GB2105513A - Alkaline battery seal utilizing polyamide - Google Patents

Alkaline battery seal utilizing polyamide Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2105513A
GB2105513A GB08225499A GB8225499A GB2105513A GB 2105513 A GB2105513 A GB 2105513A GB 08225499 A GB08225499 A GB 08225499A GB 8225499 A GB8225499 A GB 8225499A GB 2105513 A GB2105513 A GB 2105513A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
polyamide
container
cell
present
polyamides
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Withdrawn
Application number
GB08225499A
Inventor
Sol Samson Jaffe
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.)
Duracell Inc USA
Original Assignee
Duracell International Inc
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 Duracell International Inc filed Critical Duracell International Inc
Publication of GB2105513A publication Critical patent/GB2105513A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • H01M50/10Primary casings; Jackets or wrappings
    • H01M50/183Sealing members
    • H01M50/186Sealing members characterised by the disposition of the sealing members
    • 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
    • H01M50/10Primary casings; Jackets or wrappings
    • H01M50/183Sealing members
    • H01M50/184Sealing members characterised by their shape or structure
    • 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
    • H01M50/10Primary casings; Jackets or wrappings
    • H01M50/183Sealing members
    • H01M50/19Sealing members characterised by the material
    • H01M50/193Organic material
    • 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

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Sealing Battery Cases Or Jackets (AREA)

Abstract

Electrochemical cells employ polyamides having amine numbers below 8 as electrical insulators such as seals, grommets, and the like, and as sealants, to inhibit cell leakage caused by the alkaline electrolyte. The polyamides include the straight-chain and branched-chain varieties, and are further notable in that they are substantially non-tacky.

Description

SPECIFICATION Alkaline battery seal utilizing polyamide The present invention relates generally to electrochemical battery cells, and more particularly to such cells utilizing insulator and sealant materials.
One of the difficulties in the manufacture and use of alkaline battery cells, comprising those battery cells including an alkaline electrolyte, relates to the ability of the electrolyte to wet metal surfaces. This ability has been determined to be one of the major causes of leakage in alkaline cells, as the electrolyte, by wetting the surface of the metal container for the electrolytic material, can actually "creep" through the interface of the seal that is conventionally disposed between the metal container and the other metal surfaces, that usually serve as the external current contacts for the cell.
A variety of materials have been previously suggested, that serve as seals or sealing compositions, and are accordingly disposed between adjacent metal surfaces, to provide both electrical insulation therebetween, and to effectively seal the surfaces to each other, to prevent the "creeping" of the alkaline electrolyte.
In particular, U.S. Patent No. 3 922 178 to Winger, discloses a particular sealing composition comprising a fatty polyamide having an amine number above about 10, which purportedly provides an effective barrier to the alkaline electrolyte, and thereby prevents the occurrence of "creeping", as well as the degradation of certain components of the cell by contact with the alkaline electrolyte.
Also, in the instance where alkaline button cells are manufactured, it is desirable that the seal or sealant composition be essentially non-tacky, to facilitate automated transport and application during the manufacture of the cell.
It would therefore be desirable to develop additional polyamide seals and sealing materials that exhibit the favourable flexibility, adhesiveness, substantial absence of tack, and resistance to electrolyte creep that would render them suitable for use in alkaline battery cells of all descriptions.
In its broadest aspect, the present invention concerns an electrochemical cell containing a quantity of alkaline electrolyte, and having one or more surfaces subject to wetting thereby, which utilizes at such surfaces, a polyamide having an amine number less than 8.
More particularly, the present invention relates to an electrochemical cell including a container housing an anode, a cathode, and a quantity of alkaline electrolytic material, at least one cell cap in registry with the container, and at least one electrical insulator disposed between the cell cap and the container, wherein the electrical insulator comprises, or has disposed on the surfaces thereof which are in contact with the container and the cell cap, a polyamide having an amine number below 8.
A further embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for sealing an electrochemical cell as above described, comprising, in the first embodiment, providing a sealing material adjacent those surfaces subject to wetting by an alkaline electrolyte, said material comprising a polyamide having an amine number below 8. The present method comprises in a further embodiment, wherein the electrochemical cell includes an electrical insulator and a sealant, coating the surfaces of the insulator that contact the container and the cell cap with a sealant comprising a polyamide having an amine number below 8. Yet further, the electrical insulator may be prepared from the present polyamides.
Cells prepared in accordance with the present invention exhibit improved leakage resistance, and sealing characteristics, including resistance to "creep" from alkaline electrolyte.
Advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the ensuing description which proceeds with reference to the following illustrative drawing, which is a partially sectioned elevational view of an electrochemical cell embodying the present invention.
In accordance with the present invention, alkaline battery cells may be prepared that utilize on or at surfaces subject to wetting by an alkaline electrolyte, a polyamide having an amine number below 8.
The polyamides useful in accordance with the present invention, include those fatty polyamides, whose preparation and properties are generally described on pages 597 to 61 5 in Volume 10 of "The Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology", Interscience Publishers (John Wiley 8 Sons, Inc.) New York. Generally, polyamides are prepared by the reaction of a polybasic acid with a polyfunctional amine. The polybasic acids may include both straight-chain and branched-chain alkyl moieties, including, for example unsaturated fatty acids derived from vegetable oils, and other sources. The present polyamides may therefore include those materials known as fatty polyamides of both straight-chain and branched-chain structure.
Preferably, the polyamides of the present invention possess amine numbers ranging from 1 to 8. Particularly, polyamides suitable for use in the present invention are available, commercially from the HB Fuller Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and are known as "FULL MELT" (registered Trade Mark) resins. One such resin, designated FM-8200 is a fatty polyamide having an amine number generally ranging from about 6 to about 7. Another resin is designated FM--8050, and is likewise a fatty polyamide that is acid terminated and possesses an amine number of about 1 While the foregoing materials are noted, the present invention contemplates the use of other commercially available polyamides having amine numbers falling within the aforementioned ranges such as Union Camp 2645 (amine number 8) and Henkel Macromelt 6239 (amine number 7).
The polyamides of the present invention may be employed in a variety of ways, depending upon the specific application desired. Thus, for example, the polyamides can be fashioned into seals, gaskets, or grommets useful as electrical insulators in a variety of alkaline battery cells.
Alternately, the polyamide may be utilized as a sealant or adhesive composition that is applied to such gaskets, seals or grommets as they are interposed between adjacent metal surfaces in such cells.
The polyamides of the present invention may be utilized alone, or may be mixed with adjuvant materials, such as extenders, modifiers, and hardeners, as described, for the purpose of modifying the physical properties thereof.
In the instance where the polyamides of the present invention are utilized as a coating, they may be applied by known procedures, such as from a hot melt, or from a solution in a solvent such as an alcohol/aromatic hydrocarbon mixture.
The methods of application of the polyamides, such as suggested above, are known and do not per se form a part of the present invention.
Referring now to the drawing, a particular non limiting example of an electrochemical cell is shown. The cell illustrated is a button cell 10 which represents that class of cells that are generally useful for hearing aids, watches, and other applications where low-rate continuous drain operation of the cell is desired. A metallic anode 14 is utilized, which is commonly prepared from either zinc or cadmium, with amalgamated zinc being the preferred anodic material. Other anode materials may also be used.
A container 12 houses a cathode 17 commonly prepared from a material such as mercuric oxide, silver oxide and others, with silver oxide being preferred. Cathode 17 is separated from anode 14 in the present illustration by a porous separator 16 and an absorbent spacer 1 5, spacer 1 5 containing an alkaline electrolyte such as potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for ionic conductivity. Container 12 functions as both the cathode current collector and the positive terminal of the cell while cell top or cell cap 1 1, in direct contact with anode 14, functions as the anode current collector and the negative terminal of the cell. Both cell top 1 1 and container 12 may be composed of conductive materials such as stainless steel, nickel or nickel-plated steel, and the inner surfaces of cell top 1 1 may be coated with a suitable metal such as tin, copper, silver or gold.
Cell top 11 is in registry with container 12 as shown, but is electrically insulated therefrom. An electrical insulator, such as a plastic snap-on grommet 13 may be provided as shown, and in accordance with the present invention, grommet 13 may be prepared from a polyamide having an amine number of less than 8. In such instance, grommet 13 provides an effective unitary seal that prevents interstitial "creeping" of the alkaline electrolyte between the abutting surfaces of either cell top 1 1 and grommet 13, or container 12 and grommet 13.
In addition to utilizing polyamides disclosed herein as the material from which grommet 13 may be prepared, the present invention also contemplates the employment of the present polyamides as an adhesive coating disposed between container 12 and cell top 1 1, either in place of grommet 13, or as a coating disposed over the surfaces of grommet 13 that make contact with the corresponding adjacent surfaces of container 12 and cell top 11. Thus, those abutting surfaces of grommet 13 may be provided with a sealant or adhesive composition which may be dispensed in fluid form, so that upon the positioning of grommet 13 between the adjacent surfaces of container 12 and cell top 1 the sealant will form a barrier that is impervious to infiltration and destruction by alkaline electrolyte.
The polyamide sealant of the present invention may be employed with seals prepared from materials other than the present polyamide. Thus, for example, grommet 13 may be prepared from an insulative material such as nylon, or polyolefins such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and may thereafter be utilized in conjunction with the sealant of the present invention.
As mentioned earlier, the class of polyamides encompassed by the present invention are particularly useful in that they are substantially non-tacky. This property has been found to confer benefits in processing, particularly in the instance where the grommets and sealant compositions are employed in the automated manufacture of button cells. The absence of tackiness permits the sealant compositions to be conveyed to the point of application during cell assembly, by automated means, as the incidence of machinery clogging and breakdown is substantially reduced or eliminated.
Further, the absence of tackiness promotes uniformity of coating which, in turn, provides improved surface contact between the metal and the adhesive, with the result that seal failure is substantially reduced.
A method for sealing an electrochemical cell having a container, a quantity of an alkaline electrolyte and at least one surface subject to undesired wetting by the electrolyte is included.
The method comprises disposing on such surface or surfaces a quantity of a polyamide having an amine number below 8. The surfaces may be coated with the polyamide, or may be prepared from the polyamide, in the case of seals, grommets and the like.
The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing electrochemical cells by assembling the container, alkaline electrolyte and cell cap to include a sealant or electrical insulator or both between the cell cap and the container.
The present method includes employing an electrical insulator prepared from the present polyamides, and in one embodiment such insulator may be utilized alone. In a further embodiment of the present method, the insulator may be coated with a quantity of a sealant composition comprising the polyamides of the present invention, which sealant composition has been conveyed to this coating station by automatic equipment. As noted above, the assembly of electrochemical cells is expedited by the capability of the present polyamides to be conveyed by large-scale automated means.
The manner in which the present class of polyamides is utilized may also vary, from the specific embodiments disclosed herein. Thus, the polyamides may be applied to a substrate as a thin coating by spraying, dipping, and the like.
This invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.
The present invention is therefore to be considered as in all respects illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims (11)

1. A method of sealing an electrochemical cell comprising a container containing a quantity of alkaline electrolytic material, and a cell cap in registry with said container, said method comprising disposing between said container and said cell cap a quantity of a polyamide having an amine number below 8.
2. The method of Claim 1 wherein said polyamide is disposed between said container and said cell cap as a preformed electrical insulator.
3. The method of Claim 1 wherein said polyamide is used as a sealant disposed on the surface of a preformed electrical insulator and in contact with said container and said cell cap.
4. The method of Claim 3 wherein said electrical insulator is prepared from a polyamide having an amine number less than 8.
5. The method of Claim 2 or 3 wherein said polyamide is substantially non-tacky.
6. An electrochemical cell comprising a container, a quantity of alkaline electrolyte disposed therein, and at least one surface subject to wetting by said alkaline electrolyte, wherein at least a portion of said surface has disposed thereat a quantity of a polyamide having an amine number below 8.
7. An electrochemical cell of Claim 6, wherein said surface is located between said container and a cell cap.
8. An electrochemical cell of Claim 7, wherein said polyamide is disposed as a preformed electrical insulator between said container and said cap.
9. An electrochemical cell of Claim 7, wherein said polyamide is disposed between the surface of a preformed electrical insulator where such surface is in contact with said container and said cell cap.
10. An electrochemical cell of Claim 8 or 9, wherein said polyamide is a branched-chain polyamide.
11. An electrochemical cell of Claims 8 or 9, wherein said polyamide is substantially non-tacky.
GB08225499A 1981-09-08 1982-09-07 Alkaline battery seal utilizing polyamide Withdrawn GB2105513A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US30034081A 1981-09-08 1981-09-08

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2105513A true GB2105513A (en) 1983-03-23

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ID=23158697

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GB08225499A Withdrawn GB2105513A (en) 1981-09-08 1982-09-07 Alkaline battery seal utilizing polyamide

Country Status (4)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS5854550A (en)
DE (1) DE3232016A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2512592A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2105513A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2154786A (en) * 1984-02-20 1985-09-11 Renata Ag Single-cell gas-tight primary battery

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2154786A (en) * 1984-02-20 1985-09-11 Renata Ag Single-cell gas-tight primary battery

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3232016A1 (en) 1983-03-24
FR2512592A1 (en) 1983-03-11
JPS5854550A (en) 1983-03-31

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)