BIPOLAR ELECTRODE USING ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE PLASTIC SUBSTRATE CONTAINING VITREOUS CARBON

摘要

In a conductor-electrolyte-active material electrochemical environment, the conductor is protected against corrosion by that portion of the conductor in contact with the electrolyte and active material being formed of plastic filled with vitreous carbon. Adequate conductivity is obtained by finely dividing the vitreous carbon and loading the plastic with 40%-80% carbon by volume. The filled plastic is particularly effective as a bipolar plate substrate. A layer of lead-antimony foil bonded to the carbon-filled plastic provides a good surface for adhering active materials. A lead sheet can be bonded to the substrate to define a low resistance terminal. Forming the edges of the substrate of thicker sections of unfilled -- hence nonconductive -- plastic allows the plates to be stacked to define a battery.