Batteries containing bismuth glass compositions
Disclosed are glass compositions, glass fiber compositions, glass fiber battery separators, glass fiber filter media, battery additives and active materials formed with glass compositions disclosed, glass fiber radiation shields, and glass fiber paper compositions. Certain embodiments include, among other components, bismuth oxide. Certain embodiments include about 0.5-30% bismuth oxide of the composition by weight and silica oxide at about 54-70% of the composition by weight. Embodiments may also include other components. For example, zinc oxide can make up about 0.01-3% of the composition by weight.
1. A lead-acid battery comprising:
electrode plates positioned in a housing;
a lead-acid battery separator comprising glass fibers comprising bismuth oxide, wherein the battery separator is positioned between the electrode plates;
an electrolyte; and
the glass fibers comprise
from about 0.5 to about 30 weight percent bismuth oxide, and
from about 50 to about 75 weight percent silica.
2. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers comprise from about 0.5 to about 15 weight percent bismuth oxide.
3. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers comprise from about 0.5 to about 7 weight percent bismuth oxide.
4. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers comprise from about 0.5 to about 2 weight percent bismuth oxide.
5. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers further comprise one or more of the following: from about 1 to about 5 weight percent aluminum oxide, or from about 9 to about 20 weight percent sodium oxide.
6. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers comprise:
from about 1 to about 5 weight percent aluminum oxide; and
from about 9 to about 20 weight percent sodium oxide.
7. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers comprise from about 1 to about 5 weight percent aluminum oxide.
8. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers comprise from about 2 to about 4 weight percent aluminum oxide.
9. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers comprise from about 9 to about 20 weight percent sodium oxide.
10. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers comprise from about 12 to about 18 weight percent sodium oxide.
11. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers further comprise one or more of the following: from about 4 to about 9 weight percent boric oxide, from about 3 to about 7 weight percent calcium oxide or from about 1 to about 5 weight percent magnesium oxide.
12. The lead-acid battery of claim 11 , wherein the glass fibers comprise from about 0.5 to about 15 weight percent bismuth oxide.
13. The lead-acid battery of claim 11 , wherein the glass fibers comprise from about 0.5 to about 7 weight percent bismuth oxide.
14. The lead-acid battery of claim 11 , wherein the glass fibers comprise from about 0.5 to about 2 weight percent bismuth oxide.
15. The lead-acid battery of claim 11 , wherein the glass fibers comprise from about 4 to about 9 weight percent boric oxide.
16. The lead-acid battery of claim 11 , wherein the glass fibers comprise from about 4 to about 7 weight percent boric oxide.
17. The lead-acid battery of claim 11 , wherein the glass fibers comprise from about 3 to about 7 weight percent calcium oxide.
18. The lead-acid battery of claim 11 , wherein the glass fibers comprise from about 4 to about 5.7 weight percent calcium oxide.
19. The lead-acid battery of claim 11 , wherein the glass fibers further comprise from about 0.1 to about 3 weight percent potassium oxide.
20. The lead-acid battery of claim 11 , wherein the glass fibers comprise:
from about 4 to about 9 weight percent boric oxide;
from about 3 to about 7 weight percent calcium oxide; and
from about 1 to about 5 weight percent magnesium oxide.
21. The lead-acid battery of claim 20 , wherein the glass fibers comprise from about 0.5 to about 15 weight percent bismuth oxide.
22. The lead-acid battery of claim 20 , wherein the glass fibers comprise from about 0.5 to about 7 weight percent bismuth oxide.
23. The lead-acid battery of claim 20 , wherein the glass fibers comprise from about 0.5 to about 2 weight percent bismuth oxide.
24. The lead-acid battery of claim 20 , wherein the glass fibers further comprise from about 0.1 to about 3 weight percent potassium oxide.
25. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers have a softening point of at least about 666° C.
26. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers have a softening point of at most about 703° C.
27. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers have a diameter of between about 0.8 μm and about 8 μm.
28. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the battery separator is comprised of a non-woven mat of glass fibers that forms from about 60 to about 99 weight percent of the battery separator.
29. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the separator further comprises a binder which comprises colloidal silica particles.
30. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the separator further comprises fibers composed of materials selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyolefin, wood pulp and mixtures thereof.
31. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the separator is comprised of a non-woven mat of glass fibers is formed into an absorptive glass mat.
32. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers have an average surface area of less than about 3 m 2 /g.
33. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers have an average surface area of less than about 2 m 2 /g.
34. The lead-acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers have a density of from about 2.5 to about 2.85.