Development of Sintered Zinc Battery Electrodes.
Abstract
A sintered zinc electrode manufacturing process has been developed which can be used to fabricate zinc electrodes suitable for use over a wide range of battery discharge rates. The process involves cleaning zinc particles with HCl and melting the zinc particles inside a matrix of NaCl particles with later removal of the NaCl by soaking in water. Microphotographs show the electrodes to have a porous, continuous zinc structure which gives excellent mechanical strength and stability. The electrodes have been discharge tested with good results in the range of current densities from .075 ma/sq cm to 225 ma/sq cm. Testing times have ranged from 1.5 hours to six months. Coulombic efficiencies averaged 82 percent during a two month test. A six month discharge test produced a 40.8 percent average coulombic efficiency with some of the loss shown to be caused by chemical reactions with the nickel current collecting screen. The effects of electrode porosity and pore size on discharge performance are discussed and recommendations made for the fabrication of high and low rate electrodes. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 19, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0878215
Entities
People
- Richard D. Weller
Organizations
- Naval Ordnance Laboratory