The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 20, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 10, 1998
Jonathan R. Goldstein, Jerusalem, IL;
Inna Gektin, Givat Zeev, IL;
Electric Fuel Ltd., Jerusalem, IL;
Abstract
A method of producing a mercury-free corrosion resistant dendritic zinc alloy powder is provided. According to the method an electrolytic cell is prepared that contains an aqueous alkaline electrolyte with a preselected concentration of dissolved zinc cations and optionally the cations of one or more soluble inhibitor metals. The cell also contains a non-zinc adherent cathode, a first anode, and a second anode. The second anode comprises an inhibitor metal, the salts of which are only sparingly soluble in the alkaline electrolyte. For example, the second anode may comprise a minor anode of indium or bismuth interposed between the first or major anode and the cathode. A first voltage between the first anode and cathode is then applied to establish a desired cathode current density and the deposition of dendritic zinc and optional soluble inhibitor metals on the cathode. Concurrently a second voltage between the second anode and cathode is applied to establish a desired current density at the second anode and the simultaneous co-deposition of a desired concentration of the first inhibitor metal in the dendritic zinc being deposited on the cathode. Intermittently the deposited zinc alloy is removed from the cathode and homogenized into a plurality of dendritic zinc alloy particles. According to the method, mercury-free electrolytic zinc alloy powders with effective corrosion inhibiting concentrations of indium and/or bismuth either alone or in combination with other inhibitor metals can be produced. The corrosion resistant zinc alloy powders have a dendritic morphology that is advantageous for battery applications.