THERMO-MECHANICAL TREATED LEAD ALLOYS

摘要

Recrystallized lead and lead alloy positive current collectors and connector s such as straps and lugs for use e.g. in lead acid batteries and electrowinni ng anodes, having an increased percentage of special grain boundaries in at lea st part of the microstructure, which have been provided by a process comprising of (i) cold or hot rolling or cold or hot extrusion or (ii) steps of deformi ng the lead or lead alloy, and subsequently annealing the lead or lead alloy. Either a single cycle of working and annealing can be provided, or a plurali ty of such cycles can be provided. The amount of deformation, the recrystallization time and temperature, and the number of repetitions of suc h steps are selected to ensure that a substantial increase in the population o f special grain boundaries is provided in the microstructure, to improve resistance to creep, intergranular corrosion and intergranular cracking of t he current collectors and connectors during battery service, and result in extended battery life and the opportunity to reduce the size and weight of t he battery.