Abstract: Compositions including glass fibers with a high surface atomic percentage of oxygen bonded to silicon wherein the fibers form at least part of a battery separator or other battery component.

Abstract: A composition including glass fibers with a surface atomic concentration of oxygen in sp3 bonds with silicon of at least about 34% wherein the fibers are formed into a battery separator.

Abstract: Methods of modifying fibers, such as glass fibers, are disclosed. The modified fibers can be used, for example, in a lead acid battery.

Abstract: Glass fibers are disclosed. The glass fibers can be used, for example, in a lead acid battery.

Abstract: A binderless glass fiber mat suitable for use as a separator for valve regulated (“recombinant”) lead acid (“VRLA”) batteries is disclosed. The separator is produced by a dry process by collecting the fibers from fiberizing apparatus, without subjecting them to a wet paper making or other post forming process, and selecting portions of the collected fibers which are sufficiently uniform in thickness and grammage for use as battery separators. The fibers can be entwined to produce a superior separator material. Additives can be introduced during the collection process to enhance the properties of the separator. A battery comprises at least one stack of alternating positive and negative plates, with the separator between adjacent plates. Separators according to the invention are significantly more resilient and have longer fibers than otherwise identical separators made from different samples of the same glass fibers, but by a conventional wet paper making process.

Abstract: Glass fibers are disclosed. The glass fibers can be used, for example, in a lead acid battery.

Abstract: A battery paste is disclosed. One such paste consists essentially of at least one lead oxide (i.e., an uncalcined oxide of lead) and at least one lead oxide sulfate, sufficient water to moisten the paste, and from 0.02 percent to 15 percent based on the weight of the lead oxide plus the weight of the lead oxide sulfate, calculated as the lead oxide, of glass fibers having an average diameter not greater than 15 micron. Another paste consists essentially of at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sulfate, sufficient water to moisten the paste, and from 1 percent to 15 percent based on the weight of the lead oxide plus the weight of the lead oxide sulfate, calculated as the lead oxide, of glass fibers of a specific composition that enables specific beneficial ions to diffuse into the paste during the life of the battery. A method for producing such a battery paste and a delivery system for adding the additives that are added into the paste is also disclosed.

Abstract: A battery paste is disclosed. One such paste consists essentially of at least one lead oxide (i.e., an uncalcined oxide of lead) and at least one lead oxide sulfate, sufficient water to moisten the paste, and from 0.02 percent to 15 percent based on the weight of the lead oxide plus the weight of the lead oxide sulfate, calculated as the lead oxide, of glass fibers having an average diameter not greater than 15 micron. Another paste consists essentially of at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sulfate, sufficient water to moisten the paste, and from 1 percent to 15 percent based on the weight of the lead oxide plus the weight of the lead oxide sulfate, calculated as the lead oxide, of glass fibers of a specific composition that enables specific beneficial ions to diffuse into the paste during the life of the battery.

Abstract: Lead acid batteries and related compositions and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A binderless glass fiber mat suitable for use as a separator for valve regulated (“recombinant”) lead acid (“VRLA”) batteries is disclosed. The separator is produced by a dry process by collecting the fibers from fiberizing apparatus, without subjecting them to a wet paper making or other post forming process, and selecting portions of the collected fibers which are sufficiently uniform in thickness and grammage for use as battery separators. The fibers can be entwined to produce a superior separator material. Additives can be introduced during the collection process to enhance the properties of the separator. A battery comprises at least one stack of alternating positive and negative plates, with the separator between adjacent plates. Separators according to the invention are significantly more resilient and have longer fibers than otherwise identical separators made from different samples of the same glass fibers, but by a conventional wet paper making process.

Abstract: A glass fiber separator material is disclosed. The separator is composed of a mass of intermeshed glass fibers substantially all of which have a fiber diameter not greater than about 20 &mgr;m, and at least 5 percent w/w of which have a fiber diameter less than 1 &mgr;m, and, distributed through the glass fibers, and from 0.2 percent w/w to 20 percent w/w of cellulose fibrils. The fibrils are from a slurry having a Canadian freeness sufficiently low that the separator material has a tensile strength greater than an otherwise identical separator where glass fibers having an average diameter greater than 1 &mgr;m replace the cellulose fibrils.

Abstract: A method for producing a battery separator from a slurry of fibers which are resistant to the chemicals which are found in a battery, and a thermoplastic binder for the fibers. The method comprises the steps of casting the slurry onto a screen, draining the liquid of the slurry from fibers and binder which collect on the screen, and drying the fibers and binder without softening the binder. Subsequently, usually after the it has been rolled, packaged and shipped, the separator is cut to size and heated to soften the binder. In a preferred embodiment, the fibers are glass fibers having an average diameter less than 3 &mgr;m. In another preferred embodiment, the fibers are organic.

Abstract: A glass fiber Separator material is disclosed. The separator is composed of a mass of intermeshed glass fibers substantially all of which have a fiber diameter not greater than about 20 &mgr;m, and at least 5 percent w/w of which have a fiber diameter less than 1 &mgr;m, and, distributed through the glass fibers, and from 0.2 percent w/w to 20 percent w/w of cellulose fibrils. The fibrils are from a slurry having a Canadian freeness sufficiently low that the separator material has a tensile strength greater than an otherwise identical separator where glass fibers having an average diameter greater than 1 &mgr;m replace the cellulose fibrils.

Abstract: Methods and materials for producing microfibers, and methods or collecting the formed fibers as mats, either by themselves or with various additive, are disclosed. The mats are masses of intermeshed glass or other fibers produced by suspending the fibers in a gaseous medium, and collecting the suspended fibers on a foraminous material. The fibers suspended in the gaseous medium have a BET surface area of from 0.2 to 5 m2 per gram. A method for adding additional materials to the mats is also disclosed; this method involves suspending the additives in the gaseous medium with the fibers.

Abstract: A multi-layer sheet useful as a separator (10) in a lead acid battery is disclosed. The sheet comprises at least a first layer (12) and a second layer (14) and having been produced by the method consisting of the steps of forming the first layer (12) by depositing a first, substantially binder free furnish consisting essentially of glass fibers onto the wire (36) of a paper making machine (30) and forming the second layer (14) by depositing a second, substantially binder free furnish consisting essentially of glass fibers and silica powder or another suitable silicate powder onto the first layer (12) on the wire (36) of the paper making machine (30). The silica or silicate powder has a particle size and being present in the second layer (14) in an amount such that, if the second substantially binder free furnish was deposited directly on the wire (36) of the paper making machine (30) a significant portion of the silica or silicate powder would pass through the wire (36).

Abstract: A lead acid battery having a glass fiber separator material is disclosed. The separator material is a mass of intermeshed glass fibers produced by suspending glass fibers in a gaseous medium, and collecting the suspended glass fibers on a foraminous material. The mass of fibers suspended in the gaseous medium has a BET surface area of from 0.2 to 5 m.sup.2 per gram. A battery having a glass fiber separator material with added cellulose fibrils is also disclosed, as is a battery having a glass fiber separator material with added particulate material such as silica.

Abstract: A substantially binder-free glass fiber separator, especially for valve regulated ("sealed") lead acid batteries is disclosed. The separator has a reduced thickness and temporarily inhibited resiliency. A substantially binder-free glass fiber web having a given thickness is wetted with a controlled amount of liquid and compressed to a substantially reduced thickness and the liquid suppresses the natural resiliency of the glass fiber separator so that it will have a substantially reduced thickness when the compression is released. The amount of liquid required to suppress the resiliency of the glass fiber separator is substantially less than the minimum amount of the portion of electrolyte which would be carried in the separator in a finished cell.

Abstract: A substantially binder-free glass fiber separator, especially for valve regulated ("sealed") lead acid batteries is disclosed. The separator has a reduced thickness and temporarily inhibited resiliency. A substantially binder-free glass fiber web having a given thickness is wetted with a controlled amount of liquid and compressed to a substantially reduced thickness and the liquid suppresses the natural resiliency of the glass fiber separator so that it will have a substantially reduced thickness when the compression is released. The amount of liquid required to suppress the resiliency of the glass fiber separator is substantially less than the minimum amount of the portion of electrolyte which would be carried in the separator in a finished cell.