Battery separator and a battery

• US 5,290,645 A
• Filed: 03/25/1993
• Issued: 03/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Japan Vilene Company Limited (Toray Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Japan Vilene Company Limited (Toray Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kimura, Koji, Yamazaki, Hiroaki, Kondo, Yoshihiko, Tanaka, Masanao, Hirooka, Masaki, Tokutake, Nobutoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US08/036,811
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 429/247, 429/249, 429/253, 429/254, 429/206, 429/142, 429/144, 525/56, 525/61, 568/579, 568/583, 428/411.1
• US Class Current: 429/144
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 16/06 Polyvinyl alcohol ; Vinyl alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 8/44 Preparation of metal salts or ammonium salts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/24 Alkaline accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/34 Gastight accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/345 Gastight metal hydride accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0014 Alkaline electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/417 Polyolefins
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/426 Fluorocarbon polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/454 comprising a non-fibrous layer and a fibrous layer superimposed on one another
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/457 comprising three or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery separator comprising a sheet material containing a polyvinyl alcohol cross-linked by a cross-linking group of the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein A represents a group of --CH═CH--R₁ or ##STR2## R₁ represents an optionally substituted quaternary nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic group, R₂ and R₃ independently represent a hydrogen atom or alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, m is o or 1, and n is an integer of 1 to 6, is disclosed.

The separator exhibits a good resistance to electrolyte, electrolyte holding rate, and resistant to short-circuits.

Claims

1. A battery separator comprising a sheet material containing a polyvinyl alcohol cross-linked by a cross-linking group of the general formula (I):

##STR7## wherein A represents a group of --CH═

CH--R₁ or ##STR8## R₁ represents an optionally substituted quaternary nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic group, R₂ and R₃ independently represent a hydrogen atom or alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, m is o or 1, and n is an integer of 1 to 6.

2. A battery separator according to claim 1, wherein the cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol is further substituted by an acyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

3. A battery separator according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material comprises a substrate carrying the cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol thereon.

4. A battery separator according to claim 3, wherein the substrate is made of a nonwoven fabric.

5. A battery separator according to claim 3, wherein the substrate is impregnated with the cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol.

6. A battery separator according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material comprises a hydrophilic portion and a hydrophobic portion.

7. A battery separator according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material is made of a polyvinyl alcohol film.

8. A battery separator according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material comprises a gas-permeable film and a polyvinyl alcohol film laminated thereto.

9. A battery separator according to claim 1, further comprising a spacer layer laminated to the sheet material.

10. A primary battery comprising an positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator according to claim 1.

11. A secondary battery comprising an positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator according to claim 1.