Abstract: Sodium resistant sealing glasses have aluminoborate glass compositions in which glass stability is improved by the incorporation of specific mixtures of modifying alkali earth oxides of calcium oxide, strontium oxide and barium oxide. These modifying alkali earth oxides are present in a total weight percent range from 15 to 40 weight percent of the glass composition.Also disclosed is the employment of the above glasses as seals in sodium-sulfur cells.

Abstract: A composite sulfur electrode container is described which comprises an outer metallic casing portion readily corroded by liquid sulfur and polysulfides, a metallic foil portion substantially corrosion resistant to liquid sulfur and polysulfides bonded to the inner surface of the outer metallic casing portion, and a layer portion of chromium bonded to the opposite surface of the foil portion, the chromium layer portion containing in excess of sixty weight percent chromium. A method is described for making a composite sulfur electrode container.

Abstract: A solid ion-conductive electrolyte consists essentially of hydronium beat"-alumina having the formulanH.sub.2 O.nX.5Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.qH.sub.2 Owherein n is a range from 0.75 to 1; X is an oxide selected from the group consisting of MgO, Li.sub.2 O, and m(MgO)p(Li.sub.2 O) wherein the total of m and p equals n; and q is a range from 0 to 2.8. A method is disclosed for forming such a solid ion-conductive electrolyte.

Abstract: A composite sulfur electrode container is described which comprises an outer metallic casing portion readily corroded by liquid sulfur and polysulfides, a metallic foil portion substantially corrosion resistant to liquid sulfur and polysulfides bonded to the inner surface of the outer metallic casing portion, and a layer portion of chromium bonded to the opposite surface of the foil portion, the chromium layer portion containing in excess of sixty weight percent chromium. A method is described for making a composite sulfur electrode container.

Abstract: A corrosion resistant contiguous duplex chromium-carbon-iron alloy layer bonded to a steel and other similar ferrocarbon substrate for use as a cell casing for a sodium-sulfur cell. The outer layer includes in excess of 60 weight % chromium. The duplex layer is formed by pack chromizing in a pack of chromium and ammonium halide at elevated temperatures in hydrogen or inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: A plurality of sulfur electrode container constructions characterized by mild steel containers and discrete anticorrosive liners disposed within the containers and method of manufacturing each.

Abstract: Novel assembly method and sodium/sulfur battery prepared thereby are provided whereby, in a preformed sulfur compartment, the sulfur electrode is prepared in situ, providing for graduated resistance from the beta-alumina electrolyte to the container wall. The method employs providing for a high resistance conductor as a relatively thin sheet adjacent the beta-alumina electrolyte and a conductive sulfur electrolyte extending from the high resistance conductor to the container wall, whereby the electrolyte is composed of sulfur and small carbon fibers. Conveniently, the high resistance film is positioned adjacent the beta-alumina electrolyte and appropriate amounts of the carbon fiber are introduced into the electrolyte chamber, followed by the addition of molten sulfur.

Abstract: A solid ion-conductive electrolyte consists essentially of hydronium beta"-alumina having the formulanH.sub.2 O. nX.5Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.qH.sub.2 Owherein n is a range from 0.75 to 1; X is an oxide selected from the group consisting of MgO, Li.sub.2 O, and m(MgO)p(Li.sub.2 O) wherein the total of m and p equals n; and q is a range from 0 to 2.8. A method is disclosed for forming such a solid ion-conductive electrolyte.

Abstract: A sulfur electrode is described which includes a sulfur-carbon plug with a central aperture extending partially therethrough, and at least one layer of an electronically insulating plain woven mesh material positioned within the central aperture and having its exterior surface in contiguous relation with the wall of the central aperture. A sulfur electrode container includes the above sulfur electrode positioned within an outer metallic casing which is substantially corrosion resistant to liquid sulfur and polysulfides. Methods are also described for making sulfur electrode containers.

Abstract: A plurality of sulfur electrode container constructions characterized by mild steel containers and discrete anti-corrosive liners disposed within the containers and method of manufacturing each.

Abstract: An improved hermetically sealed sodium-sulfur cell casing formed as a container of metal, the interior side wall of the container being characterized by an electrically conducting corrosion resistant electrolytically applied layer of material. Preferably the metal of the container comprises aluminum and the layer is chromium. A second embodiment includes a layer of electrolytically applied zinc to the aluminum and a layer of chromium electrolytically applied to the zinc layer.

Abstract: Improved sodium-sulfur batteries are provided by enhancing the utilization of active positive-electrode material. In sodium-sulfur batteries, employing a liquid sodium electrode separated from a liquid sulfur electrode by a solid .beta.-alumina electrolyte separator, where the sulfur is impregnated in an electronically conducting matrix such as porous carbon, enhanced utilization of active electrode material is achieved during the charging-discharging cycling by enhancing the electronic resistivity adjacent the .beta.-alumina in the sulfur electrode. This can be achieved in a variety of ways, particularly employing porous carbon of higher resistivity adjacent the .beta.-alumina as compared to the porous carbon distant from the .beta.-alumina.

Abstract: A battery casing and a sealed sodium-sulfur battery are disclosed wherein the battery casing includes separate seals of low temperature melting glass joining a portion of an inner casing of a solid sodium ion-conductive material to the interior surface of a ceramic ring, and joining two opposed outer metallic casings to the ceramic ring. A sealed sodium-sulfur battery has the above type of casing with a sodium anode in one casing and a cathode of sulfur in conductive material in the other casing.

Abstract: A cathode cell casing portion, a cell casing, and a hermetically sealed sodium-sulfur cell are disclosed. The metallic cathode cell casing portion is made of one of several specific metals with a corrosion resistant and electronically conducting layer adhering to the inner surface of the casing. The cell casing includes the above cathode cell casing portion and an opposed anode cell casing portion joined to a ceramic ring supporting an inner casing of a solid sodium ion-conductive material. A hermetically sealed sodium-sulfur cell has the above type of casing with a sodium negative electrode in the inner casing and a positive electrode of sulfur in conductive material in the cathode casing portion surrounding the inner casing.