Abstract: Disclosed is an alloy powder for electrodes for nickel-metal hydride storage batteries having a high battery capacity and being excellent in life characteristics and high-temperature storage characteristics. The alloy powder includes a hydrogen storage alloy containing elements L, M, Ni, Co, and E. L includes La as an essential component. L includes no Nd, or when including Nd, the percentage of Nd in L is less than 5 mass %. The percentage of La in the hydrogen storage alloy is 23 mass % or less. M is Mg, Ca, Sr and/or Ba. A molar ratio ? to a total of L and M is 0.045???0.133. A molar ratio x of Ni to the total of L and M is 3.5?x?4.32, and a molar ratio y of Co is 0.13?y?0.5. The molar ratios x and y, and a molar ratio z of E to the total of L and M satisfy 4.78?x+y+z<5.03.

Abstract: Provided is an alloy powder for an electrode which enables an alkaline storage battery to have both excellent discharge characteristics and excellent life characteristics. The alloy powder includes a hydrogen storage alloy including an element L, Mg, Ni, Al, and an element Ma. The element L is at least one selected from the group consisting of group 3 elements and group 4 elements of the periodic table (excluding Y). The element Ma is at least two selected from the group consisting of Ge, Y, and Sn. A molar proportion x of Mg in a total of the element L and Mg is 0.008?x?0.54. A molar proportion y of Ni, a molar proportion ? of Al, and a molar proportion ? of the element Ma, per the foregoing total is 1.6?y?4, 0.008???0.32, and 0.01???0.12, respectively.

Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy included in alloy powder for electrodes includes elements L, elements M, Ni, Co, and elements E. L include La as an essential component. L do not include Nd, or, even when L include Nd, the percentage of Nd in L is 5 mass % or less. Furthermore, M include at least Mg, E include at least Mn, and molar ratio ?1 of Mg to the sum total of L and M satisfies 0.000<?1?0.050. Molar ratio x of Ni to the sum total of L and M satisfies 3.50?x?4.32, and molar ratio y of Co to the sum total of L and M satisfies 0.13?y?0.50. Molar ratio x, molar ratio y, and molar ratio z of E satisfy 4.78?x+y+z<5.03, and ratio y/? of molar ratio y to molar ratio ? that is the ratio of Mn to the sum total of L and M satisfies 0.80?y/??1.50.

Abstract: There is provided a nickel-metal hydride storage battery with suppression of rise in internal pressure, allowing suppression of alkaline electrolyte leakage even when two or more of the batteries are used. The battery includes: positive and negative electrodes; a separator interposed therebetween; and an alkaline electrolyte. The negative electrode includes: a material mixture layer including hydrogen storage alloy powder capable of electrochemically absorbing and releasing hydrogen; and a water-repellent layer including a first polymer including tetrafluoroethylene as monomer units, formed on the material mixture layer. The separator includes: a primary layer having a non-woven fabric structure of fibers; and a composite layer formed on the primary layer and being in contact with the water-repellent layer. The composite layer includes: fibers in continuity with the non-woven fabric structure; and a second polymer including tetrafluoroethylene as monomer units.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery includes: a cylindrical case having a side wall including an opening end portion and a bottom; a sealing plate; a gasket interposed between the sealing plate and the opening end portion; and a sealant between the gasket and the opening end portion. The side wall has an annular groove opened at an outer surface thereof, and an inwardly curl portion at the opening end portion. In at least part of the groove, the minimum width L1 is within 0.2 mm. The sealant includes a polyamide resin formed such that when two test-plate materials are bonded together at bonding faces facing each other via a bonding portion of the sealant, and moved in parallel with the bonding faces and in opposite directions to have a relative displacement within 0.5 to 5 mm, a stress at least 0.02 N/mm2 is applied to the bonding portion.

Abstract: There is provided a nickel-metal hydride storage battery with suppression of rise in internal pressure, allowing suppression of alkaline electrolyte leakage even when two or more of the batteries are used. The battery includes: positive and negative electrodes; a separator interposed therebetween; and an alkaline electrolyte. The negative electrode includes: a material mixture layer including hydrogen storage alloy powder capable of electrochemically absorbing and releasing hydrogen; and a water-repellent layer including a first polymer including tetrafluoroethylene as monomer units, formed on the material mixture layer. The separator includes: a primary layer having a non-woven fabric structure of fibers; and a composite layer formed on the primary layer and being in contact with the water-repellent layer. The composite layer includes: fibers in continuity with the non-woven fabric structure; and a second polymer including tetrafluoroethylene as monomer units.

Abstract: Disclosed is an alloy powder for electrodes for nickel-metal hydride storage batteries having a high battery capacity and being excellent in life characteristics and high-temperature storage characteristics. The alloy powder includes a hydrogen storage alloy containing elements L, M, Ni, Co, and E. L includes La as an essential component. L includes no Nd, or when including Nd, the percentage of Nd in L is less than 5 mass %. The percentage of La in the hydrogen storage alloy is 23 mass % or less. M is Mg, Ca, Sr and/or Ba. A molar ratio ? to a total of L and M is 0.045???0.133. A molar ratio x of Ni to the total of L and M is 3.5?x?4.32, and a molar ratio y of Co is 0.13?y?0.5. The molar ratios x and y, and a molar ratio z of E to the total of L and M satisfy 4.78?x+y+z<5.03.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery includes: a cylindrical case having a side wall including an opening end portion and a bottom; a sealing plate; a gasket interposed between the sealing plate and the opening end portion; and a sealant between the gasket and the opening end portion. The side wall has an annular groove opened at an outer surface thereof, and an inwardly curl portion at the opening end portion. In at least part of the groove, the minimum width L1 is within 0.2 mm. The sealant includes a polyamide resin formed such that when two test-plate materials are bonded together at bonding faces facing each other via a bonding portion of the sealant, and moved in parallel with the bonding faces and in opposite directions to have a relative displacement within 0.5 to 5 mm, a stress at least 0.02 N/mm2 is applied to the bonding portion.

Abstract: Provided is an alloy powder for an electrode which enables an alkaline storage battery to have both excellent discharge characteristics and excellent life characteristics. The alloy powder includes a hydrogen storage alloy including an element L, Mg, Ni, Al, and an element Ma. The element L is at least one selected from the group consisting of group 3 elements and group 4 elements of the periodic table (excluding Y). The element Ma is at least two selected from the group consisting of Ge, Y, and Sn. A molar proportion x of Mg in a total of the element L and Mg is 0.008?x?0.54. A molar proportion y of Ni, a molar proportion ? of Al, and a molar proportion ? of the element Ma, per the foregoing total is 1.6?y?4, 0.008???0.32, and 0.01???0.12, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed is an alkaline primary battery including: a bottomed cylindrical battery case; a cylindrical positive electrode having a hollow, being in contact with an inner wall of the battery case, and including manganese dioxide; a gel negative electrode being in the hollow of the positive electrode, and including zinc or a zinc alloy; a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and an alkaline electrolyte. The positive electrode has an electric capacity C1 and a height L1, the negative electrode has an electric capacity C2 and a height L2, the electric capacity C1 and the electric capacity C2 satisfy the relational expression (1): 1.05?C2/C1?1.25 ??(1), and the height L1 and the height L2 satisfy the relational expression (2): 0.85?L2/L1?f(C2/C1) ??(2), where f(C2/C1)=?0.3058×C2/C1+1.3153.

Abstract: An alkaline dry battery of this invention includes: a positive electrode including at least one of a manganese dioxide powder and a nickel oxyhydroxide powder; a negative electrode including a zinc alloy powder; a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; an alkaline electrolyte; and a battery case for housing the positive electrode, negative electrode, the separator, and the alkaline electrolyte. The negative electrode further includes a surfactant that adsorbs to a surface of the zinc alloy powder during a non-discharge period and promptly desorbs from the surface of the zinc alloy powder upon start of discharge without impeding ion transfer in the alkaline electrolyte.

Abstract: A gelled negative electrode contains zinc powder, alkaline electrolyte, and a gelling agent. The specific surface area of the zinc powder is in the range between 0.025 and 0.045 m2/g. The gelling agent contains, as a main component, a cross-linked polymer formed by radical polymerization in a non-benzene solvent, specifically, a cross-linked poly(meth)acrylic acid (or salt) formed by radical polymerization of a (meth)acrylic acid (or slat) in a non-benzene solvent.

Abstract: A positive electrode 2 and a negative electrode 3 are contained in a battery case 1 with a separator 4 interposed therebetween. The positive electrode 2 contains manganese dioxide and an alkaline electrolyte, and the negative electrode 3 is a gelled negative electrode containing zinc powder, a gelling agent, and an alkaline electrolyte. The zinc powder contains 15% by mass or higher of fine powder with a particle size smaller than 200 mesh, and 10 to 35% by mass of coarse powder with a particle size of 20 to 80 mesh, and has a specific surface area in the range of 0.025 to 0.080 m2/g.

Abstract: The opening portion of a battery case is sealed with a sealing plate using a gasket. The potential of electrolytic manganese dioxide in a positive electrode active material is in the range from 275 to 320 mV. The volume of a closed space formed between the gasket and positive and negative electrodes in the battery case is in the range from 2.0 to 6.0% of the volume inside the battery formed by the battery case and the sealing plate.

Abstract: The opening portion of a battery case is sealed with a sealing plate using a gasket. The potential of electrolytic manganese dioxide in a positive electrode active material is in the range from 275 to 320 mV. The volume of a closed space formed between the gasket and positive and negative electrodes in the battery case is in the range from 2.0 to 6.0% of the volume inside the battery formed by the battery case and the sealing plate.

Abstract: A gelled negative electrode contains zinc powder, alkaline electrolyte, and a gelling agent. The specific surface area of the zinc powder is in the range between 0.025 and 0.045 m2/g. The gelling agent contains, as a main component, a cross-linked polymer formed by radical polymerization in a non-benzene solvent, specifically, a cross-linked poly(meth)acrylic acid (or salt) formed by radical polymerization of a (meth)acrylic acid (or slat) in a non-benzene solvent.

Abstract: A battery can is manufactured by drawing and ironing a nickel plated steel plate. The nickel plated steel plate includes a steel plate and a nickel plating layer made of nickel grains layered. Nickel grains present in a surface portion of the nickel plating layer are greater than nickel grains present in the vicinity of the interface with the steel plate.

Abstract: An alkaline dry battery of this invention includes: a positive electrode including at least one of a manganese dioxide powder and a nickel oxyhydroxide powder; a negative electrode including a zinc alloy powder; a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; an alkaline electrolyte; and a battery case for housing the positive electrode, negative electrode, the separator, and the alkaline electrolyte. The negative electrode further includes a surfactant that adsorbs to a surface of the zinc alloy powder during a non-discharge period and promptly desorbs from the surface of the zinc alloy powder upon start of discharge without impeding ion transfer in the alkaline electrolyte.

Abstract: An alkaline battery of this invention includes: a positive electrode including at least one selected from the group consisting of a manganese dioxide powder and a nickel oxyhydroxide powder; a gelled negative electrode including a zinc alloy powder, a gelling agent, and an alkaline electrolyte; and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the gelled negative electrode. The gelling agent comprises a polymer that is obtained by polymerizing a polymerizable monomer including at least an acrylic monomer, and part of the acrylic monomer remains in the gelling agent without being polymerized. The acrylic monomer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, an acrylate, and a methacrylate. The weight ratio of the remaining acrylic monomer to the total weight of the polymer and the remaining acrylic monomer is 5000 ppm or less.

Abstract: In order to obtain an alkaline dry battery low in the possibility of electrolyte leakage and excellent in discharge performance as well as an alkaline dry battery which is not likely to cause an internal short circuit even with the use of a thin separator, as a zinc powder used is one including 65 to 75 wt % of first zinc particles having a particle size of larger than 75 ?m and not larger than 425 ?m, and 25 to 35 wt % of second zinc particles having a particle size of not larger than 75 ?m.