Abstract: The invention provides a substantially flat, planar, metal-air canless bi-cell having two major surfaces formed of oppositely-disposed spaced-apart gas-permeable liquid-impermeable air-electrode cathodic material, defining therebetween a space containing a fluid anodic material comprising anodic metal particles and electrolyte.

Abstract: A battery power supply has a primary battery to provide long service life and a secondary battery to provide short instantaneous power pulses required by loads with variable duty cycles and puslatile load profiles such as digital cellular phones. The primary battery is linked to the power pulse battery in parallel and in series to the load. In the pulse battery, one of the electrodes has at least two electroactive materials as components of the same electrode. These different electroactive materials are selected to have different discharge potentials, charging potentials, and voltage outputs. One of the materials provides a voltage output of a predetermined level and the other of the materials lowers the overall charging voltage of the electrode below that of the first material. The mixed electrode in the pulse battery permits the pulse battery to be charged by the primary battery during the off-pulse periods throughout a substantial portion of the entire discharge voltage range of the primary battery.

Abstract: A battery power supply has a primary battery to provide long service life and a secondary battery to provide short instantaneous power pulses required by loads with variable duty cycles and puslatile load profiles such as digital cellular phones. The primary battery is linked to the power pulse battery in parallel and in series to the load. In the pulse battery, one of the electrodes has at least two electroactive materials as components of the same electrode. These different electroactive materials are selected to have different discharge potentials, charging potentials, and voltage outputs. One of the materials provides a voltage output of a predetermined level and the other of the materials lowers the overall charging voltage of the electrode below that of the first material. The mixed electrode in the pulse battery permits the pulse battery to be charged by the primary battery during the off-pulse periods throughout a substantial portion of the entire discharge voltage range of the primary battery.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a process for regenerating a used etchant solution, which solution contains a metal in divalent form. The apparatus includes a tank which is originally supplied with the etchant solution; a first electrolytic cell for converting solution from the tank to a solution containing a high fraction of a monovalent form of the metal; and a second electrolytic tank for plating metal from the solution containing a high fraction of the monovalent form of the metal. The details of the process of the present invention are set forth in the disclosure.

Abstract: A prismatic metal-air battery is provided for having at least one prismatic metal-air cell received in a cell cavity of a prismatic casing. The casing comprises a wall portion which defines a surface. The wall portion has at least one opening in communication with the cell cavity which is adapted to allow the passage of air into the cell cavity. The casing also includes a valve member having a surface bearing on the wall portion surface. The valve member also has at least one opening therein. The wall portion surface and the valve member surface are adapted to allow movement of the valve member across the wall portion surface between a closed position, in which the valve member opening does not overlap with the wall portion opening, and an open position, in which the valve member opening and wall portion opening at least partially overlap. Importantly, the casing also includes means for providing an attractive force between the wall portion and the valve member.

Abstract: The subject invention provides for a prismatic zinc-air cell comprising a prismatic container, an air cathode, and an anode assembly. The prismatic container has one or more oxygen access openings, and the air cathode is disposed in the container in gaseous communication with the oxygen access openings. The anode assembly comprises a rectangular anode frame having peripheral members, a separator mounted proximate to one end of the anode frame and extending substantially continuously between the anode frame peripheral members. The anode frame and separator thereby define a trough. The anode assembly also comprises a zinc anode which comprises zinc, an aqueous electrolyte, and a gelling agent. The zinc anode is disposed in the trough in electrolytic contact with a first side of the separator, and the anode assembly is disposed in the containers such that a second side of the separator is in electrolytic contact with the air cathode.

Abstract: This invention provides a prismatic zinc-air cell including, in general, a prismatic container having therein an air cathode, a separator and a zinc anode. The container has one or more oxygen access openings, and the air cathode is disposed in the container in gaseous communication with the oxygen access openings so as to allow access of oxygen to the cathode. The separator has a first side in electrolytic communication with the air cathode and a second side in electrolytic communication with the zinc anode. The separator isolates the cathode and the zinc anode from direct electrical contact and allows passage of electrolyte therebetween. An expansion chamber adjacent to the zinc anode is provided which accommodates expansion of the zinc anode during discharge of the cell.

Abstract: A method of making single crystals of metal or other crystallizing materials whereby powders of irregular shaped single crystal particles (as small as 325 mesh or about 50 microns) may be readily and economically made. Said method comprises the steps of: (a) forming thin individual coatings on each of said particles such as oxides of metals on metal particles; (b) adding a combustible material to the coated particles and subjecting the combustible material to combustion; (c) melting the particle material within said coatings which function as individual particle crucibles; (d) cooling the melted particles within the coatings to form individual single crystals each within its own coating; and (e) removing the coating such as by solvation with a solvent or by chemical reaction. The single crystal particles conform to the original shape of the particles which may be irregular.

Abstract: A sealed, rechargeable nickel-zinc cell includes a zinc electrode active mass essentially free of zinc metal when at full discharge, a carboxylated styrene-butadiene binder retaining the zinc electrode mixture in a coherent structure, a predetermined amount of cadmium being included in the zinc electrode mixture, a separator preferably comprising at least two layers of material free of any adhesive binding the layers together and a wicking layer positioned between the nickel positive electrode and the separator.

Abstract: Activation of thermoplastics, such as polyphenylene sulfide, polysulfone, and polyether sulfone thermoplastics by subjection thereof to bromine is disclosed. The activation process is carried out at relatively low temperatures, such as below 200.degree. F. and illustratively, may be carried out at room temperatures. The bromine, in the illustrated embodiment, is provided in an aqueous solution with or without acids or halide salts. The halide salts, when utilized, provide control of the activity of the bromine. The process advantageously adapted for activating the thermoplastic material where it is intended that it serve as a substrate for use in accepting copper plating, as in printed circuit board manufacture.

Abstract: The metal-halogen battery disclosed herein, specifically zinc-bromine, is one in which hydrogen ions are lost from its electrolyte solution during operation, thereby resulting in an undesirable increase in the pH of this solution. However, an arrangement is disclosed herein for replacing the lost hydrogen ions and thereby maintaining the pH of its electrolyte solution at a desirable level. In a preferred embodiment, this arrangement comprises an electrolysis cell which serves to oxidize water for producing the needed hydrogen ions.

Abstract: A metal-halogen battery, specifically a zinc-bromine battery of the rechargeable type, is disclosed herein and includes a housing, spaced positive and negative electrode plates located within the housing and an arrangement for providing continuous flow of electrolyte solution through the housing between the plates. This battery also includes a network of electrically non-conductive projecting ribs which engage the negative electrode plate for providing a fixed spacing between the two plates but which, at the same time, are specifically designed to reduce dendrite growth.

Abstract: A metal-halogen battery assembly, specifically a zinc-bromine battery assembly of the rechargeable type, is disclosed herein along with its method of operation. The assembly includes a housing having an internal chamber, a liquid separator or membrane which divides the chamber into two sections, a metal-reacting negative section and a halogen-reacting positive section, and two electrodes, a negative electrode fixedly located within the metal-reacting chamber section and a positive electrode fixedly located within the halogen-reacting chamber section. The assembly also includes metal and halogen containing electrolyte solution, a first fixed volume of which is continuously circulated and recirculated through the negative chamber section while a separate, lesser volume of the solution is circulated and recirculated through the positive chamber section.

Abstract: A zinc-halogen cell system is provided in which the electrolyte circulates between the cell and an external storage for the halogen which provides the electrolyte with the necessary halogen concentration for efficient operation, energy efficiencies of about 70% being typically achieved.