Investigation on copper corrosion in thin films of sulfuric acid

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.1836398· OSTI ID:201398

Wagner, R ^[1]

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1. Hagen Batterie AG, Soest (Germany). Research Centre TUDOR Group

The conditions for copper corrosion were investigated with regard to its use as the negative grid material in high performance lead-acid batteries with gelled electrolyte. The experiments on copper sheets show that only under very extreme conditions, when there is a thin electrolyte film on the surface and no lead coating over a distance of more than about 3 mm, copper dissolution can occur. In this case, substantial potential shifts in the thin electrolyte film, resulting in a much more positive potential at that part of the electrode, were measured. With a properly lead-coated copper grid there will be virtually no copper corrosion even under starved electrolyte conditions. In additional experiments on lugs of conventional negative lead-calcium grids, similar potential shifts in the positive direction, although much more moderate, were found when there was a thin electrolyte film only on the surface. This result makes a contribution to the better understanding of the mechanism of the corrosion attack at the negative lug/group strap area of valve-regulated lead-acid batteries, which has been observed occasionally.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 201398
• Journal Information: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 143; ISSN JESOAN; ISSN 0013-4651
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COPPER
CORROSION
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
ELECTRODES
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
LEAD-ACID BATTERIES
PROTECTIVE COATINGS
SULFURIC ACID