Abstract: In accordance with at least selected embodiments or aspects, the present invention is directed to improved, unique, and/or high performance ISS lead acid battery separators, such as improved ISS flooded lead acid battery separators, ISS batteries including such separators, methods of production, and/or methods of use. The preferred ISS separator may include negative cross ribs and/or PIMS minerals. In accordance with more particular embodiments or examples, a PIMS mineral (preferably fish meal, a bio-mineral) is provided as at least a partial substitution for the silica filler component in a silica filled lead acid battery separator (preferably a polyethylene/silica separator formulation). In accordance with at least selected embodiments, the present invention is directed to new or improved batteries, separators, components, and/or compositions having heavy metal removal capabilities and/or methods of manufacture and/or methods of use thereof.

Abstract: A separator for a lead acid battery is a porous membrane having a positive electrode face and a negative electrode face. A plurality of longitudinally extending ribs, a plurality of protrusions or a nonwoven material may be disposed upon the positive electrode face. A plurality of transversely extending ribs are disposed upon the negative electrode face. The transverse ribs disposed upon the negative electrode face are preferably juxtaposed to a negative electrode of the lead acid battery, when the separator is placed within that battery.

Abstract: New, improved or optimized battery separators, components, batteries, industrial batteries, inverter batteries, batteries for heavy or light industrial applications, forklift batteries, float charged batteries, inverters, accumulators, systems, methods, profiles, additives, compositions, composites, mixes, coatings, and/or related methods of water retention, water loss prevention, improved charge acceptance, production, use, and/or combinations thereof are provided or disclosed. More particularly, the present invention is directed to one or more improved battery separators having various improvements that may result in decreased water loss for a battery in which such a separator is incorporated, enhanced charge acceptance, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: New or improved lead acid batteries with vapor pressure barriers and/or improved battery separators, as well as systems, vehicles, and/or methods of manufacture and/or use thereof are disclosed herein. In at least select embodiments, the instant disclosure provides new or improved lead acid batteries with a vapor pressure barrier. In at least select embodiments, the instant disclosure provides new or improved lead acid battery vapor pressure barriers along with new or improved battery separators, and/or methods of manufacture and/or use thereof. In at least select embodiments, the instant disclosure provides a new or improved lead acid battery with a vapor pressure barrier that reduces the water loss from the battery. In at least select embodiments, a method of reducing the water loss of a lead acid battery may include providing a vapor pressure barrier, such as a layer of oil, inside the lead acid battery along with an improved battery separator.

Abstract: New or improved lead acid batteries with vapor pressure barriers and/or improved battery separators, as well as systems, vehicles, and/or methods of manufacture and/or use thereof are disclosed herein. In at least select embodiments, the instant disclosure provides new or improved lead acid batteries with a vapor pressure barrier. In at least select embodiments, the instant disclosure provides new or improved lead acid battery vapor pressure barriers along with new or improved battery separators, and/or methods of manufacture and/or use thereof. In at least select embodiments, the instant disclosure provides a new or improved lead acid battery with a vapor pressure barrier that reduces the water loss from the battery. In at least select embodiments, a method of reducing the water loss of a lead acid battery may include providing a vapor pressure barrier, such as a layer of oil, inside the lead acid battery along with an improved battery separator.

Abstract: Improved battery separators are disclosed herein for use in flooded lead-acid batteries, and in particular enhanced flooded lead-acid batteries. The improved separators disclosed herein provide for enhanced electrolyte mixing and substantially reduced acid stratification. The improved flooded lead-acid batteries may be advantageously employed in applications in which the battery remains in a partial state of charge, for instance in start/stop vehicle systems. Also, improved lead-acid batteries, such as flooded lead-acid batteries, improved systems that include a lead-acid battery and a battery separator, improved battery separators, improved vehicles including such systems, and/or methods of manufacture and/or use may be provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel or improved separators, battery separators, lead battery separators, batteries, cells, and/or methods of manufacture and/or use of such separators, battery separators, lead battery separators, cells, and/or batteries. In accordance with at least certain embodiments, the present disclosure or invention is directed to novel or improved battery separators for lead acid batteries. In addition, disclosed herein are methods, systems and battery separators for enhancing battery life, reducing active material shedding, reducing grid and spine corrosion, reducing failure rate reducing acid stratification and/or improving uniformity in at least lead acid batteries, in particular batteries for electric rickshaws. In accordance with at least particular embodiments, the present disclosure or invention is directed to an improved separator for lead acid batteries wherein the separator includes improved membrane profiles, improved coatings, improved configurations, and/or the like.

Abstract: A method for producing a microporous material comprising the steps of: providing an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE); providing a filler; providing a processing plasticizer; adding the filler to the UHMWPE in a mixture being in the range of from about 1:9 to about 15:1 filler to UHMWPE by weight; adding the processing plasticizer to the mixture; extruding the mixture to form a sheet from the mixture; calendering the sheet; extracting the processing plasticizer from the sheet to produce a matrix comprising UHMWPE and the filler distributed throughout the matrix; stretching the microporous material in at least one direction to a stretch ratio of at least about 1.5 to produce a stretched microporous matrix; and subsequently calendering the stretched microporous matrix to produce a microporous material which exhibits improved physical and dimensional stability properties over the stretched microporous matrix.

Abstract: In accordance with at least certain embodiments of the present invention, a novel concept of utilizing PIMS minerals as a filler component within a microporous lead-acid battery separator is provided. In accordance with more particular embodiments or examples, the PIMS mineral (preferably fish meal, a bio-mineral) is provided as at least a partial substitution for the silica filler component in a silica filled lead acid battery separator (preferably a polyethylene/silica separator formulation). In accordance with at least selected embodiments, the present invention is directed to new or improved batteries, separators, components, and/or compositions having heavy metal removal capabilities and/or methods of manufacture and/or methods of use thereof.

Abstract: A battery separator has performance enhancing additives or coatings, fillers with increased friability, increased ionic diffusion, decreased tortuosity, increased wettability, reduced oil content, reduced thickness, decreased electrical resistance, and/or increased porosity. The separator in a battery reduces the water loss, lowers acid stratification, lowers the voltage drop, and/or increases the CCA.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a microporous membrane having a moderate to high water vapor permeability and high liquid water penetration resistance is disclosed. The microporous membrane may be used in building applications, including as or as part of a building wrap, a rain screen, a roofing underlayment, a flashing, a sound proofing material, or an insulation material. The microporous membrane may include at least one thermoplastic polymer, at least one filler, and at least one processing oil. The microporous membrane may be flat or may have ribs. The microporous membrane may include at least one scrim component. A method for forming the microporous membrane is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are improved separators for lead acid batteries. The separators may include a porous membrane, a rubber, and at least one performance enhancing additive, positive and/or negative ribs, and/or lowered acid leachable total organic carbon.

Abstract: In accordance with at least selected embodiments, the present disclosure or invention is directed to improved battery separators, high conductance separators, improved lead-acid batteries, such as flooded lead-acid batteries, high conductance batteries, improved systems, and/or, improved vehicles including such batteries, and/or methods of manufacture or use of such separators or batteries, and/or combinations thereof. In accordance with at least certain embodiments, the present disclosure or invention is directed to improved lead acid batteries incorporating the improved separators and which exhibit increased conductance. Particular, non-limiting examples may include lead acid battery separators having structure or features designed to improve conductance, lower ER, lower water loss, and the like.

Abstract: An exemplary hybrid battery separator is provided with a porous sheet with a folded bottom edge and joined lateral edges that form a pocket. The folded bottom edge may have one or more openings or slits. The hybrid separators of the present disclosure are particularly useful for flat-plate cycling batteries. The separators of the present disclosure may effectively enhance the battery re-chargeability and the backup time. In addition, the separators of the present disclosure may contribute to the reduction of water loss in the battery, lowering the maintenance needs in service. It is expected that batteries having the separators of the present disclosure may be useful in various applications, such as in inverters, golf carts, as well as solar and traction applications.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a separator is provided with a fibrous mat for retaining the active material on an electrode of a lead-acid battery. New or improved mats, separators, batteries, methods, and/or systems are also disclosed, shown, claimed, and/or provided. For example, in at least one possibly preferred embodiment, a composite separator is provided with a fibrous mat for retaining the active material on an electrode of a lead-acid battery. In at least one possibly particularly preferred embodiment, a PE membrane separator is provided with at least one fibrous mat for retaining the active material on an electrode of a lead-acid battery.

Abstract: In accordance with at least selected embodiments, the present disclosure or invention is directed to novel or improved testing apparatus for testing lead acid batteries and/or their components, and/or the efficacy of their components, testing tables, testing systems, and/or related methods. In accordance with at least certain embodiments, the present disclosure or invention is directed to novel or improved methods for testing lead acid batteries and/or their components, and/or the efficacy of their components. In accordance with at least certain selected embodiments, the present disclosure or invention is directed to novel or improved systems for testing lead acid batteries and/or their components, and/or the efficacy of their components.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel or improved fibrous layers, composites, composite separators, separators, composite mat separators, composite mat separators containing fibers and silica particles, battery separators, lead acid battery separators, and/or flooded lead acid battery separators, and/or batteries, cells, and/or methods of manufacture and/or use of such fibrous layers, composites, composite separators, separators, battery separators, lead acid battery separators, cells, and/or batteries. In addition, disclosed herein are methods, systems, and battery separators for enhancing battery life, reducing internal resistance, reducing metalloid poisoning, reducing acid stratification, and/or improving uniformity in at least enhanced flooded batteries.

Abstract: In accordance with at least selected embodiments or aspects, the present invention is directed to improved, unique, and/or complex performance lead acid battery separators, such as improved flooded lead acid battery separators, batteries including such separators, methods of production, and/or methods of use. The preferred battery separator of the present invention addresses and optimizes multiple separator properties simultaneously. It is believed that the present invention is the first to recognize the need to address multiple separator properties simultaneously, the first to choose particular multiple separator property combinations, and the first to produce commercially viable multiple property battery separators, especially such a separator having negative cross ribs.

Abstract: In at least select embodiments, the instant disclosure is directed to new or improved battery separators, components, materials, additives, surfactants, lead acid batteries, systems, vehicles, and/or related methods of production and/or use. In at least certain embodiments, the instant disclosure is directed to surfactants or other additives for use with a battery separator for use in a lead acid battery, to battery separators with a surfactant or other additive, and/or to batteries including such separators. In at least certain select embodiments, the instant disclosure relates to new or improved lead acid battery separators and/or systems including improved water loss technology and/or methods of manufacture and/or use thereof.

Abstract: A battery separator has performance enhancing additives or coatings, fillers with increased friability, increased ionic diffusion, decreased tortuosity, increased wettability, reduced oil content, reduced thickness, decreased electrical resistance, and/or increased porosity. The separator in a battery reduces the water loss, lowers acid stratification, lowers the voltage drop, and/or increases the CCA.