Improving the Performance of Lead-Acid Batteries through Guitar Coated Fibers

Preliminary results from University of Idaho research show, that GUITAR coated materials improve the performance of lead-acid batteries as a battery paste additive. Theoretical modeling has also shown greater improvement in performance than observed in experimental results. However, GUITAR coated materials tend to be hydrophobic which is detrimental to liquid contact during the mixing of battery plate paste and to the battery electrolyte solution during operation. By utilizing a heat-treat treatment on GUITAR coated materials the hydrophobic property can be reduced, and the materials will become more hydrophilic. This project is comparing standard factory plates with standard hand pasted plates and heat-treated GUITAR coated fibers as an additive for lead-acid battery test cells and cycled to assess if the additives improve battery performance.

The batteries were tested using a sequence of discharge rate cycles that would be of interest to battery manufacturers for industrial applications. Done by doing a schedule starting with a one hour, fifteen minutes, thirty minutes, one hour, ten hours, and ending with a twenty-hour discharge rate with five cycles for each rate. The preliminary results of the test cells with standard factory plates are within range of what was expected and will serve as a basis for the test cells with heat-treated GUITAR additives. Standard hand pasted and additive plates have been fabricated and cycle testing is being initiated.