GB2038715A - A separator for electrical accumulators consisting of a microporous base material - Google Patents

A separator for electrical accumulators consisting of a microporous base material Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2038715A
GB2038715A GB7935601A GB7935601A GB2038715A GB 2038715 A GB2038715 A GB 2038715A GB 7935601 A GB7935601 A GB 7935601A GB 7935601 A GB7935601 A GB 7935601A GB 2038715 A GB2038715 A GB 2038715A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
separator
plastic material
network structure
base material
webs
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB7935601A
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GB2038715B (en
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
VARTA Batterie AG
Original Assignee
VARTA Batterie AG
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by VARTA Batterie AG filed Critical VARTA Batterie AG
Publication of GB2038715A publication Critical patent/GB2038715A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2038715B publication Critical patent/GB2038715B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/40Separators; Membranes; Diaphragms; Spacing elements inside cells
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/06Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
    • B32B27/08Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/32Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyolefins
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B3/00Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form
    • B32B3/26Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids ; characterised by an apertured layer
    • B32B3/266Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids ; characterised by an apertured layer characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B38/00Ancillary operations in connection with laminating processes
    • B32B38/0012Mechanical treatment, e.g. roughening, deforming, stretching
    • B32B2038/0028Stretching, elongating
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2323/00Polyalkenes
    • B32B2323/04Polyethylene
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2323/00Polyalkenes
    • B32B2323/10Polypropylene
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2457/00Electrical equipment
    • B32B2457/10Batteries
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/40Separators; Membranes; Diaphragms; Spacing elements inside cells
    • H01M50/489Separators, membranes, diaphragms or spacing elements inside the cells, characterised by their physical properties, e.g. swelling degree, hydrophilicity or shut down properties
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/40Separators; Membranes; Diaphragms; Spacing elements inside cells
    • H01M50/489Separators, membranes, diaphragms or spacing elements inside the cells, characterised by their physical properties, e.g. swelling degree, hydrophilicity or shut down properties
    • H01M50/491Porosity
    • YGENERAL 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
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10Energy storage using batteries
    • YGENERAL 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
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02PCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/50Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Cell Separators (AREA)
  • Materials For Medical Uses (AREA)

Abstract

A plastic separator particularly suitable for lead accumulators consists of a highly porous base sheet (1), which is joined on its side facing the positive electrode to a network-structured facing or lining surface (2). The facing/lining surface (2) may be drawn from a sheet- like material, similar to an expanded metal. Passages (4) for the escape of charging gases are formed by webs (3) of lesser thickness of the facing/lining surface (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A separator for electrical accumulators consisting of a microporous base material Technical field of the invention The invention relates to a separator for electrical accumulators or storage batteries, in particular lead accumulators, which consists of a microporous base material.
Background art The use of separators in accumulator technology covers a wide range of diaphragms, depending on the cell construction and type of electrodes, which extends from simple spacing elements to microporous three-dimensional structures. The vast majority of separators are nowadays manufactured from acid-resistant thermoplastic materials in particular for use in lead accumulators.
The simplest method for producing such separators is sintering of plastic powders. In this case polyvinyl chloride powder, for example, is applied in a thin layer on a steel conveyor belt and passed through a sintering furnace. At an air temperature in the furnace of 200 C to 350or the powder strip is sintered to form a solid body having a relatively high porosity.
Separator plates with a flat surface and of the desired size can be obtained by cutting or stamping out, butthese plates when in intimate surface contact with the electrode plates do not leave any space for the free escape of the gases formed during charging.
The sintered powder strip is therefore subsequently shaped between rollers to form an undulating or corrugated body before cutting at reduced temperature, or it is profiled by means of ribs or webs formed from the strip before the sintering, using shaping rollers or coating knives (doctor blades), or it is profiled by means of subsequently applied ribs.
As a rule, it is sufficient if there are ribs simply on one side of the separator, namely that side facing the positive electrode while the other side of the separator lies immediately adjacent to the negative electrode. Arrangements of this type as well as of corrugated sheets between positive and negative battery electrodes are known for example from German Auslegeschrift No. 1 771 227. The ribs and spacers are here formed by being stamped out from a sheet material of the desired thickness and are bonded or welded in parallel strips to the actual separator or are forcibly pressed thereinto.According to another known method as described in Auslegeschrift No. 1 269 212, a heat-curing synthetic resin mixture is applied by means of an extruder in the form of parallel strips onto the actual porous separator strip and the product is passed through an air-circulation furnace at an adjusted temperature at which the strands will melt on the substrate and simultaneously completely harden with said substrate, which is impregnated with a partially cured phenol-formaldehyde synethetic resin.
Since the ribs can run only in longitudinal paths in order to ensure that the rising oxygen bubbles can escape, the separator has a good mechanical stability only in one direction, and it can easily be folded or pressed in the other direction.
Disclosure of the invention The dbject of the invention is thus to provide a separator, in particular for lead accumulators such as starter batteries, which in addition to its actual function as a highly porous diaphragm also has a good stiffness and rigidity over the whole surface expanse and permits a satisfactory and trouble4ree escape of the charging gases from the electrolyte despite the close and tight fitting of the said diaphragm.
This objective is achieved according to the invention in that the side facing the positive electrode is joined to a network structure made of plastic material.
It is necessary to maintain the connection of the network structure with the actual base material at least until the separator has permanently assumed its position in the cell between the electrodes of different polarity. The purpose of the network is to stiffen a possibly extremely flexible base material in the course of production so that it can be manipulated to form a rigid separator.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Brief description of the drawing The accompanying drawing is a perspective view of part of a separator according to the present invention.
Best modes out carrying out the invention The base material of the separator according to the invention is a highly porous sheet preferably consisting of an acid-resistant, thermoplastic material. Suitable materials include polyethylene, but polypropylene is preferred.
A known polypropylene sheet for example has a thickness of approximately 25 microns and a porosity of 35%, the diameter of the pores being less than 0.1 micron. The pores of this sheet may be regarded as discrete, slightly tortuous, channels passing from one surface to the other of the sheet. The particularly uniform structure that is thereby produced imparts throughout the sheet the favourable mechanical and electrical properties for the intended application.
A network structure formed from a plastic material that is preferably selected from the same group of thermoplasts as the base material, but which may if necessary also be a duroplast, is applied to one side of the base material of the separator and secured thereto in a permanent manner.
The network structure acts as a spacer, whereby an increased flexural strength is imparted to the separator as a whole in all surface directions: the known laminar structures such as the webbed separators mentioned at the beginning are deficient in this respect. The separator of the invention exercies its separating function to the maximum extent on account of the network-like spacing layer over which the extremely thin sheet of the base material is, as it were, stretched.
The network structure itself, according to one embodiment of the invention, may be formed from intersecting parallel bundles of rods or filaments of plastic material.
However, in a more preferred embodiment of the invention the network structure is a drawn or expanded plastic material that has been produced from a smooth strip materal similarly to an expanded metal.
This expansion or stretching stage is based on a drawing procedure known per se, which is responsible for imparting dimensional stablility to the plastic material of which the network structure is formed.
On stretching, most linear polymeric plastic materials in fact experience a considerable increase in strength, with a simultaneous reduction in extension. Work hardening is based on the fact that the generally convoluted fibre molecules line up under the action of a tensile stress to form quasi-crystalline structures within which the intermolecular binding forces become stronger.
Glassy-amorphous thermoplasts as well as thermoplasts such as polyethylene and polypropylene that are partially crystalline at room temperature can be obtained by means of a stretching deformation. In the case of polyethylene and polypropylene it is advantageous to carry out the stretching at an elevated temperature, in the range from 100 to 1502 (heat-forming temperature), which is already close to the melting range of the crystallites. In each case the deformation temperature should be chosen sufficiently high so that quenching can still be carried out to below the so-called freezing temperature, the thermoelastic state region being passed over. The change in shape remains permanent up to the crystal melt region, at least in the case of normal operating temperatures.
Preferably, the expanded plastic network structure of the separator has webs of varying thickness, as shown in the accompanying drawing.
Referring to the drawing, the microporous base of the separator is denoted by reference numeral 1 and the expanded plastic network structure by reference numeral 2.
The thinner webs 3 of the expanded grid structure 2 are arranged in such a way that suitable passages 4 for the escape of electrolysis gases are formed in preferred directions after the separator has been mounted tightly between the electrode plates with the structure 2 facing the positive electrode plate.
Such an arrangement of the expanded plastic material 2 can be produced in various ways. For example, the slits with which the plastic sheet is provided, similar to the case of a metallic strip material that is stretched, can be displaced with respect to one another according to a predetermined pattern in such a way that the surfaces between the slits are in some cases more strongly and in other cases less strongly pressed out and stretched towards the sides by the dies of the stretching tool, and thereby produce webs of different thicknesses. Sections of less thick webs having a zig-zag pattern can thereby be obtained. Another possible way of forming webs of greater and lesser thickness adjacent to one another is to partially replace in a specific sequence the otherwise identical slitting dies of the stretching tool that are arranged like a comb, by cutting dies.
The combination of the network structure of any of the embodiments described with the microporous base material to form a uniform body can be effected as a result of the special properties of the thermoplastic materials by heating the surfaces to be joined until they begin to soften and then gently pressing them together, or ironing the base material onto the network structure. The heating time should, however, be kept short and the temperature should be adjusted so that the surfaces are just tacky and can be bonded to one another by applying pressure.
To this end it is advantageous to pass the micoporous base material 1 and the expanded plastic material 2, both in strip form, separately over heated rollers, which they leave at the necessary temperature for the adhesion. The strips are then immediately taken up by two closely adjacent deflecting rollers and gently pressed between the latter. The gap width between the deflection rollers should be only slightly less than the thickness of the finished product in order to prevent the consolidated expanded plastic material being rolled flat.
The total layer thickness of the composite separator of the invention corresponds to the thickness of conventional separators in starter batteries.
Although reference numerals have been used in the appended claims to improve the intelligibility of these claims, it is expressly stated that these reference numerals should not be construed as limiting the claims to the constructions illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Claims (10)

1. A separator, for an electrical accumulator, comprising a base (1) of microporous material, characterised in that a network structure (2) of plastic material is joined to one side of said base (1).
2. A separator, according to Claim 1, characterised in that the network structure is an expanded plastic material (2).
3. A separator, according to Claim 1, characterised in that the network structure (2) consists of intersecting parallel bundles of rods or filaments of plastic material.
4. A separator, according to Claim 2, characterised in that the expanded plastic material (2) has webs of different thicknesses, webs (3) of lesser thickness being present in preferred directions.
5. A separator, according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described.
6. A separator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.
7. A method of producing a separator according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the network structure (2) of plastic material is thermally combined with the microporous material of the base (1).
8. A method of producing a separator according to Claim 4, characterised in that the expanded plastic material (2) is stretched to form webs of different thicknesses.
9. A method of producing a separator according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described.
10. An accumulator including at least one separator according to any one of Glaims 1 to 6, characterised in that the network structure (2) of plastic material faces a positive electrode.
GB7935601A 1978-11-02 1979-10-12 Separator for electrical accumulators consisting of a microporous base material Expired GB2038715B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE2847463A DE2847463C2 (en) 1978-11-02 1978-11-02 Separator for electrical accumulators made from a microporous base material

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2038715A true GB2038715A (en) 1980-07-30
GB2038715B GB2038715B (en) 1983-02-09

Family

ID=6053638

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB7935601A Expired GB2038715B (en) 1978-11-02 1979-10-12 Separator for electrical accumulators consisting of a microporous base material

Country Status (14)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS5564363A (en)
AT (1) AT373444B (en)
BE (1) BE879707A (en)
CA (1) CA1135331A (en)
DE (1) DE2847463C2 (en)
DK (1) DK458179A (en)
ES (1) ES246498Y (en)
FI (1) FI793419A (en)
FR (1) FR2441274A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2038715B (en)
IT (1) IT1124909B (en)
NL (1) NL7908014A (en)
NO (1) NO150657C (en)
SE (1) SE436312B (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS59121775A (en) * 1982-12-28 1984-07-13 Shin Kobe Electric Mach Co Ltd Sealed type lead storage battery

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1348420A (en) * 1964-04-10
US2360658A (en) * 1943-05-27 1944-10-17 Carlile & Doughty Inc Separator for batteries
US2531504A (en) * 1944-06-12 1950-11-28 Richardson Co Separator for electric storage batteries
DE1681854U (en) * 1952-04-22 1954-08-19 Gottfried Hagen A G COMPOSITE SEPARATOR.
CH314111A (en) * 1952-06-28 1956-05-31 Bosch Gmbh Robert Separator for electrical collector batteries
FR1067287A (en) * 1952-11-29 1954-06-14 Accumulator separator
FR94909E (en) * 1965-07-29 1970-01-23 Accumulateurs Fixes Process for separating the electrodes of batteries from primary cells or from electric accumulators, in particular from cells said to be primed with seawater, and batteries obtained by this process.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK458179A (en) 1980-05-03
FI793419A (en) 1980-05-03
BE879707A (en) 1980-02-15
ES246498U (en) 1980-02-16
ATA702979A (en) 1983-05-15
AT373444B (en) 1984-01-25
NO150657C (en) 1984-11-21
DE2847463C2 (en) 1986-02-06
NL7908014A (en) 1980-05-07
GB2038715B (en) 1983-02-09
IT7927016A0 (en) 1979-11-02
JPS5564363A (en) 1980-05-15
NO150657B (en) 1984-08-13
NO793514L (en) 1980-05-05
IT1124909B (en) 1986-05-14
SE436312B (en) 1984-11-26
ES246498Y (en) 1980-08-16
SE7907260L (en) 1980-05-03
CA1135331A (en) 1982-11-09
DE2847463A1 (en) 1980-05-14
FR2441274B3 (en) 1981-08-14
FR2441274A1 (en) 1980-06-06

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee