Separators for gel batteries

Gel batteries require an additional separator to fix the plate distance and to prevent electronic shorts. The most effective protection against shorts is achieved by means of separators with low pore size ideally, microporous materials should be used (pore size less than 1 pm). Additionally, the separator should have a low acid-displacement since the fumed silica and the cracks in the gel already reduce the volume available for electrolyte. To minimize the internal resistance of the battery, the electrical resistance of the separator should be as low as possible. These two requirements, viz., low acid-displacement and low electrical resistance, translate into a need for separators with good wettability, high porosity, and low geometrical volume, i.e., rib configuration and backweb thickness should both be optimized. 

In contrast to most conventional separators for flooded batteries, separators for gel batteries have ribs positioned not only towards the positive plate, but also towards the negative plate in order to facilitate the gel-fllling process. For batteries with pasted positive plates, the separator is usually laminated with a glass fleece, which protects the positive plate against shedding, especially in cycle applications. Although this surface fleece stabilizes the active material, the present design of gel batteries cannot prevent completely the expansion of the positive material and the occurrence of PCL-2. The most important characteristics of separators used in gel batteries are listed in Table 7.2 (adapted from Ref. 12). 

Property Phenol formaldehyde/ resorcinol separators Microporous PVC separators Coated glass-mat separators 

Absorptive glass mat (AGM) Very high porosity of separator High purity and stability of separator Low internal electrical resistance Relatively large separator pores acid stratification -electrolyte drainage risk of internal shorts -risk of thermal runaway -risk of PCL-3 

Gel Little acid stratification Difficult gel-filling processes 

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