Study of the Cyclic Performance of Submarine Type Lead-Acid Storage Batteries by Examination of the Positive Plate Structures.

摘要

The microstructures of the active material of the positive plate of submarine type storage batteries were studied,using scanning electron microscopy,as the batteries were cycled on a deep cycle routine. It is seen that capacity loss of these batteries can be directly related to the formation of a coralloid structure within the active material of the positive plate in both lead-antimony and lead-calcium grid batteries. It is proposed that this coralloid structure also leads to active material shedding which is observed at the end of the battery life. The ability of thick plate lead-calcium grid batteries to be successfully operated on a deep cycle routine is related to a reserve of active material retained within the positive plate as lead-sulfate,which is eventually transformed into PbO2to maintain the capacity of the battery.