Effect of solidification temperature of lead alloy grids on the electrochemical behavior of lead-acid battery

Abstract

One of the main electrochemical characteristics of a lead-acid battery is amount of water consumption. The effect of solidification temperature on electrochemical behavior (mainly hydrogen overvoltage) of Pb–Ca–Sn–Al (0.09%, Ca; 0.9%, Sn; 0.02%, Al) and Pb–Sb–Sn (1.7%, Sb; 0.24%, Sn) alloys, which are used in making the grid of lead-acid batteries, has been studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammety for different concentrations of sulfuric acid (ranging from 0.5 mol L−1 to 4.0 mol L−1). The morphology of the grid at some solidification temperatures was studied by optical microscopy. After one sweep of CV the surface of the electrode was investigated by using scanning electron microscopy.The results show that the potential of hydrogen evolution depends on the solidification temperature of the grids during production (mold temperature of grid casting). Also, at different solidification temperatures, different passivation phenomena, electrode surface constituents, and structure were observed.