grid tested showed the following compositions:
Antimonial lead alloy
1.9% Sb - 0.32% As - 0.22% Sn - balance Pb
Lead-calcium-tin alloy
0.067% Ca - 0.54% Sn - balance Pb
The cast grid was produced using a conventional grid caster. For expanded grid, the alloys were melted and static cast to slabs of 2 inches x 28 inches x 33 inches. Slabs were then rolled to a finished gauge of 0.042 inch for grid expansion.
For the laminated grid, the antimonial lead was rolled to 0.08 inch strip and the lead-calcium-tin alloy was rolled to 0.5 inch strip. Two pieces of lead-calcium-tin strip were then sandwiched between two pieces of antimonial lead strip and pack rolled to 0.042 inch. The finished rolled strip exhibited a thickness distribution of 0.037 inch versus 0.0025 inch for the center layer of the lead- calcium-tin alloy and the outer layers of the antimonial lead alloy, respectively. Tensile strength of this
laminated strip was found to be 7.5 ksi with an elongation of 15 percent. All the 0.042 inch strip was slit and then expanded into a grid having a width of about 2.68 inches.
Example 2. Comparative testing of Batteries Utilizing
Prepared Grids
Comparative tests of batteries constructed utilizing the four types of grids prepared according to Example 1, above, were made to determine the deep charge- discharge cycle performance characteristics of the batteries. The cells were constructed using, as far as possible, methods and procedures similar to those employed in commercial battery fabrication.
The plate size of each of the batteries was approximately 6 inches x 4 inches. The grids were pasted with a conventional high density formula. Efforts were made to keep the weight of paste per unit area of positive plate constant regardless of grid type. Each test cell consisted of three plates. Commercially available separators of the type used in the manufacture of traction type batteries (such as armor-rib with 0.020 glass mat, manufactured by W.R. Grace) were used between the plates. The cells were formed conventionally using a sulfuric acid electrolyte with a specific gravity of about 1.11 and constant current. After formation, the cells were dumped and refilled with acid having a specific gravity of about 1.32. Adjustment of the specific gravity of the electrolyte in the individual cells was then made to bring the final value to within the range 1.265 to 1.275.
Prior to the beginning of the automatic cycling, manual cycles were run on each cell to determine initial cell capacities. Discharges were run at rates of 1.5, 8, 10
and 14 amps. Using the capacity information obtained from the manual cycling test, automatic cycling apparatus was set to provide a 2 hour discharge followed by a 9.5 hour charge twice each day with a discharge yield of 75% depth of discharge.
The cells were charged for 9.5 hours through current limiting resistors from a regulated 2.6 volt bus. The current was limited to a 2 hour rate at the beginning of the charge phase of the cycle. Following the charge phase there was a one-half hour rest period before commencement of the discharge phase.
The discharge phase was carried out to yield a 75% depth of discharge after 2 hours. As the cells progressed toward the end of the discharge phase, the voltage dropped below 1.75 volts before the end of the 2 hour discharge period. When that occurred, and automatic cell cut-off circuit terminated the discharge at 1.75 volts in order to avoid an unrealistically deep discharge cycle. Cell failure was defined to have occurred when cell capacity fell below 50 percent of the capacity of the 10th cycle. Base capacity was defined as the 10th cycle value in order to avoid initial transients. Cells were cycled at room temperature, separated from each other, to minimize heating effects.
Results of the tests showing the deep charge-,, discharge cycle life for all types of grids are shown in Table I. The data shown is the average of 3 cells. The results indicate that the cycle life of laminated grid is significantly better than that of lead-calcium-tin alloy grid, and better than that of both the cast and expanded antimonial lead grids.
.Table I: Cell Cycle Life
Grid Type Cycle Life (hours)
Laminated Grid . -207
Lead-Calcium-Tin Grid 172
Cast Antimonial Lead 182
Wrought Antimonial Lead 195
Examples 3-8. Preparation of additional laminated alloy strips
Various thickness of antimonial lead alloy, strips were sandwiched around different thicknesses of lead- calcium-tin alloy strips. These multi-layer strips were then rolled as described in the specification to a desired final dimension. The various thickness of the initial and final strips are illustrated below in Table II. In these strips, the antimonial-lead alloy strip comprises 2% Sb, 0.3% As, 0.2% Sn , balance Pb, while the lead-calcium-tin alloy strip comprises 0.07% Ca, 0.05% Sn, balance Pb .
Table II: Laminated Strip Rolling
A. Thickness (in.) before rolling into laminate
Example layer 3 4 5 6 outer layer (top) 0.08 0.16 0.04 0.16 0.16 0.008 inner layer 0.5 ' 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 outer layer (bottom) 0.08 0.16 0.4 0.08 0.01 0.04
B. Laminate Thickness (in.)
Exaπp B . layer 3 4 5 6 7 8 outer layer (top) 0.016 0.01 0.003 0.011 0.0035 0.0016 inner layer 0.1 0.032 0.04 0.034 0.011 0.1 outer layer (bottom) 0.016 0.01 0.032 0.005 0.0002 0.008
Total laminate thickness 0.132 0.052 0.075 0.05 0.0147 0.1096
10 The foregoing non-limiting examples illustrate embodiments of the invention. The invention encompasses all other examples which one skilled in the art may conceive within the scope of the claims as set forth hereinafter.
15
20
\
25
30
35
Claims
- -
THE CLAIMS
What is claimed is:
1. A wrought composite strip comprising an inner layer of a lead-calcium-tin alloy laminated on each side with a outer layer of an antimonial lead -alloy.
2. The composite strip of claim 1 wherein said lead-calcium-tin alloy comprises about 0.01 to about 0.15 weight percent calcium, about 0.01 to about 1 weight percent tin, and the balance being substantially lead , and wherein said ant_imonial lead alloy comprises about 0.5 to about 2 weight percent antimony, about 0.05 to about 0.5 weight percent arsenic, and the balance being substantially lead.
3. The composite strip of one claims 1 or 2 wherein the thickness of each outer layer ranges from about 0.0002 to 0.04 inches and the thickness of the inner layer ranges from about 0.001 to about 0.25 inches.
4. The composite strip of one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the ratio^of^ thicknesses for each outer layer to the inner layer ranges from about 1:5 to about 1:100.
5. The composite strip of one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the inner and outer layers are roll bonded by pack rolling.
6. An expanded battery grid material comprising the composite strip of one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, said strip subjected to an expanding operation to achieve the desired size and configuration.
7. An electrochemical cell comprising: a sealed container; a plurality of positive plates comprising th expanded battery grid material of claim 6; a plurality of negative plates; means to separate said positive and negative plates; and an electrolyte .
8. The electrochemical cell of claim 7 wherein the means to separate the positive and negative plates comprises a material which is at least about 70% porous and capable of wicking the electrolyte.
9. The electrochemical cell of one of claims 7 or 8 wherein the electrolyte comprises sulfuric acid.
10. The electrochemical cell of one of claims 7, 8 or 9 wherein the negative plates comprise the same expanded battery grid material as the positive plates.
11. A deep charge-discharge cycle traction battery for an electric vehicle comprising the electrochemical cell of one of claims 7, 8, 9 or 10; said battery capable of providing at least about 75% depth of discharge after 2 hours and an overall charge-discharge cycle life of at least about 200 hours.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US67323984A | 1984-11-19 | 1984-11-19 | |
| US673239 | 1984-11-19 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP0216782A4 true EP0216782A4 (en) | 1987-03-26 |
| EP0216782A1 EP0216782A1 (en) | 1987-04-08 |
Family
ID=24701844
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP85906009A Withdrawn EP0216782A1 (en) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-11-18 | Laminated lead alloy strip for battery grid application and electrochemical cells utilizing same |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0216782A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS62501318A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1986003343A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS61124064A (en) * | 1984-11-20 | 1986-06-11 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Grid body for lead storage battery and its manufacture |
| EP0213203B1 (en) * | 1985-02-26 | 1990-05-16 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Grid for lead storage batteries and a method of producing the same |
| IT1241001B (en) * | 1990-10-31 | 1993-12-27 | Magneti Marelli Spa | PROCEDURE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A GRID FOR LEAD ACCUMULATOR ELECTRODES |
| JPH04286866A (en) * | 1991-03-18 | 1992-10-12 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | sealed lead acid battery |
| JP3358508B2 (en) * | 1997-09-09 | 2002-12-24 | 松下電器産業株式会社 | Expanded grid for lead-acid battery |
| US6096145A (en) * | 1997-12-18 | 2000-08-01 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Method of making clad materials using lead alloys and composite strips made by such method |
| US7658774B2 (en) | 2003-03-18 | 2010-02-09 | Panasonic Corporation | Method of producing lattice body for lead storage battery, and lead storage battery |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR1294005A (en) * | 1960-07-05 | 1962-05-18 | Stolberger Zink A G Fuer Bergb | Ternary lead alloy, containing antimony and arsenic |
| US3867200A (en) * | 1973-09-20 | 1975-02-18 | Gen Motors Corp | Method and apparatus for making oxidized expanded lead battery grids |
| GB1455103A (en) * | 1974-05-25 | 1976-11-10 | Varta Battery Ag | Electrode grid for lead storage batteries |
| DE2721560A1 (en) * | 1977-05-13 | 1978-11-16 | Metallgesellschaft Ag | Expanded metal grids used as lead accumulator plates - where stiff metal or plastic substrate is clad with lead-antimony alloy |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2011613A (en) * | 1934-10-06 | 1935-08-20 | Magnesium Dev Corp | Magnesium duplex metal |
| US4166155A (en) * | 1974-10-11 | 1979-08-28 | Gould Inc. | Maintenance-free battery |
| SE397155B (en) * | 1976-02-27 | 1977-10-17 | Tudor Ab | GRAY FOR POSITIVE ELECTROD TO ELECTRIC LEAD ACCUMULATOR |
| US4279977A (en) * | 1978-09-11 | 1981-07-21 | General Motors Corporation | Lead-calcium-tin battery grid |
| US4262412A (en) * | 1979-05-29 | 1981-04-21 | Teledyne Industries, Inc. | Composite construction process and superconductor produced thereby |
-
1985
- 1985-11-18 WO PCT/US1985/002267 patent/WO1986003343A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1985-11-18 JP JP60505109A patent/JPS62501318A/en active Pending
- 1985-11-18 EP EP85906009A patent/EP0216782A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR1294005A (en) * | 1960-07-05 | 1962-05-18 | Stolberger Zink A G Fuer Bergb | Ternary lead alloy, containing antimony and arsenic |
| US3867200A (en) * | 1973-09-20 | 1975-02-18 | Gen Motors Corp | Method and apparatus for making oxidized expanded lead battery grids |
| GB1455103A (en) * | 1974-05-25 | 1976-11-10 | Varta Battery Ag | Electrode grid for lead storage batteries |
| DE2721560A1 (en) * | 1977-05-13 | 1978-11-16 | Metallgesellschaft Ag | Expanded metal grids used as lead accumulator plates - where stiff metal or plastic substrate is clad with lead-antimony alloy |
Non-Patent Citations (2)
| Title |
|---|
| PATENTS ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, vol. 7, no. 94 (E-171)[1239], 20th April 1983; & JP-A-58 18 876 (SHINKOUBE DENKI K.K.) 03-02-1983 * |
| See also references of WO8603343A1 * |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS62501318A (en) | 1987-05-21 |
| WO1986003343A1 (en) | 1986-06-05 |
| EP0216782A1 (en) | 1987-04-08 |
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