Process for burnishing anode current collectors

• US 5,188,869 A
• Filed: 08/23/1991
• Issued: 02/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nardi, John C., Getz, Dale R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Mark L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, DEBORAH D
• Application Number:
  US07/749,022
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 429/206, 29/90.01, 204/280, 204/279, 204/290 R, 204/293, 106/287.18, 51/1, 51/293, 427/242, 427/383.3, 427/328, 427/436, 427/437
• US Class Current: 427/242
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/244 Zinc electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/62 Selection of inactive substances as ingredients for active masses, e.g. binders, fillers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/628 Inhibitors, e.g. gassing inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/661 Metal or alloys, e.g. alloy coatings H01M4/669 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/06 Dry cells, i.e. cells wherein the electrolyte is rendered non-fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/50 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance, e.g. for maintaining operating temperature constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/47 Burnishing

Abstract

Anode current collectors for electrochemical cells are burnished in a solution containing soluble indium ions.

Claims

1. A process for burnishing anode current collectors for electrochemical cells, comprising the steps of:

a) adding current collectors to a container that contains a burnishing material and a solution comprised of soluble indium ions; and

b) agitating the collectors in the presence of the solution for a time effective to burnish the collectors and for the indium to be distributed on the surface of the collectors.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the burnishing material is the collectors themselves.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the burnishing material is an abrasive material.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein the burnishing material comprises ceramic balls.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the collectors are agitated by rotating the container.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the collectors are agitated until at least an average of 0.5 micrograms of indium per square centimeter is associated with the collector'"'"'s surface.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the solution comprised of soluble indium contains indium chloride.

8. A process for burnishing current collectors for electrochemical cells comprising the steps of:

a) adding current collectors to a container that contains a burnishing material;

b) agitating the current collectors and burnishing material for a time effective to burnish the collectors;

c) separating the burnished collectors from the burnishing material; and

d) combining the burnished collectors with a solution comprised of soluble indium ions for a time effective to deposit indium on the surface of the burnished collectors.

9. A process for burnishing current collectors for electrochemical cells, as recited in claim 8, wherein the time between step c and step d is limited so as to prevent the formation of oxides on the collectors'"'"' burnished surfaces.

10. A process for burnishing current collectors for electrochemical cells, as recited in claim 8, wherein the time between step c and step d is less than twenty-four hours.

11. A process for burnishing current collectors for electrochemical cells, as recited in claim 8, wherein the time between step c and step d is less than twelve hours.

12. A process for burnishing current collectors for electrochemical cells, as recited in claim 8, wherein the time between step c and step d is less than one hour.

13. A process for burnishing current collectors for electrochemical cells, as recited in claim 8, wherein the burnishing material is an abrasive.

14. A process for burnishing current collectors for electrochemical cells, as recited in claim 13, wherein the burnishing material is a ceramic material.

15. A process for burnishing current collectors for electrochemical cells, as recited in claim 8, wherein in step d the collectors are associated with the solution containing soluble indium ions until the concentration of indium on the surface of the collectors exceeds 0.5 micrograms per square centimeter of the collectors surface area.