LEAD-ACID-BATTERY PASTES CONTAINING 4PBO-PBSO4 AND PB3O4

Positive plates manufactured with 4PbO • PbSO4 pastes exhibit high stability of their active mass structure ensuring long cycle life of the plates during battery operation. Since 4PbO · PbSO4 crystals are large in size, their oxidation to Pb02 is strongly impeded; hence, the plates have low initial capacity. This has restricted the wider application of 4PbO · PbSO4 pastes in battery production. The present paper suggests the preparation of 4PbO • PbSO4 pastes in the presence of Pb304. Three types of pastes are proposed depending on the method of Pb304 introduction into them: (i) a mixture of 4PbO · PbSO4 and Pb304, (ii) 4PbO • PbSO4 obtained in the presence of Pb304, and (iii) Pb304 predecomposed with H2SO4 and then used for the preparation of 4PbO • PbSO4 pastes. The processes occurring during paste preparation are followed and its structure and crystal morphology are determined. By testing of batteries manufactured with plates prepared by the above methods, their initial capacity was measured to be above 100% and the battery life was established to be considerably longer than that of batteries produced with classical pastes generally used in the battery industry. These features allow the wider application of 4PbO · PbSO4 pastes in battery production. © 1990, The Electrochemical Society, Inc. All rights reserved.