Tetrabasic lead sulfate preparation

Tetrabasic Lead Sulfate. Tetrabasic lead sulfate [12065-90-6] 4PbO PbSO, mol wt 1196.12, sp gr 8.15, is made by fusion of stoichiometric quantities of Htharge (PbO) and lead sulfate (PbSO heat of formation, Ai/ = — 1814 kJ/mol (—434.1 kcal/mol). Alternatively, tetrabasic lead sulfate may be prepared by boiling the components in aqueous suspensions. At about 70°C, tribasic hydrate reacts with lead oxide to form tetrabasic sulfate. At 80°C, this transformation is complete in - 20 hours. Tetrabasic lead sulfate is used in limited quantities in Europe as a PVC stabilizer. However, in the United States, lead-acid batteries have been developed by BeU Telephone Laboratories, which contain tetrabasic lead sulfate. Such batteries are used for emergency power at telephone switchboard stations and have an anticipated service life of over 50 years. 

Although several hypotheses have been proposed, the mechanisms of electrode degradation involved in shedding and inactivation processes are still not clear. The method of material preparation plays a substantial role here. For example, positive material prepared by oxidation of needle like crystals of tetrabasic lead sulfate HPbO PbS04) maintains the latter s morphology and the electrode s superior performance during cycling of stationary cells." ... 

A sample scheme of the successive technological procedures involved in the process of 3BS paste preparation is presented in Fig. 6.32. An example of a formulation for 3BS paste preparation could be LO (78% PbO) — 500 kg, H2O — 65 L, H2SO4 (1.4 g cm ) — 39 L, fibres — 0.35 kg. For the conversion of the 3BS paste into 4BS during the plate curing procedure, some 6—7 kg of tetrabasic lead sulfate nucleants should also be added to the initial paste mix. 

Preparation of tetrabasic lead sulfate (4BS) pastes for positive plates. 

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