Abstract: A non-amalgamated zinc alloy powder for use in an alkaline cell which consists of elements component selected from among the following combinations (1) to (3):(1) 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of bismuth, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of indium, not less than 0.005% by weight to less than 0.01% by weight of calcium,(2) not less than 0.005% by weight to less than 0.01% by weight of calcium, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of bismuth, 0 to 0.5% by weight of aluminium, and(3) 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of lead, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of indium, 0 to less than 0.01% by weight of calcium, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of aluminium, the balance being zinc and containing 1 ppm or less of iron, and which can greatly suppress the evolution of hydrogen gas and maintain the discharge performance on a practical level, and the method to produce the same.

Abstract: A non-amalgamated zinc alloy powder for use in an alkaline cell which comprises 1 ppm or less of iron and an elemental component selected from among the following combinations (1) to (5):(1) 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of bismuth, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of indium and 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of lead,(2) 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of bismuth, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of indium and 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of calcium,(3) 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of lead and 0 to 1.0% by weight in total of at least one member selected from among bismuth, aluminum and calcium,(4) 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of calcium, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of bismuth and 0 to 0.5% by weight of aluminum, and(5) 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of lead, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of indium, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of calcium and 0 to 0.5% by weight of aluminum, and which can greatly suppress the evolution of hydrogen gas and maintain the discharge performance on a practical level, and a method for the production of the same.

Abstract: This invention uses as the anode active material a zinc alloy containing Ni, at least one element selected from In, Pb, Ga and Cd and, optionally further, one element selected from Al, Mg, Ca, Ba and Sr for the anode of a conventional zinc-alkaline battery which employs zinc as the anode active material, aqueous alkaline solution as the electrolyte, and manganese dioxide, silver oxide, oxygen and so forth as the cathode active material. The use of such zinc alloy permits the reduction of the amount of mercury to be used for amalgamation of the anode zinc surface which is made for the purpose of corrosion inhibition, thereby enabling the provision of a low-pollution zinc-alkaline battery.

Abstract: Anode active materials comprising amalgamated zinc powder for use in cells, which may well achieve inhibition of corrosion of zinc with a smallest possible amount of mercury, may be produced by a process comprising atomizing a molten zinc added with mercury to obtain pre-amalgamated zinc powder and bringing thus obtained powder, which is dispersed in a liquid, into contact with mercury or an amalgam to further amalgamate said pre-amalgamated zinc powder.