ALKALINE BATTERY, ELECTROLYTE ABSORBER THEREFORE

摘要

An improved electrolyte absorber for alkaline battery cells has low resistance to electrolyte ion transfer and can hold alkaline electrolyte in contact with an electrode during chemical reactions of the cell. The absorber is formed by depositing an improved wetting composition to a polyolefin substrate. The substrate, preferably, is a fibrous and porous melt blown thermoplastic web made up of a plurality of physically entangled microfibers, resistant to strong alkali and oxidation. The wetting composition which is deposited over and adhered to external surfaces of said microfibers is comprised of a substantially homogeneous admixture of a polymeric binder, inert hydrophilic filler particles and a phosphate ester wetting agent. Portions of the filler particles in the composition protrude through the binder and are exposed in random distribution. When the absorber is immersed in electrolyte, the phosphate ester wetting agent reacts with the electrolyte to lower the surface tension thereof. The lowered surface tension permits the reacted electrolyte to rapidly wet the exposed filler particles.