NON-BLEEDING GAS ELECTRODE HAVING PLURAL POROUS LAYERS

摘要

NON-BLEEDING ELECTRODE This disclosure is directed to a non-bleeding gas electrode for operation under the rigors of high current density and to the active layer thereof. This active layer is comprised of 60 to 90 weight percent high surface area, electroconductive carbon (with or without catalyst thereon), 10 to 40 weight percent particulate polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and has pores sufficiently large to relieve internal hydrodynamic pressures thus preventing liquid being forced through the electrode wetproofing layer to the air side thereof. In addition such electrodes include a PTFE-containing wetproofing or backing layer secured on one side to said active layer and on the other side to a current distributor. The pores in both the active layer and the backing layer are controlled to relieve hydrodynamic pressures by coordinating the particle size of the pore former used to establish the pores in both said layers such that the repellancy of the backing layer to hot alkall exceeds the internal liquid pressures in the active layer. Of particular significance is the fact that the present electrode is non-bleeding when operated on air and preserves its low voltage at high current density over extended time periods without bleeding.