Abstract:
A lead-based alloy containing alloying additions of bismuth, antimony, arsenic, and tin is used for the production of doped leady oxides, lead-acid battery active materials, lead-acid battery electrodes, and lead-acid batteries.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a fusible alloy for pressure relief devices (PRDs), and the present invention provides a fusible alloy for PRD, the alloy comprising 29.0 to 33.0% by weight of Bi, 14.0 to 21.0% by weight of Sn, 2.0 to 5.0% by weight of In, and substantially Pb for the balance. The fusible alloy for PRD of the invention has a melting point appropriate for use according to the 1100C- grade standards, and has excellent wettability upon melting.
Abstract:
Recrystallized lead and lead alloy positive electrodes for lead acid batteries having an increased percentage of special grain boundaries in the microstructure, preferably to at least 50 %, which have been provided by a process comprising steps of working or straining the lead or lead alloy, and subsequently annealing the lead or lead alloy. Either a single cycle of working and annealing can be provided, or a plurality of such cycles can be provided. The amount of cold work or strain, the recrystallization time and temperature, and the number of repetitions of such steps are selected to ensure that a substantial increase in the population of special grain boundaries is provided in the microstructure, to improve resistance to creep, intergranular corrosion and intergranular cracking of the electrodes during battery service, and result in extended battery life and the opportunity to reduce the size and weight of the battery.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a current collector (10) for a battery which comprises a lead or lead alloy substrate (12) and a thin cladding (14) of tin, batteries utilizing such a current collector (10) and methods for manufacturing such batteries. Preferably the tin cladding (14) is composed of substantially pure tin and the concentration of the tin cladding relative to the weight of the current collector (10) (i.e., the combined weight of the substrate and cladding) is less than 4 % by weight. The tin cladding (14) forms a noncontinuous layer over the outer surface of the substrate (10) such that there are interspersed regions of lead and tin at the current collector (10) surface. Batteries utilizing such current collectors exhibit marked improvement in performance compared to similar cells composed of tin alloys. In particular, batteries using current collectors of the present design offer superior cycle life and shelf life performance.