Abstract: An improved vent cap system for use in an electrochemical battery is provided which includes a ring flange for forming a ring seal between the vent cap assembly and the fill tube. When the vent cap assembly is positioned in the battery housing, the ring flange and the fill tube deform to create a seal therebetween to provide a fluid tight seal.

Abstract: A composite battery container for housing one or more cell elements comprising positive and negative plates alternately interleaved with separator material includes a battery housing defining one or more cell compartments. The cell compartments have resilient, flexible spacer and plate-rest ribs integrally formed in the sides and bottom of the cell compartments, but having different material properties than the battery housing. The battery housing is made of a rigid, low cost plastic material, while the ribs are a flexible thermoplastic elastomer. The flexible ribs elastically deform when a cell element is disposed within the cell compartment and return to a substantially non-deformed, originally molded position when the cell element is removed. The ribs are formed in any suitable orientation and at any suitable acute or obtuse angle from the cell compartment walls.

Abstract: A thermoplastic blend of a polyalkylene terephthalate, polyolefin and a functionalized elastomer has improved impact strength while maintaining other needed properties including tensile strength, tensile elongation, and flexural modulus. Recycled polypropylene and PET plastics can be combined with a relative small amount of the functionalized elastomer to provide a blend useful for molding battery containers and other plastic structural members such as automotive components.