Influence of lead(II) carbonate films of non-antimonial grids on the deep discharge cycling behaviour of maintenance-free lead/acid batteries

The role of hydrocerussite (i.e., 2PbCO3.Pb(OH)2) on the deep discharge cycle-life of non-antimonial lead/acid battery cells was assessed using aged grids comprising deliberately invoked 2PbCO3. Pb(OH)2, and it is shown that, when compared to the untreated grid cells, the aged grid cells required half as many cycles to reach 67% of their initial discharge capacity. The initial specific energy of cells employing aged grids is 40% higher than their untreated grid counterparts; this is attributed to the improved adhesion of the active material to grids containing large amounts of hydrocerussite. A mechanism involving the hydrocerussite-induced formation of a barrier layer in the grid corrosion layer is proposed to explain the premature capacity loss of non-antimonial battery cells.