Zinc-carbon batteries disadvantages

The advantages and disadvantages of zinc-carbon batteries, compared with other primary battery systems, are summarized in Table 8.2. A comparison of the more popular primary cell systems is given in Chap. 7. 

Table 4. Estimated Cost Benefits and Disadvantages per Tonne of Scrap Charged for a 1% Addition of Market Mix Zinc Carbon and Alkaline Manganese Batteries in a Typical EAF...

Carbonation of Electrolyte. Carbon dioxide, which is present in the atmosphere at a concentration of approximately 0.04%, reacts with an alkaline solution (electrolyte) to form an alkali metal carbonate and bicarbonate. Zinc/air batteries can be satisfactorily discharged using a carbonated electrolyte, but there are two disadvantages of extreme carbonation (1) vapor pressure of the electrolyte is increased, aggravating water vapor loss in low-humidity conditions, and (2) crystals of carbonate formed in the cathode stracture may impede air access, eventually causing cathode damage with subsequent deterioration of cathode performance. As indicated in Fig. 13.16 carbonation must be extreme to be detrimental to cell performance in most applications. ... 

The advantages of the alkaline cell over the carbon-zinc cells are summarized below (Table 1). The main disadvantage of the alkaline cell is its higher price over the carbon-zinc battery systems. 

TABLE 10.1 Major Adveintages eind Disadvantages of CyUndriced Alkaline-Meinganese Dioxide Batteries (Compared to Carbon-Zinc Batteries)... 

---