Method of enhancing the wettability of boron nitride for use as an electrochemical cell separator

Patent · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:864411

McCoy, Lowell R ^[1]

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1. Woodland Hills, CA

A felt or other fabric of boron nitride suitable for use as an interelecte separator within an electrochemical cell is wetted with a solution containing a thermally decomposable organic salt of an alkaline earth metal. An aqueous solution of magnesium acetate is the preferred solution for this purpose. After wetting the boron nitride, the solution is dried by heating at a sufficiently low temperature to prevent rapid boiling and the creation of voids within the separator. The dried material is then calcined at an elevated temperature in excess of 400.degree. C. to provide a coating of an oxide of magnesium on the surface of the boron nitride fibers. A fabric or felt of boron nitride treated in this manner is easily wetted by molten electrolytic salts, such as the alkali metal halides or alkaline earth metal halides, that are used in high temperature, secondary electrochemical cells.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4360578
• OSTI ID: 864411
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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