Duracell International Inc.

Duracell Inc.

P. R. Mallory Co.

Eleanor J Rossler

Franciszek J Przybyla

Frank E Parsen

Corrosion and hydrogen evolution in a current-producing cell possessing a predominantly zinc anode and an aqueous alkaline or acidic electrolyte is significantly inhibited by the addition to said cell of a zinc corrosion and hydrogen evolution-inhibiting amount of at least one chelating agent selected from the group consisting of aminocarboxylic acid, polyamine and aminoalcohol.

Corrosion and hydrogen evolution inhibitors for current-producing cells

A silver oxide powder for use in the cathode of an alkaline silver oxide galvanic cell, being a mixture of at least 10% divalent silver oxide powder together with monovalent silver oxide powder, is produced by at least partially reducing the silver oxide powder mixture by reacting it with a surfactant, particularly an anionic surfactant and thereafter removing the reactant. The silver oxide powder displays a lower oxygen evolution rate when immersed in an alkaline electrolyte, and lower internal friction during powder flow under pressure when compared with a similar silver oxide mixture which is known not to have been so reacted.

Method of treating silver oxide powder and the product formed therefrom

A silver oxide powder for use in the cathode of an alkaline silver oxide galvanic cell, being a mixture of at least 10% divalent silver oxide powder together with monovalent silver oxide powder, is produced by at least partially reducing the silver oxide powder mixture by reacting it with a fatty acid or a fatty acid salt and thereafter removing the reactant. The silver oxide powder displays a lower oxygen evolution rate when immersed in an alkaline electrolyte, and lower internal friction during powder flow under pressure when compared with a similar silver oxide mixture which is known not to have been so reacted.

Hydrogen evolution in cells having zinc anodes is reduced or eliminated by incorporating in the cell a surfactant which is a complex phosphate ester of a surfactant of the ethylene oxide-adduct type. This surfactant is added in such a manner that, directly or upon wetting of the anode by the electrolyte, there is an adsorption of surfactant on the surface of the zinc anode material, whereby hydrogen evolution is inhibited. The surfactant is desirably present in the cell in an amount of from 0.001% to 5% by weight of the zinc component of the cell.

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Lorne Park, Canada

Eleanor J Rossler