Methods for making components of lead-acid batteries

1. A method for forming the precursor of an active material of an electrode of a lead-acid battery, the method comprising:

forming an active material paste by a method comprising combining at least water, an acid, a glass composition comprising at least 75 wt. % of lead oxide, and lead oxide, wherein the glass composition is granular, and wherein the lead oxide is granular;

curing the active material paste to form the precursor of the active material of the electrode of the lead-acid battery.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the glass composition is a metal silicate having a composition comprising from 75 wt. % to 99 wt. % PbO and from 1.0 wt. % to 25 wt. % SiO 2 .

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the glass composition comprises from 75 wt. % to 99 wt. % PbO, from 1.0 wt. % to 25 wt. % SiO 2 , from 0.1 wt. % to 10 wt. % Al 2 O 3 .

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acid comprises sulfuric acid.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of glass composition to lead oxide in the active material paste ranges from 1:200 to 1:3.33.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the weight ratio of sulfuric acid to lead oxide in the active material paste ranges from 1:100 to 1:10.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the active material paste further comprises combining fiber with the water, the acid, the glass composition, and the lead oxide.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising contacting the active material paste with an electrode grid prior to the curing of the active material paste.

9. A precursor of an active material of a lead-acid battery, wherein the precursor is formed by a method comprising:

forming an active material paste by a method comprising combining at least water, an acid, a glass composition comprising at least 75 wt. % of lead oxide, and lead oxide, wherein the glass composition is granular, and wherein the lead oxide is granular; and

curing the active material paste to form the precursor of the active material of the electrode of the lead-acid battery.

10. The precursor of claim 9 , wherein the glass composition is a metal silicate having a composition comprising from 75 wt. % to 99 wt. % PbO and from 1.0 wt. % to 25 wt. % SiO 2 , and less than 10 wt. % Al 2 O 3 .

11. The precursor of claim 9 , wherein the acid comprises sulfuric acid.

12. The precursor of claim 9 , wherein the weight ratio of glass composition to lead oxide in the active material paste ranges from 1:200 to 1:3.33.

13. The precursor of claim 11 , wherein the weight ratio of sulfuric acid to lead oxide in the active material paste ranges from 1:100 to 1:10.

14. A lead-acid battery, the lead-acid battery comprising:

an electrolyte solution;

at least one negative plate; and

at least one positive plate;

wherein:

one or both of the at least one negative plate or at least one positive plate comprise an active material formed from a precursor of an active material;

the precursor of the active material is formed by a process comprising:

forming an active material paste by a method comprising combining at least water, an acid, a glass composition comprising at least 75 wt. % of lead oxide, and lead oxide, wherein the glass composition is granular, and wherein the lead oxide is granular; and

curing the active material paste to form the precursor of the active material of the electrode of the lead-acid battery.

15. The lead-acid battery of claim 14 , wherein one or both of:

the electrolyte solution comprises water and sulfuric acid; or

the glass composition is a metal silicate having a composition comprising from 75 wt. % to 99 wt. % PbO and from 1.0 wt. % to 25 wt. % SiO 2 .

16. A method for forming the precursor of an active material of an electrode of a lead-acid battery, the method comprising:

forming an active material paste by a method comprising combining at least water, an acid, a glass composition comprising at least 25 wt. % of a single metal oxide, and lead oxide, wherein the glass composition is granular, wherein the lead oxide is granular, and wherein the metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of:

barium oxide;

lead oxide;

zinc oxide;

tin oxide; or

antimony oxide;

curing the active material paste to form the precursor of the active material of the electrode of the lead-acid battery;

wherein one or both of:

the glass composition comprises at least 25 wt. % of zinc oxide; or

the glass composition comprises at least 25 wt. % of antimony oxide.