Expanders for lead-acid batteries

• US 20090325068A1
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hammond Group Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hammond Group Inc.
• Inventors: Loosemore, Daniel V., Boden, David Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,637,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/215
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/06 Lead-acid accumulators semi-lead accumulators H01M10/20
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4235 Safety or regulating additives or arrangements in electrodes, separators or electrolyte H01M10/4242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/027 Negative electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/14 Electrodes for lead-acid accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/20 of pasted electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/627 Expanders for lead-acid accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An expander formulation used in battery paste compositions. The expander formulation incorporates effective amounts, or elevated concentrations of up to 6% of graphite and mixtures of carbon black and graphite to lessen or minimize the accumulation of lead sulfate on the surface of the negative plate during high rate PSOC battery operation, and/or to increase the electrochemical efficiency, the reserve capacity, the cold cranking performance and the cycle life of lead-acid batteries.

Claims

1. An expander for a battery paste for a battery plate for a lead-acid battery, comprising:

barium sulfate;

an elevated concentration of carbon and/or graphite; and

an organic material.

2. The expander of claim 1, wherein the organic material is a lignosulfonate.

3. The expander of claim 1, wherein the elevated concentration of carbon and/or graphite is approximately 0.2% to 6% of an amount of oxide used in the battery paste for a battery plate for a lead-acid battery for hybrid electric vehicles.

4. The expander of claim 3, wherein the elevated concentration of carbon and/or graphite is approximately 1% to 5%.

5. The expander of claim 4, wherein the elevated concentration of carbon and/or graphite includes approximately 1% to 3% graphite.

6. The expander of claim 5, wherein the elevated concentration of carbon and/or graphite includes approximately 1% to 2% carbon black.

7. The expander of claim 6, wherein the elevated concentration of carbon and/or graphite includes approximately 2% graphite and approximately 2% carbon black.

8. The expander of claim 1, wherein the elevated concentration of carbon and/or graphite is approximately 0.3% to 1.1% of an amount of oxide used in the battery paste for a battery plate for a flooded electrolyte automotive lead-acid battery.

9. The expander of claim 8, wherein the elevated concentration of carbon and/or graphite includes approximately 0.3% to 1.0% graphite.

10. The expander of claim 1, wherein the elevated concentration of carbon and/or graphite decreases lead sulfate accumulation on the surface of negative active material in the lead-acid battery.

11. The expander of claim 1, wherein the elevated concentration of carbon and/or graphite increases at least one of the electrochemical efficiency, the reserve capacity, the cold cranking performance and the cycle life of the lead-acid battery.

12. A battery paste incorporating the expander of claim 1.

13. A battery plate made from the battery paste of claim 12.

14. A method for producing battery paste for a battery plate for a lead-acid battery, comprising the steps of:

formulating a battery paste mix;

adding to the battery paste mix, separately or premixed, barium sulfate, an organic material, and an elevated concentration of carbon and/or graphite.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the organic material is a lignosulfonate.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the elevated concentration of carbon and/or graphite is approximately 0.2% to 6% of an amount of oxide used in the battery paste for a battery plate for a lead-acid battery for hybrid electric vehicles.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the elevated concentration of carbon and/or graphite is approximately 1% to 5%.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the elevated concentration of carbon and/or graphite includes approximately 1% to 3% graphite.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the elevated concentration of carbon and/or graphite includes approximately 1% to 2% carbon black.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the elevated concentration of carbon and/or graphite includes approximately 2% graphite and approximately 2% carbon black.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the elevated concentration of carbon and/or graphite is approximately 0.3% to 1.1% of an amount of oxide used in the battery paste for a battery plate for a flooded electrolyte automotive lead-acid battery.

22. The expander of claim 14, wherein the elevated concentration of carbon and/or graphite includes approximately 0.3% to 1.1% graphite.

23. A battery plate made from the method of claim 14.

24. A battery made from the battery plate of claim 23.