BATTERY PASTE

Abstract: A battery paste is disclosed. The battery paste consists essentially of lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sulfate, water, and from 0.02 to 15 weight percent of glass fibers, based on the weight of the lead compounds. The glass fibers have an average diameter of not more that 15 microns. A method of making the battery paste is also disclosed.

Description: TITLE BATTERY PASTE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention i elates to battei y pastes, and, in pai ticulai , to battei y pastes which contain 5 additives and to negative and positive activ e matei ial which can be pioduced by applying the batteiy pastes to gnds ctii ing and toi ming The invention also 1 elates to a method tor intioducing the additives into the paste to plates made by applying pastes made by the method to gnds cui ing and toi ming to toi med plates so pi oduced and to electi ochemical cells, including battenes containing such toi med plates The additives enable the modification of the paste so 10 that positive and negative active matei ial pi oduced thei eti om has impi oved resistance to vibi ation, and thei e is mci eased utilization ot active matei ial capacity and, as a consequence, inci eased initial specific capacity in battenes containing the positive and negative active matei ial, by companson with battenes made tiom previously known battery pastes, including ones containing chopped glass tibei sti and having an avei age diametei of about 0 O H millimetei i and ones containing glass tibei s which ai e tin coated In one embodiment, glass microfibei s oi glass particulates which have such a chemical composition that they ielease Ni, Pt, Ba, Co, Sb, Bi, Sn and othei ions which it is desirable to mtioduce into positive active mateual and negative active material ai e inti oduced into the battery pastes BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 0 THE PRIOR ART Lead acid battenes are commonly used in many applications such as automobiles, golf carts wheel chairs, UPS and in telecommunication, wheie two dittei ent kinds of demands are placed on these battenes In one kind of application the battery is lequu ed to stand-by until a need for power anses while, in the othei , the battei y is called upon to deliver powei periodically, on a s moi e oi less regulai basis The formei type of application is called "float service" or a stand-by application, while the lattei is called cycle service A golf cait batteiy, which may be deeply dischaiged evei y day. is an example of cycle service Another l ecognized battei y application is called "SLI", and is found in automotive service whei e there ai e quick demands for start, lighting and ignition of the vehicle 0 The lead acid battei y has both positive and negativ e plates, separatoi , and electrolyte, all packed in a case The plates of a batteiy ai e typically plante, pasted oi tubular plates In Plante plates, lead oxide is genei ated by du ect oxidation of the lead that forms a conducting substrate. or g d The oxide layei is toi med by a laige numbei ot chai ge-discharge cycles In pasted plates, a paste composed of active matenals such as lead oxide (PbO) and metallic lead called grey oxide 01 lead dust, is applied to the conducting substi ate or gnd and "formed" by chaiging eithei in a 'toi ming bath" ot electiolyte or after the pasted substi ate has been assembled with the other components ot a battery In tubulai positive plates, eithei individual tubes or gauntlets ot tubes ai e filled with active material pastes and then formed The active material is retained by the individual tubes oi gauntlets and the cui ient is collected by a central spine which is located interioi ot the tubes In the lead acid battei y, lead is used to manutactui e both a gnd and the active battery paste oi matei ial that is appl ied to the gnd in the pioduction ot a pasted plate The lead that is used to make the active material is genei ally oxidized by one of two mechanical processes, the Barton pot oi the ball mill There aie other pi ocesses, such as chemical oxidizing ot the lead, which can be earned out in l otary tube furnaces, molten litharge furnaces, lead fume chambers and batch tui naces In the Bai ton pot process, a tine stream ot molten lead is ciiculated around the inside ot a heated vessel, wheie oxygen tiom the air reacts with fine lead droplets or particles to pioduce an oxide coating ai oiind each di oplet Ball milling is a general term tor a large variety ot processes that, geneπcally, involve milling lai ge lead pieces in a rotary mechanical mill With attrition of lead in the mill, lead pieces and then tine metallic flakes are formed, the fine flakes are oxidized to a lead oxide by an air flow in the mill, which also removes the lead oxide particles to a storage silo, where they are collected The active material which is applied to the grids is a paste which can be made by adding sultui ic acid, water, and various additives, usually called expanders, to the mixture of lead oxides ti om the storage silo The othei additives may differ depending on whethei the paste is tor the negative oi positive plate One addition that is made to both positive and negative pastes consists ot (floe) fibers, generally ot the textile class ot organic fibers that are cut to shoi t lengths, and ai e used in vei y small amounts, typically of the oidei of 0 1 percent, based upon the initial oxide weight Such additives as carbon black, barium sulfate and lignm sulfonates are used in the paste for the negative plates Paste mixing in general is controlled to achieve a desired paste density, determined using a cup with a hemispherical cavity and by the measui ement ot paste consistency with a penetrometer Paste density will be influenced by the total amount ot watei and acid used in the paste, by the specific identity of the oxide 01 oxides used and by the type ot mixei used Va ous types ot equipment aie used in pioduction to paste plates The contiol ot the pasting ot the plate is uitical to achieving unifoim and consistent peitoimance ot the batteiy s The suitabilitv ot the paste toi application by this equipment is dependent on the ieology ot the paste which is dependent on man) tactois but is cntical to having good piocessing piopeities in the plate pasting piocess With conventional paste, adding too much acid 01 water will pioduce a paste that can not be pasted in conventional commeicial plate pasting equipment Attei the plates aie pasted they aie cm ed For example "hydioset" cuie. which is 0 npically used toi SLI plates, involves sub|ectmg the pasted plates to a tempei ature which pieteiably is between 25 and 40° C toi 24 to 72 horns The Lining is impoitant, especially toi the positive plate Duimg the Lining step, the lead content ol the active material is reduced by giadual oxidation tiom about 10 to less than 1 weight peicent Furtheimoie, the watei (about 50 v lume peicentage) is evapoiated This evapoiatioπ must be clone quite carefully, to ensuie that s the olume occupied by the watei actually gives use to porosity and is not lost b> shrinkage, which again might lead to the foimation ot cracks" 1 The total fluidity ot the paste, and, theietoie the piopoition ot watei and acid theiein, is cntical because a paste with too much fluidity can not be pasted Lommeicially to piodiiLe a gnd which has an acceptable structural integnty Fluidity is a key piocess vanable that must be Laretully controlled it acceptable plates 0 are to be made, and the fluidity iequired varies, depending on the type ot pasting machine used For example, a belt pastei can be used with a paste having a given fluidity, but an oπtice pastei requires a paste with a fluidity slightly higher than the given fluidity, and appaiatus ot the kind used to pioduce small round cells, wheie the paste is spiayed (see, for example, US patent No 5045.086 which discloses a spiaymg method toi applying batteiy pastes to grids) requiies an S even moie fluid paste The paiticle size and suitace aiea pei unit ot weight ot the oxide oi oxides pasted influence the fluidity ot the paste pioduced and must be taken into account in piepanng the oxide oi oxides toi pasting ' SLL Handbook ol B.iltuv M.HUUIS/LI.1 Juigeii Besenli.ird Wiley VCH 1999 ISBN Vs2729469 p.ige 167 The plates, attei they have been pasted and the paste has been cured, are then foi ed by either a tank toi mation pi ocess 01 a container foimation pi ocess In tank formation the pasted plates are placed in tanks ot tan ly dilute sulturic acid and a direct cui rent is applied to the plates 5 to conv ei t the positive paste to PbO and the negative paste to spongy lead In the containei toi mation pi ocess the battery is fu st assembled and tilled with electi olyte, and a du ect curi ent is then applied to the plates to convei t the positive paste to PbO and the negative paste to spongy lead The negative toi tubulai plates is manufactui ed by the pasted plate pi ocess while the 10 positive is pi oduced ti om a gnd that consists of vei tical lead i ods in the centei s ot tubes of woven, bi aided or nonwoven tabi ics The tubes ai e filled with a lead oxide powder, usually with the aid ot vibi atoi s oi with a slimy oi paste of lead oxide and the splines aie attached to a headei bar and a connection lug Filling the tubes with eithei the powdei or the sluπ y is a difficult operation I S When a lead-acid battei y is discharged, lead dioxide (electrical resistance 10 Ao 10 6 Ohm/ιτr) is conveited to an insulator, PbS0 4 The lead sulfate can form an impervious layer encapsulating the lead dioxide particles, and limiting the utilization of lead dioxide particles to less than 50 percent, typically around 0 percent The power output is significantly influenced by the state-ot-charge oi ot -discharge ot the batteiy, since the lead sulfate provides a circuit 0 resistance whenever the battery is undei load During opeiation of a battery the lead sulfate can grow into lai ge hai d, angular ci ystals disrupting a layei of paste on the grid and causing flaking and shiedding ot the active matei ial from the plate Power consumption during charge is also nci eased because ot the presence of the lead sulfate insulator The lead sulfate crystals in the negative electrode can grow to a large hard condition and, due to the crystal insulating S characteristic, aie difficult to reduce back to lead Even when there are very thin layers of active matei ial on the gnds the coating ot insulting lead sulfate interferes with power output The powei and eneigy peitormance ot the lead-acid batteiy is inherently less than optimum because most ot the active matei ial does not react in the electrochemical cycle ot the battei y The acti e matei ial that does not react during discharge may be viewed as dead weight, 0 which undesii ably inci eases the weight of the battei y and concomitantly decreases the energy-to- w eight l atio and powei to-weight ition ot the battei y The active material that does not leact pi ovides sti iiLtiii e and conductivity tor the active material that does leact The positive plate ot the lead-acid battei y is the plate that noi mally tails in a deep cycle application The positiv e matei ial softens as a battei y is cycled this softening can eventually 5 cause the battei y to tail Failui e can occur when softening causes lost contact between the positive active matei ial and the gnd Such failui e is called pi ematuie capacity loss II (PCL II) In Valve l egulated battenes with absoi bed glass separatoi if sufficient compression (toi ce exei ted to the plate-paste mtei tace) is used sepai ation between the paste and the gnd can be eliminated or at least minimized In flooded lead acid batteries the sepai atoi does not exei t enough force to 10 pi event gnd/paste separation which occui s and causes softening of the active material and loss ot capacity and eventual failure ot the battei y The softened active matei ial, in a flooded battery, can fall to the bottom ot the battei y (a phenomenon called 'paste shedding"), and then can cause a budge between a positive and a negative plate and battery failure because of a short circuit Pocketed (enveloped) sepai atoi have been used in flooded systems to minimize short circuits i s caused b paste shedding In heavy duty applications SLI flooded lead acid battenes are consti ucted with ribbed separatoi s that have a veil, which is a reinforcing mat, laminated to the nbs ot the flooded sepai ator These sepai atoi s aie used to help retain the paste on the plates, but cost two to thi ee times as much as non-reinforced separatoi s In industrial traction batteries, vei y complex separator systems are used to help keep the paste from falling out or shedding 0 from the plate The softening ot the active material also increases the exposure of the grid to sulfuπc acid accelei ating gnd coπ osion and some times pi oducing an insulating layer on the grid which pi events the active matei ial from being in good electncal contact with the grid, and causes battei y failui e because ot PCL II S A ma|oi problem associated with extending the life of lead acid batteries is maintaining the mtegi ity ot the positive plate Therefoi e, additives have been invented to improve the capacity ot the battery Negative active batteiy pastes which contain chopped glass fiber strand having an avei age diametei ot about 0 O H mi llimeter aie known, being disclosed, for example, in US 0 patent No 4 123 470 gi anted Api ll 6 1 982 to Mahato et al SUBSTITUTE SHEET iRULE 26) The following US patents also deal with battery pastes, including, at least in some cases such pastes containing glass fibers 4 12 470 issued 4/6/82 4 116 114 issued 6/22/82 4,191 016, issued 7/5/88 4 414 295, issued 1 1 /8/81 4 414 297 issued 1 1 /8/81, 4,507,172 issued 1/26/85 4,5 10 219 issued 4/9/85 4,606,982 issued 8/ 19/86, 4,611 ,241 , issued 12/21/86, s 4,725 5 16 issued 2/ 16/88 4,715,870, issued 4/5/88, 4 871, 161 , issued 10/10/89, 5,009,971 , issued 4/21/91 5 015,966, issued 7/10/91 , 5,075, 184, issued 12/24/91 , 5, 1 14,806, issued 5/ 1 9/92 5 206 100 issued 4/27/91 5.219,676 issued 6/1 5/91 5,221,152, issued 6/29/91, 5,225 298 issued 7/ 16/91 5 102 476 issued 4/12/94 5,116.275, issued 8/9/94 5 148,817 issued 9/20/94 5 176 479 issued 12/27/94 5 468,572 issued 1 1 /21 /95 and 5,998,062 issued 10 12/07/99 Two US patents to Rowlette, No 4,507 172, issued 5/26/ 1985, and No 4,715,870 issued 4/5/1988 disclose adding SnOi coated glass fibers to a positive battery paste to maintain conductivity din ing charge and discharge It is leported that the addition causes an inciease in bulk and pi events a loss ot capacity which usually occurs when lead sulfate is formed in service I S because the oxide coated glass l eplaces some ot the lead oxide in the paste Bnef mention is made in the patents ot glass wool Experiments that have been peiformed, as subsequently described hei ein demonsti ate that a tin coated glass fiber does not pi ovide the reinforcement benefit discoveied when uncoated microglass tibei s are added to a battery paste The Rowlette patents also disclose that the power characteristics of a lead-acid battery are improved by 0 incorpoi ating a dispersion ot from 1 to 10% by weight of a thermodynamically stable conductivity additive, such as glass tibei s ot filamentary glass wool coated with conductive tin oxide, and used as an additive in the positive active material carried on the grid of the positive plate The later Rowlette patent also discloses that it is necessary to avoid positive plate reversal to prevent i eduction ot the tin oxide and that this can be accomplished by employing an ovei size 5 positive plate and pre-chaiging it, by pre-discharging the negative plate, and/or by placing a ciicuit bi eaker in combination with the plates and terminals to remove the load when the voltage of the positive plate falls below a pi e-selected level A paper presented by Williams and Orsino at the Forty-Eighth Annual meeting of the American Ceramic Society, 5/ 1 / 1946 " , discussed the addition ot nickel to storage battenes, and 0 SLL Lead Nickel Glass ol Conli olled Chemical Duiability tor Storage Batlery Use The AmeriLan Ceiamic Societv Journal Volume 29 No 1 1 pages 1 1 ! 6 the tact that a monomoleculai layei ot metallic nickel may be all that is requu ed to depolarize the plate catalytically The paper discusses the fact that cycling has the effect of bui ying the lav ei ot nickel within the sti uctui e ot the sponge lead (negativ e) and the need tor perpetually lenewing the catalytic layei Williams disclosed that the way to solve this pioblem was to add a s glass which contained ti om 0 00006 to 0 047% nickel to the batteiy paste used to produce the negative plates The slow solubility of the glass made it one material that could satisfy the need tor a slow replenishment ot nickel A papei by G W Vinal et al , 1940, "Note on Effects of Cobalt and Nickel in Stoi ge Battenes" showed that Nickel added to the electi olyte of a battei y as nickel sulfate depolarized the negative plates 10 US Patent 5,667,9 1 7 issued September 16, 1997 discloses tillei s with conductive coatings, (glass mici osphei es) oi a combination ot tillers with conductive coatings and nonconductive ti llei s as an integral pai t ot the active matei ial ot the electrode The fillers reduce the amount ot active matei ial ot the electrode The patent also discusses that the inclusion of tillei s in the active matei ial ot the plate allows the electrolyte diffusion in the plate to be i s controlled so that the utilization ot the active matei ial is also impioved The following published Japanese patent applications (Kokai) also deal with battery pastes, including, at least in some cases, such pastes containing glass fibei s 10321234, publication date 1 2/4/98, 10199562, publication date 7/1 1 /98, 101 14801, publication date 5/22/98, 101 14794, publication date 5/22/98, 10092421 , publication date 4/ 10/98, 10050337, 0 publication date 2/20/98, 09289015, publication date 1 1/4/97, 09134716, publication date 5/20/97, 091 15581 , publication date 5/2/97, 09092268, publication date 4/4/97, and 09092252, publication date 4/4/97 The following published European patent applications also deal with battery pastes, including, at least in some cases, such pastes containing glass tibei s 0716922, publication date 5 10/09/96 0680105, publ ication date 1 1/02/95, 0608590, publication date 8/03/94. 0553410, publication date 8/04/93. 0177828. publication date 718/90 and 0127301 , publication date 1 2/05/84 Japanese Patent application No 55- 1081 75 discusses mixing hollow mici obodies as a component of the active material ot the plate ot a battery The hollow microbodies are l esistant 0 to the acid in the electrolyte and toi m multiporous structures The microporous bodies are hollow and include shells |oιned to cavities tilled with electrolyte The cavities are joined to regions ot the plate that pai ticipate in the chaiging l eaction Japanese Patent application No 62- 160659 discusses the inclusion of hollow carbon balloons in the active matei ial ot the plate ot a battei y, while application No 55 66865 discusses mixing hol low mici osphei es such as armsosphei e philite, shu ai ballons, silica balloons, and carbon balloons into the active matei ial ot the plate ot a battei y to impiove the discharge chai acteπstics ot the plate US Patent 5.660,949 discloses an electi olyte additive containing antimony foi use with lead acid battenes The electi olyte additive is pi oduced by mixing synthetic oil, naphthenic oil, zinc ti ee rust, oxidative inhibitors and an ethylene propylene copolymei , and is placed above the plate cells in lead acid batteries containing antimony it is said to inhibit gassing and misting with an ancillary benefit ot mci easing peitormance and durability of the battery Attempts weie made to make a further improvement in material utilization and specific capacity ot battenes by substituting glass microtibers tor the chopped strand in the paste disclosed by the Mahato et al patent, and thei eby to pi ovide sepai atoi s that would increase the surface area of a battery paste It was found, however, that glass microfibers having an average fiber diametei ot about 1 microns, when added in amounts as low as about 0 01 percent, based upon the weight ot the lead oxide in the paste, made the paste unworkable and, therefoi e, useless in the sense that it could not be used to paste battei y plates THE INSTANT INVENTION The instant invention is based upon the discovery that battery paste containing uncoated glass fibers having an average diameter ot about 1 microns, and in amounts ranging from 0 02 pei cent up to about 15 percent, based upon the weight ot the lead oxide initially in the paste, can be produced by a mixing or blending piocess, tor example in a Hobart mixer operating at about 85 revolutions per minute, ot watei and about half ot the microglass fibers that are to be incoiporated in the paste, adding the PbO and continuing mixing until the water has formed a paste with the PbO, adding the lest ot the fibei s and the l est of the water, continuing mixing until a consistent paste is toπned, adding a dilute sulturic acid solution, mixing for an additional two to three minutes, adding sulfuric acid to bring the paste to a conventional composition, and mixing the final composition, for example, tor about 10 minutes until the material cools to a tempei atui e of about 100° F It is anticipated that small diametei glass tibeis, which aie sometimes called "microtibeis" 01 nanotibeis , will be effective at ieintoicing the ciystal structuie in both negative active mateiial and positive active mateiial that the zeio contact angle ot wetting of the glass will enable moie acid to penetiate deepei into both negative and positive active mateiial, thus pioviding gieatei utilization ot the active mass, and that the leintoi cement piovided by the tibeis will lestiain movement ot both the negative active mateiial and the positive active material It is also anticipated that the small diametei glass tibeis will leduce dusting dining manutactuiing ot the paste and will, theietoie, provide a health benefit Fuithei, it is anticipated that the small diametei glass tibeis will improve the lesistance ot the active mateiial to compiession, will inciease the lesistance ot the active mateiial to crushing, will lemtoice, and inciease the initial porosity ot, the active mateiial, enabling it, as a consequence, to lesist giowth dining discharge as the lead or lead oxide is conveited to larger ciystals ot lead sulfate. and will improve utilization ot the active mateiial and reduce the weight thereof lequiied The use ot the glass miciotibei will inciease the poiosity ot the paste and cause a coiiesponding deciease ot its density, so that a given poundage ot the paste will produce a substantially greatei number of plates The instant invention is also based on the discovery that all the additives, inclusive ot the micioglass, to the negative paste oi positive paste can be preformed into a premanufactured micioglass sheet, boaid or roll to provide an operator the convenience, accuracy and health and safety ot a premeasuied, one component additive In addition, the fibers, sheet, board or roll can be composed ot or can contain microglass fibeis or particles ot special glass compositions which lelease such ions as Ni, Pt, Ba, Co, Sb, Bi, and Sn but still provide the strength enhancement and othei benefits ot the micioglass fibers in the paste, or the sheet, boaid or roll can contain particles having a suitace aiea of at least 03 m7g of glass which release such ions as Ni, Pt, Ba, The instant invention also contemplates that a positive or negative paste containing glass microtibeis can be sub|ected to compiession to increase its density For example, the paste can be applied to plates, cuied to a desned moisture content, and compiessed between two platens while lateial movement ot the paste is pievented by a resilient ring which is also between the platens, and which sui rounds the paste Such a compression step would tend to counteiact the reduction in density which is occasioned by the piesence of glass microfibers in a paste The miciotibei s which have a density ot about 2 5 gi ams per cubic centimetei , replace an equal volume ot lead/ lead oxide, which has a much highei density l nging 8 0 to 1 1 137 giams pei cubic centimetei and, theietoie, weighs considei ably moie than the tibeis which replace it Finally, the piesent invention contemplates a pasted plate whei ein theie is a sheet ot glass fibei cellulosic oi synthetic, non-woven pasting papei between the positive active matei ial and the gnd, between the negative active material and the gnd, oi between both the positive active matei ial and the gnd and the negative active mateiial and the gnd It has been found that from 0 02 to 15 peicent by weight ot uncoated micioglass fibei s in a paste used to pioduce plates toi a lead acid batteiy can ottei the following impiovements The tibei s leintorce and enhance the stiength of the paste, increasing manufacturing efficiency, decieasing shedding ot active material, shingling on pasting, and pellet popping lmpioving vibiation lesistance and manufacturing efficiency, reducing sciap as a consequence of impi oving mechanical stiength, and providing plates which diy without ciackmg while they aie being cured The presence ot the tibeis in the paste also piovides toi impioved health and safety because ot l educed dusting from the paste, and makes it possible to pioduce battenes in which the compression on sepaiator between adjacent plates and consequent sti am on the batteiy case are i educed The manufacturing process is also simplified because less force is lequired to compress a stack of plates and separator before the stack is inserted into a case A batteiy paste according to the invention containing glass microtibei s can also be used at a greater fluidity, making it possible to produce pasted plates of increased porosity, eneigy density, and active material utilization The weight of the active material in a battery plate can also be reduced Glass miciotibers can be used in the pastes for either or both of the positive and negative plates ot a battei y. and in diffeiing amounts For example 6 peicent of glass miciotibers may be added to the positive active material, while only 2 percent or none is added to the negative This makes it possible to produce batteries in which the negative and positive plates have different efficiency oi capacity which can be highly advantageous for some battery applications The glass microfibers used in positive and negative pastes can also have different diameters, or different chemical composition, to provide optimum benefits when the positive and negative active pastes have crystals of ditfeient paiticle size The inci eased poiosity ot the paste and the fact that the microfiber suiface is hydrophillic provides tor improved mass tiansport especially for high rate application, and the increased poiosity provides greater surface area tor reactions which are surface area related, e g , recombination and gas geneiation on charging The fiber structure can piovide for easiei acid diffusion through the lead sulfate layer, improving the conductivity of the plate I I The improvement that microglass fibers provide in positive active and negative active materials is responsible for improved energy density, improved active material utilization, a reduction in the weight of active material required, and improved manufacturing yields. The fibers and particulates in battery pastes according to the invention can also act as a delivery system for ions that are beneficial in the pastes, and the fibers constitute a reinforcement, differing from particle additives in this respect. The fibers in battery pastes according to the invention can be derived from the separators of used batteries which have been scrapped. The glass fibers in battery pastes according to the invention are preferably composed of chemically resistant glass, for example, of the type disclosed in US patent No. 4.558,015, December 10, 1985, entitled "Chemically resistant refractory fiber" or of the type known in the art as "C Glas.s". The chemically resistant fibers are disclosed as follows in the indicated patent: "The objects of the present invention are satisfied by a compositional formulation suitable for producing refractory fibers which is virtually free of alkali metal oxide fluxes, comprising from 56 to 76% silica, from 12 to 33% alumina and from 3 to 22% zirconia. Fibers having this basic chemical composition have been found to be essentially chemically inert in both acidic and alkaline environments. Examples of such environment would be acidic solutions in batteries or calcium silicate products, even when those products are heat treated at temperatures of 300° to 1 100° F. ( 150° to 593° C). These refractory fibers are formulated by impinging a molten stream upon the surfaces of two rapidly rotating spinners. This process for manufacturing spun fibers is actually more efficient when the melt stream is in the range of 3000° F. ( 1705° C), making the use of the fluxing agents noted above, undesirable." C-Glass fibers are identified in US patent No. 4,510.252, Potter, April 9, 1985, which states: "C-Type glasses have long been known in the glass fiber industry as being suitable as reinforcing fibers when chemical durability is needed. These type fibers are essentially alkali, alkaline earth, alumino borosilicate compositions with an early C-Type composition being exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 2,308,857. K. L. Lowenstein, in the book entitled The Manutactuimg Technology ot Continuous Glass Fibeis (Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co , 1971), at page 29 discloses an exemplaiy C- T pe glass composition ot 65% Sι0 2 4% Al 2 0„ 5% B 2 Oi, 1% MgO, 14% CaO.85% N , O and 05% Fe, O, A moie specific C-Type composition, which has been available toi many yeais is a composition ot about 655% SiO., about 18% Al 2 0 3 , about 01% Fe 0 3 , about 117% CaO, about 24% MgO, about 89% of (Na 2 0+K 2 O). about 029c Tι0 2 , and about 557r B 2 O^ " OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is theietoie an ob|ect ot the instant invention to piovide a method tor pioducing a batteiy paste containing tiom about 002 to about 15 percent by weight ot glass tibeis having an aveiage fibei diametei tiom about 025 imcion to about 10 micions It is anothei ob|ect to piovide a batteiy paste containing tiom about 002 to about 15 peicent by weight ot a glass tillei having a suitace area of at least 01 squaie meteis pei gram, and including glass tibeis having an aveiage tibei diameter from about 025 imcion to about 40 micions. and such a glass chemistiy that, dining seivice. there is a slow diffusion ot such ions as Ni, Pt, Ba, Co, Sb. Bi, and Sn tiom the glass tibeis into the positive active material or negative active mateiial ot the batteiy It is still another ol ect to piovide a batteiy paste that forms a positive active mateiial oi a negative active material which has mcieased lesistance to cracking by comparison with positive active mateiial or negative active mateiial formed by conventional batteiy pastes It is yet anothei object to piovide a micioglass sheet or roll which constitutes a deliveiy system toi the additives that aie lequued in the paste because those additives are incorporated into the sheet oi loll It is a still tuithei ob|ect to piovide a method tor producing a battery paste which includes the step ot leclaimmg micioglass tibeis from the separatoi ot lecycled lead acid battenes or other electiochemical cells and mixing the reclaimed tibeis with at least one lead oxide, at least one lead oxide sulfate, watei and sultuiic acid to produce the paste 1 1 Othei olηects and advantages will be appaient from the descnption which follows, which is intended only to illusti ate and disclose but not to limit the invention, lefeience being made to the attached diawings in which BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS s Fig 1 is a schematic view in elevation showing appai atus which can be used to produce pasted batteiy gnds according to the invention Fig 2 is a plan view ot an impasted batteiy gnd which can be pasted in the apparatus of Fig 1 to pioduce pasted battery gnds according to the invention Fig 1 is a schematic view in elevation showing appai atus similai to Fig 1 showing 10 appaiatus which can be used to pioduce pasted battei y gnds according to the invention with a layer of pasting papei adjacent one oi both surfaces ot the pasted grids Fig 4 is a plan view of a pasted plate pioduced in the apparatus of Fig 1 Fig 5 is a bai chai t lepresenting the initial specific capacity in ampere hours per gram of positive active matei ial of batteries with positive plates made using a batteiy paste according to I S the instant invention and the initial specific capacity in ampeie hours pei gram of positive active matei ial ot othei wise identical batteries with conventional positive plates DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following examples describe the best mode presently contemplated by the inventors for pioducing battei y pastes, pasted plates and batteries according to the invention As used in 0 the Examples and elsewheie heiein, the terms 'percent" and parts" refer to percent and paits A weight, "g" means gia or giams, "kg" means kilogiam or kilograms, and "ml" means milliliter or illiliters, "cc" means cubic centimeter or cubic centimeters, and all temperatuies are in degrees F unless otherwise indicated Example 1 5 A battery paste according to the instant invention was produced by a procedure which involved the following steps charging 525 ml water and 100 g glass fibers having an average diameter ot substantially 1 micions to a Hobart mixer mixing the fibei s and water for about 5 minutes by opeiating the mixer at 85 revolutions per minute, adding 1405 g PbO to the mixei and continuing mixing until all ot the ti ee water had been mixed with the PbO, charging 175 ml 0 water and 18 2 g glass fibers having an average diameter ot substantially 1 microns to the mixei and continuing mixing until there was a uniform paste in the mixer, chaiging 1 55 ml sulfuπc acid containing 49 pei cent by weight ot H 2 S0 diluted to 155 ml with water, to the mixer and continuing mixing tor 1 minutes and chaiging HO ml sultui ic acid containing 49 pei cent by weight ot H 2 S0 4 to the mixer and continuing mixing foi about 10 minutes until the paste in the mixei cooled to 100°F The paste had a density ot 58 00 g/inch 1 s The glass fibei s used as descnbed above in Example 1 and subsequently in Examples 2 and 1 have a tibei diametei ot about 1 microns Other commercially available fibers having a diameter tiom 0 25 micion to 10 microns can also be used The peitormance of pastes according to the invention depends, among other things, on the surface area of the glass fibers therein Accoidmgly an incieased piopoition ot coarser fibers can be used to achieve substantially the 10 same lesult as with a given propoition ot finer fibei s, and a decieased pioportion of finer tibei s can be used to achieve substantially the same result as with a given proportion of coarsei fibers Examples 2 and 3 The pioceduie described in Example 1 was repeated except that the total charge of glass tibei s was 204 1 g, and the initial charge was 1 50 g ot the tibeis, the total charge of water was I S 750 ml in Example 2 and 600 ml in Example 1, and the initial charge was 575 ml in Example 2 and 425 ml in Example 1 The battery paste ot Example 2 had a density of 50 97 g per inch , that of Example 1 had a density ot 54 50 g/mch A blend of two or more glass fibers having different diameters and, therefore, different sui face aieas, usually expiessed in ιτr /g, can be used to produce a paste according to the instant 0 invention A smallei diametei fibei has a greater available hydiophilic surface area than a largei diameter fiber and, theietore, will be able to absorb more water during the paste mixing procedure The lelationship between glass fiber diameter and surface area expressed as m " /g is influenced by the density of the tibei, which is typically in the 2 4 to 2 6 g/cc range The length of a glass fiber can influence sui face area This influence increases as the length decreases 5 because a greater numbei of shoit fiber ends are exposed pei giam of fiber The end effects can become moie significant if a fibei is crushed or shoitened in fiber length to assist in the mixing process involv ed in production ot the paste The crushing of fibers to shorten fiber length, which, typically, is about 1 50 times the diameter ot the fiber, makes dispersing the fibers in the paste process easier, but a shortei fiber is a less effective reinforcement for the active material 0 once the paste is pasted onto the gnd Glass fibers which are useful in practicing the instant invention are typically made as wool, the diameters stated represent are average values which are calculated tiom BET suitace aiea measuiements 01 from some form ot air lesistance measiuement piotocol Although glass tibei additives as typically made have a range of fiber diameteis, an additive wheie all the tibeis have the same diameter would be capable of providing equal benefits in a batteiy paste It is difficult to piovide any measiuement of glass fiber length because theie is no acceptable test piotocol unless the tibei is ciushed or ball milled to a suitable length While the typical length could be obtained by SEM examination or using other suitable equipment such pioceduies aie not oidmanly employed Nevertheless, when ball milled tibeis aie used in piacticmg the instant invention, it is usually pieterred that the average length to diametei ratio ot the tibeis be at least 5 1 as measiued by SEM examination It is known that glass tibei diameter can be calculated tiom a deteimination ot the BET smface area of the fibers undei study, using ciyogenic liquid mtiogen oi liquefied kiypton oi argon, and that these calculations differ tiom the values determined by SEM examination, fiber diameters are repoited heiein on the basis of calculations based upon determinations ot BET surface area Examples 4 and 5 The procedure descnbed in Example 1 was iepeated, using commercial equipment, to pioduce additional batteiy pastes The initial and total charges ot glass fibeis, the initial and total charges ot watei, the PbO chaiges and the sultunc acid chaiges aie given in the following table The batteiy paste of Example 5 can also be pioduced by uniformly dispersing the expandei in a mat ot the glass miciotibeis (average diameter 1 micions) so that a given area of the mat contains 25 pounds of the microfibers and 1 2.5 pounds of the expander, and charging that area of the mat to the mixer, followed by 35 kg of water and, after initial mixing, an additional 50 kg of water, 125 pounds of sulfuric acid, and 600 kg of the Barton oxide. Similarly, other additives can be dispersed in the mat in such proportions that a given area of the mat contains the desired charge of glass fibers and of the desired additives. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the instant invention is an article of manufacture which is a sheet or a mat composed of a mass of intermeshed fibers which can constitute an additive for a battery paste and, dispersed uniformly in the mass of intermeshed fibers, a second additive for a battery paste, the intermeshed fibers and the second additive being present in such proportions that a given area of the sheet or mat constitutes the amount of the intermeshed fibers and the amount of the battery paste additive required in a given quantity of the battery paste. In a preferred embodiment the sheet or mat is composed of a mass of intermeshed glass microfibers or of glass nanofibers. Most desirably, there are a plurality of additives for a battery dispersed uniformly in the sheet or mat of intermeshed fibers, and the additives are present in such proportions that a given area of the sheet or mat constitutes the amount of the intermeshed fibers and the amount of each of the plurality of battery paste additives required in a given quantity of the battery paste. The battery pastes of Examples 4 and 5 were used in commercial apparatus to paste grids composed of a grid al loy containing 98 percent by weight of lead, and minor amounts of alloying metals. The grids were 4'/i inches by 4'/2 inches by 0. 1 inch. Referring to Fig. I of the drawings, successive batches of the paste were produced by the previously described method in a mixer 10. where they were agitated by mixing blades I 1 , and from which the paste was discharged into a paste hopper 12 which served a pasting hopper 1 3. Paste was discharged from the hopper 1 3 onto grids 14, which, as can be seen in Fig. 2, had a frame composed of side members 15, end members 16, cross wires 1 7 which extended between the side members 15 and wires 1 8 which extended between one of the end members 16 and a cross member 19. Referring again to Fig. 1 , the grids 14 with a body of paste deposited on each were transferred by a conveyor 20 to a conveyor 2 1 by which they were carried through an oven 22. which was maintained at a temperature of 200° C. and were discharged onto a table 23 which was moved downwardly by increments so that a stack about 10 inches high of the grids 14 and associated dried battery paste was collected thereon. The conveyor 21 moved the grids and associated battei y paste thi ough the oven 22 at such a l ate that each was in the oven tor substantial ly 1 minute The stacks ot gnds 14 and associated battei y paste wei e ti ansteπ ed penodically from the table 21 tor 1 to 5 da) s ot cui ing, din ing which then lead content deci eased ti om about 20 s peicent by weight to about 1 peicent by weight as a consequence ot leaction between the grids and the associated paste, and they became pasted plates After cui ing, which is sometimes called "hydi osetting", the pasted plates wei e found to have a moisture content ot substantially 1 1 pei cent by weight, while pasted plates pi oduced from a classic battery paste mix composed of 600 kilogi a s of PbO, 1 10 pounds ot sultunc acid having a density of 1 185 gi ams pei ml and 10 75 kilogi ams of watei had a moistui e content ot 7 to 8 pei cent by weight A double pasted plate is indicated generally at 24 in Fig 4, with pai t of the paste 25 bioken away to show the undei lying gnd 14 The plates 24 weie then subjected to a pai tmg step by making a cut thi ough the cross membei 19 of the grid 14 so that each double plate was cut in half, yielding two pasted plates, i s each ot which was then used toi assembly, which involv ed a cast on opei ation and actual assembly ot battenes, which weie then formed and tested The pasted plates wei e subjected to viol ation testing which involved weighing each plate to be tested, placing the weighed plate on a platen, subjecting the platen and the weighed plate to vibration in a vertical plane having an amplitude ot 0 1 inch and a frequency ot 60 hertz foi five 0 minutes, and weighing the vibi ated plate Peicent ot active material lost was then calculated by subtracting the plate weight after vibration from the plate weight before vibration, and dividing the dittei ence by the plate weight before vibration times 0 01 Positive plates made as descπbed ti om the paste of Example 4 lost 0 2 percent ot their active material, while negative plates made as descnbed ti om the paste ot Example 5 lost 1 6 percent of then active material 5 Conventional batteries, except that they contained positive plates pioduced as described above ti om the paste of Example 4 and conventional negative plates, wei e subjected to testing to detei mine the initial specific capacity in ampeie hours per gram ot positive active matei ial at several different initial rates of discharge Batteries of the same design which contained conventional positive plates and conventional negative plates were 0 also subjected to the same tests The positive plates in the batteries tested which were pioduced from the paste of Example 4 contained 288 grams ot positive active matei ial pei cell, while the SUBSTITUTE SHLET (RULE 26) conventional positive plates of the batteries which were subjected to the same tests contained 370 grams of positive active material per cell. The numerical results of this testing, specific capacity in ampere hours per gram of positive active material, are presented in the following table: The results of the foregoing testing are also presented graphically in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The battery pastes produced as described in Examples 1 -3 were produced from 3405 g PbO and I 31 .55 ml 49 percent H S0 4 .(Since PbO has a formula weight of 223.21 , this amounted to 3405÷223.21 = 1 .2547 gram moles of PbO, and since sulfuric acid has a formula weight of 98.08 and 49 percent sulfuric acid has a density of 1.3854 g per ml at 20° C, this amounted to 131.55 x 1.3854x 0.49 ÷ 98.08 = 0.9105 gram mole of H 2 S0 4 ) When PbO is mixed with dilute sulfuric acid, reactions occur which produce basic lead sulfate (PbS0 .PbO), so that, ultimately, those pastes were composed of 0.9105 gram mole of PbS0 .PbO and 13.43 gram moles of PbO. After the foregoing and other pastes are applied to grids to make pasted plates, more of the PbO therein is converted to the sulfate, but the total amount of PbO in the pastes and in the pasted plates is not changed by these reactions. Accordingly, it is customary to express the additive content of a battery paste and of a pasted plate made from the paste as a percent of the PbO initially charged to produce the paste. Numerically, the same result is achieved if the PbO and PbS0 .PbO contents of the paste or pasted plate are determined, and the additive content is expressed as a percent of the PbO content plus the PbS0 .PbO content, where the latter is calculated as PbO. For example, the foregoing paste contained 13.43 gram moles or 2998.54 g PbO and 0.9105 gram mole of PbS0 4 .PbO, the latter, calculated as PbO amounting to 0.9105 x 2 x 223.21 = 406.46. In general, pastes for negative plates may contain minor amounts of blanc fixe, lampblack and organic additives and 99 percent by weight of uncalcined oxides of lead (frequently called "leady oxides"), while pastes for positive plates also are composed mainly of uncalcined oxides of lead blended with perhaps as much as 20 percent by weight of Pb 0 4 , which is called 'ι ed lead" In both cases, sulfuric acid, usually dilute, is incorporated in the paste in the amount l equii ed to form the lead oxide sulfate or the lead oxide sultates that is or are desued It is sometimes desu ed to pi oduce battei y plates which include pasting paper The s appai atus ot Fig 1 can be used to mti oduce a layei 24 ot pasting paper below grids 14 as they piogi ess tiom a conveyoi 25 to a conveyoi 26 after they have been deposited from a grid feeding station 27 onto the conveyoi 25 The grids 14 with pasting papei between them and the conveyoi 25 then pi ogi ess between an anvil 27 and a knite 28 which ai e actuated periodically by cylinders 29 and 10 to cut the pasting papei between successive gnds so that individual grids 14 with 10 pasting paper thei ebelow ai e ted by the conveyoi 20 under the pasting hoppei 1 1 where they ai e pasted betoi e passing thi ough the oven 22 and being collected as previously described The appai atus ot Fig 1 can also be used to mtioduce a layer 11 ot pasting paper on top of the grids 14 as they piogi ess tiom the conveyoi 25 to the conveyor 26 so that individual grids 14 with pasting papei thei eabove ai e ted by the conveyor 20 undei the pasting hopper 1 1 where they ai e I S pasted betoi e passing thi ough the oven 22 and bemg collected The appai atus ot Figs I and 1 is shown as having an enclosed mixer 10 which serves an attached paste hopper 12 which is attached to a pasting hopper 1 1 It is usually desirable for the mixer 10 to serve a plurality of pasting stations and, therefoi e, to be separable from and movable relative to the paste hopper 1 2 A batch ot battery paste is then produced in the mixer 10, and fed 0 into the paste hopper 12, after which the mixer 10 is moved so that it can serve at least one othei pasting hoppei (not illustrated) before being returned to deliver another batch of battery paste to the paste hoppei 1 2 ot Fig I oi of Fig 1 It is also desirable, usually, for the paste hopper 12 to be separable tiom the pasting hoppei 1 1 so that the two can be separated for cleaning after they have been out ot sei vice foi a time, oi when it is desired to pi oduce a different kind of paste For 5 example, the apparatus of Fig I may be used alternately to produce positive active battery paste and negative active battei y paste, in which it requires cleaning whenever the type of paste being pioduced changes It will be appreciated that the instant invention in one aspect, is a battery paste consisting essentially of at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sulfate, sufficient water to 0 moisten the paste, and fi om 0 02 percent to 15 pei cent based on the weight of the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide sulfate, calculated as the lead oxide, of glass fibers having an avei age diametei ti om about 0 25 imci on to about 10 mici ons and having then glass suitaces in du ect contact ith the lead oxide, the lead oxide sulfate the sultunc acid and the watei In a tui thei aspect, the instant invention is a battei y paste consisting essentially of at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sulfate, ti om 1 peicent to 40 peicent of water, based s on the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight of the lead oxide sulfate, calculated as the lead oxide, ti om 0 02 percent to 15 peicent based on the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide sultate calculated as the lead oxide ot glass fibers having an avei age diameter ti om about 0 25 imci on to about 10 mici ons. and having then glass surfaces in dn ect contact with the lead oxide, the lead oxide sultate, the sultunc acid and the watei 10 In anothei aspect the invention is a method toi pi oducing a battei y paste which consists essentially ot at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sulfate, fi om 0 02 percent to 1 5 pei cent, based on the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide sulfate, calculated as the lead oxide, of glass tibei s having an average diameter from about 0 25 micron to about 10 mici ons, sufficient sultunc acid to foim the desu ed lead oxide sultate content and I s sufficient water to moisten the paste The method compnses charging a pai t ot the water and a pai t ot the glass tibei s desired in the paste to a mechanical mixer, subjecting the water and fibers to mixing, adding the lead oxide oi oxides desired in the paste to the mixei , subjecting the water, glass tibei s and lead oxide or oxides to mixing until essentially all of the free watei in the mixei has been mixed with the lead oxide or oxides, adding the rest ot the water lequired to moisten 0 the paste to the desired consistency and the sultunc acid l equii ed to foim the lead oxide sulfate oi sultates, and completing the mixing ot the paste In a still tui thei aspect, the invention is a method foi producing a battei y paste which consists essentially ot at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sulfate, from 0 02 pei cent to 15 peicent. based on the weight of the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide 5 sultate, calculated as the lead oxide, ot glass fibers having a length to diameter l atio of at least 5 1 and an average diameter from about 0 25 micron to about 40 microns, pi eterably 0 25 to 10 and most desirably 0 25 to 15, and having exposed siliceous suifaces, sufficient sultunc acid to foi m the desu ed lead oxide sulfate content and water The method compi lses chaiging at least a pai t of the water and at least a pait ot the glass fibers 0 desu ed in the paste to a mechanical mixei , subjecting the water and fibers to mixing, adding the lead oxide oi oxides desu ed in the paste to the mixer, subjecting the water, glass fibers and lead oxide oi oxides to mixing until essentially all ot the tiee water in the mixei has been mixed with the lead oxide oi oxides adding the lest ot the watei , it anv requued to moisten the paste to the desued consistency and to bung the water content ot the paste to tiom 15 to 40 peicent, based upon the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide sultate. calculated as the lead s oxide, chaiged to the mixei, and the sultunc acid required to foi m the lead oxide sulfate oi sultates, and completing the mixing ot the paste It is sometimes desirable to use an excess of watei , l e , moie than is desued in the paste when applied to a gnd When this is done, the invention also contemplates the lemoval of water from the paste, as pioduced, and pπoi to use to paste gnds A paste which contains an excess of watei can be subjected to vacuum to remove the 10 excess watei oi it can be aged in contact with an atmosphei e ot sufficiently low humidity that moisture is removed thei etrom by evaporation at ambient oi slightly elevated temperatme Such a step, it it is used, can be carried out prior to the flash diying step that is carried out in the oven 22, as previously described, in which case theie is a saving ot energy required tor flash drying It is also jx)ssιble to use glass fibers, paniculate glass having a surface area ot at least 0 1 i s m " /g, oi both in a paste accoiding to the invention, which contain, and, therefoie, can impait to the paste a sjiecitic ion to contiol aspects of battery plate performance Examples of ions, which can be mcoipoi ated in the tibei s and imparted to the paste in this way, include baπum. antimony cobalt, platinum, tin, bismuth, nickel, boron and the like Example 6 illustrates the production ot such a batteiy paste containing glass fibers and a participate glass filler from which nickel is 0 dissolved by the paste during service Example 6 A batteiy paste is produced by charging 525 ml water. 1 5g ground glass and 100 g glass tibei s having an avei age diameter of substantially 3 micions to a Hobait mixer, mixing the fibers and watei toi about 5 minutes by opeiatmg the mixer at 85 levolutions per minute, adding 1405 5 g PbO to the mixer and continuing mixing until all ot the tree water has been mixed with the PbO, chaiging 175 ml water and 18 2 g glass fibers having an average diameter of substantially 1 mici ons to the mixei and continuing mixing until theie is a uniform paste in the mixer, charging I 55 ml sultunc acid containing 49 pei cent of H 2 S0 4 diluted to 155 ml with water, to the mixer and continuing mixing toi 3 minutes, and chaiging 110 ml sulfuric acid containing 49 per cent ot 0 H 2 S0 to the mixer and continuing mixing toi about 10 minutes until the paste in the mixer cools to 100°F The glass used in Example 6 is disclosed by F J Williams and J A Orsino, supra It is pi oduced b> melting a mixtui e ot cp nickel cai bonate, glassmakef s sand and hthai ge in such pi oportions that the molai composition is PbO O 5 NiO Sι0 2 at a temperatm e ot 2600 to 2700° F quenching the melt in watei and ci ushing and gnnding the quenched glass The ground glass used was all minus 200 mesh, US Sieve Senes As is disclosed by Williams and Orsino, nickel ti om the gi ound glass used in Example 6 is dissolved slowly in a negative active material produced from the foiegomg paste, about 4 peicent ot the nickel being dissolved attei 1000 days of sei vice A lowering of the end-of-chaige voltage and an inci ease in the cold capacity ot battenes pi oduced tiom a negative paste containing the foi egomg glass wei e attnbuted by Williams and Orsino to the dissolved nickel from the glass Battenes pi oduced from the foregoing paste ai e expected to show similar improvements as a consequence ot the PbO, NiO and Sι0 2 glass therein Othei glasses ai e known tiom which metals other than Ni, e g , Ba. Bi, Na, Co, Pt and Sn, ai e dissolved slowly, and can be substituted tor the Williams and Oi sino glass in batteiy pastes accoi ding to the invention For example, BaO, A1 2 0^ and Sι0 2 form numerous compounds and various solid solutions at temperatures from 1500° C to 1800° C (see Figs 556 and 557 ot Phase Diagi ams toi Cei amists, The American Ceramic Society, Inc , 1964), any ot these compounds and solid solutions can be quenched and ground to pi oduce a pai ticulate matei ial which can be added to a battei y paste accoi ding to the invention, where it will constitute a soui ce foi Ba Similai ly, Bι 2 Oι and A1 2 0^ and Bι 2 0 3 and NiO foim solid solutions containing comparatively lai ge proportions ot Bι 0^ at temperatures of about 825° C and higher (see Figs 326 and 127 ot Phase Diagi ams foi Ceramists) These solid solutions can be quenched and ground to pi oduce a particulate material which can be added to batteiy pastes according to the invention, whei e they will constitute sources for Bi and for Bi plus Ni CoO forms solid solutions containing from about 55 to about 75 mole percent of CoO with Sι0 2 at temperatures ot 1400° C and slightly highei (see Fig 255 of Phase Diagi ams foi Cei amists) and solid solutions containing from about 55 to about 70 mole percent of CoO with at tempei atui es ot 1 I 50° C (see Figs 254 and 255 of Phase Diagrams for Ceramists) These solid solutions can be quenched and ground to pi oduce particulate materials which can be added to battery pastes according to the invention, where they will constitute sources tor Co Similarly, Sn0 and form solid solutions containing up to about 12 mole percent of Sn0 2 at temperatures from about 800° C to about 1000 C ( see Fig. 328 of Phase Diagrams for Ceramists): and Sn0 2 and BaO form solid solutions containing up to about 50 mole percent of Sn0 2 at temperatures from about 1 800°C to a little over 2050° C (see Fig. 2 12 of Phase Diagrams for Ceramists). These sol id solutions can be quenched and ground to produce a particulate material which can be added to battery pastes according to the invention, where they wil l constitute sources for Sn and Bi and for Sn pl us Ba. Those ski lled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous other materials which can be added to battery pastes according to the invention to introduce advantageous metals thereto. The amount of any of these materials added to a paste should be adequate to provide the metal or metals it introduces into the paste during the l ifetime of a battery made from the paste; this can be determined by the procedure described in the Williams et al . Journal article, supra. Comparative Procedure 1 In order to compare the performance in a battery paste of microglass with a tin oxide coati ng as suggested in the prior art with the performance of uncoated microglass. two small mi xes of battery pastes were made and tested. One mi x contained micro fibers that had been coated with tin oxide, while the other contained untreated glass micro fibers. The paste mixes were prepared from the following batch: Lead Oxide: 182.0 g Fiber Additive: l l .O g Sulfuric Acid, 1 .400 specific gravity : 9.2 ml ( 13 g) 1 % Solution of SulfuricAcid 23.0 ml (24 g) Water 39.0 ml Total Weight 269 g In one batch the additive was the microglass fiber used in the foregoing Examples, diameter 3 microns, whi le the other batch was made with the same type of Glass Micro Fiber treated by a method described in US Patent 2,564.707. August 2 1 , 1951 . The fibers were coated with a film of stannic tetrachloπde pentahydrate. The two small paste batches were used to paste two grids and thus two pasted plates were created from the prepared active materials. Batch No. 1 was prepared using uncoated glass fibers. This paste prepared in this batch was easy to apply to the two grids. The glass micro fibers absorbed most of the water added, allowing the paste to contain a high amount of water and still be able to be pasted. The plates thus created exhibit a normal appearance of cured battery plates. The dry plate weights are as follows: Plate 1 : 160.5 g and Plate 2: 1 61 .5 g. These two plates confirm the feasibi lity of pasting a paste containing 6% glass micro fiber. Batch No 2 was prepared from treated fibers. This batch did not behave in the same manner as the paste in Batch # 1 . The fibers did not absorb the extra water, the extra liquid was freely available and resulted in a very mushy paste that was applied with difficulty to the grids. Once cured, the plates acquired a light gray color that is not usual for a cured lead oxide plate. This gray color may be the result of the reaction of the stannic tetrachloride with sulfuric acid. Such plates including these treated fibers could not make an acceptable lead acid battery. The plate weights were as follows: Plate 1 : 159.0 g and Plate 2: 144.5 g In order to further characterize and distinguish the impact of the treated vs untreated fiber additions to plate paste, a plate containing each fiber type was tested for their vibration resistance. The vibration test consists in placing the plate on a plate vibrator that vibrates at a maximum amplitude of 0. 1 in. and at a frequency of 50-60 Hertz for 5 minute duration. The results of the vibration test was as follows: Plate #1 Plate # 2 (Untreated Fiber) (Treated Fiber] Plate weights: Before vibration 160. 1 g 158.3 g After vibration 157. 1 g 1 15.4 g % Loss Active Material 1 .9% 27. 1 % The following conclusions can be drawn based upon the results of the vibration test described above. The treated fibers behave very differently at the paste preparation level. Untreated fibers quickly absorb the excess liquid added to the oxide, thus making it possible to paste a plate with extra water that once cured wil l give greater plate porosity. The tin oxide coated decreases the hydiophil ic surface of the microglass. This ability of the microglass to hold flu id is critic to the processing of the plates. The treated fibers did not absorb any excess liquid and this led to a very mushy paste that would be impossible to run on a commercial plate making pasting piocess Since the expeπment hand pasted the plates, plates weie still able to be consti ucted The ti eated tibei s l ea ted with the components ot the paste to effect the overall composition ot the plate giving a gi ayish appeal ance to the plates The key ingiedient in the treatment of the -> fibei s is a coating ot tin teti achioπde pentahydiate Vibi ation testing ot plates made with tieated and unti eated tibeis showed that the untieated fiber plate lost only 2% ot its weight during the vibiation test, whei eas the treated fiber plate had a matei ial loss of 27% The overall conclusion ot this expeπment is that the untreated glass micro fibei s aie suitable agents to inciease the poiosity ot the plates The treated fibeis aie not capable ot 10 peitoi ming this function, but may altei the plate in othei ways such as by inci easing the electrical conductivity, but using this fiber in a commercial operation would be extiemely difficult It will be appreciated that vaπous changes and modifications can be made from the specific details ot the invention as described above without departing from the spirit and scope i s theieot as defined in the following claims, and that, in one aspect, the invention is a batteiy paste consisting essentially ot at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sultate, and sufficient watei and sultiii ic acid to moisten the paste, and from 0 02 percent to 15 percent based on the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide sulfate, calculated as the lead oxide, ot glass tibei s having an average diameter fiom 0 25 micron to 10 microns, and having their glass 0 suitaces in du ect contact with the lead oxide, the lead oxide sultate, the sulfuric acid and the water Preferably, the batteiy paste also contains at least one additive such as an expander, flocked fibei s and ground glass, contains tiom I peicent by weight to 6 percent by weight of glass tibei s, and the watei content ot the paste is from 15 to 40 percent by weight, based upon the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide sultate, calculated as the lead 5 oxide Optimum lesults have been achieved when the batteiy paste contained from 2 peicent by weight to 4 peicent by weight of glass fibers, and the watei content ot the paste has been fiom 20 to 10 jieicent by weight, based upon the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight of the lead oxide sultate, calculated as the lead oxide In anothei aspect, the invention is a method toi producing a batteiy paste which 0 consists essentially ot at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sulfate, from 0 02 peicent to 15 peicent, based on the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight of the lead oxide sultate, calculated as the lead oxide, ot glass fibers having an average diametei from about 0 25 imcion to about 10 micions and having exposed glass suitaces, sufficient sultunc acid to foim the desued lead oxide sultate content and sufficient watei to moisten the paste, which method compnses chaiging at least a pait ot the watei and at least a pai t ot the glass tibei s desued in the paste to a mechanical mixei, subjecting the water and tibei s to mixing adding the lead oxide oi oxides desued in the paste to the mixei , subjecting the watei , glass fibers and lead oxide or oxides to mixing until essentially all ot the free water in the mixei has been mixed with the lead oxide oi oxides, adding the rest of the water if any, requued to moisten the paste to the desired consistency and the sultunc acid lequiied to toim the lead oxide sultate or sultates, and completing the mixing ot the paste Pieteiably, the water mixed with the other ingiedients in pioducing a batteiy paste according to the invention constitutes tiom 1 to 40 percent, most desn ably ti om 20 to 10 peicent, based upon the weight of the lead oxide and lead sultate, calculated as the oxide In still anothei aspect, the invention is a method for pioducing a battery plate which compi ises applying to a lead grid a body ot a battery paste which consists essentially of at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sultate, from 0 02 peicent to 15 percent, based on the weight of the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide sulfate, calculated as the lead oxide, ot glass tibei s having an aveiage diametei from about 0 25 icion to about 10 microns, and having exposed glass suitaces, sufficient sultunc acid to form the desired lead oxide sultate content and sufficient water to moisten the paste, which method compnses chaiging at least a part ot the watei and at least a part of the glass fibers desired in the paste to a mechanical mixer, subjecting the water and fibers to mixing, adding the lead oxide oi oxides desired in the paste to the mixer, subjecting the watei , glass fibers and lead oxide or oxides to mixing until essentially all of the tree watei in the mixei has been mixed with the lead oxide or oxides, adding the lest ot the watei , it any. lequiied to moisten the paste to the desued consistency and the sultunc acid lequiied to toπn the lead oxide sultate or sultates. and completing the mixing of the paste, and drying the paste In yet another aspect, the invention is a battery plate comprising a lead grid substrate embedded in a body ot a cui ed battery paste consisting essentially of at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sultate, and from 0 02 peicent to 15 percent based on the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide sultate calculated as the lead oxide, ot glass tibei s having an aveiage diametei tiom 025 micion to 10 micions, and having then glass suitaces in duect content with the lead oxide and the lead oxide sultate In one pieteπed embodiment, the batteiy plate has substantially paiallel mu|θi suitaces and a plmality ot minoi suitaces extending between the majoi suitaces and additionally includes a pasting papei sheet on at least one ot the s mj|oι suitaces, most desuably on both ma| i suitaces Pieteiably, the pasting papei sheet(s) is/aie substantially coextensive with the majoi suιtace(s) ot the batteiy plate In anothei pietened embodiment theie is tiom about 0 I peicent to about 1 peicent ot a flocked tibei tillei dispeised in the batteiy paste A batteiy plate which consists essentially of the grid embedded in the cuied batteiy paste is also a pietened embodiment 10 In a tuithei as|ject the invention is an electiochemical cell compnsmg a plmality ot spaced paiallel batteiy plates each ot which compnses a gnd embedded in a body ot a cuied batteiy paste consisting essentially of at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sultate, and fiom 002 peicent to 15 peicent based on the weight of the lead oxide plus the weight of the lead oxide sultate, calculated as the lead oxide, ot glass tibeis having an average diameter tiom is 025 micion to 10 micions, and having then glass suitaces in duect content with the lead oxide and the lead oxide sultate. a sepaiator between adjacent ones ot said plates, an electrolyte in contact with the majoi suitaces ot said plates, positive and negative battery posts, and electπcal connectois opeiably connecting said battery posts and said plates In yet anothei asj^ect, the invention is a method foi pioducing a battery paste which 20 consists essentially ot at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sultate, from 002 peicent to 15 peicent, based on the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide sultate. calculated as the lead oxide, of a siliceous tillei having a suitace aiea of at least 03 ITΓ /g. and having exposed siliceous suitaces, sufficient sulfuπc acid to form the desired lead oxide sulfate content and sufficient water to moisten the paste, which method compnses chaiging a 25 part of the watei and a pait ot the glass fibers desued in the paste to a mechanical mixer, subjecting the watei and tibeis to mixing, adding the lead oxide oi oxides desued in the paste to the ixei, subjecting the watei, glass tibeis and lead oxide oi oxides to mixing until essentially all ot the tiee watei in the mixei has been mixed with the lead oxide or oxides, adding the rest ot the watei lequiied to moisten the paste to the desired consistency and the sulfuric acid lequiied K) to toi the lead oxide sultate oi sultates, and completing the mixing ot the paste 2S In still a tuithei embodiment, the invention is a batteiy plate assembly compnsmg tn st and second batteiy plates each ot which compnses a gnd embedded in a body ot a cuied batteiy paste consisting essentially of at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sultate. and tiom 002 peicent to 15 peicent based on the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight ot the s lead oxide sultate, calculated as the lead oxide, ot glass tibeis having an aveiage diametei tiom 025 micron to 10 micions, and having then glass suitaces in duect content with the lead oxide and the lead oxide sultate The fust batteiy plate has tust and second, opposed, majoi suitaces and the cuied batteiy paste in which the lead gnd is embedded is a positive active mateiial The second batteiy plate has fust and second, opposed, majoi suitaces, and the cuied batteiy paste in 0 which the lead grid is embedded is a negative active mateiial The first ot the opposed ma|oi suitaces ot the first batteiy plate is in spaced, opposed relationship with the second ot the opposed majoi suitaces ot the second batteiy plate, and theie is a separator between the fust ot the opposed mj|oi suitaces ot the tust battery plate and the second of the opposed major suitaces ot the second batteiy plate In one embodiment, the fust and second batteiy plates ot the s batteiy plate assembly aie wound togethei into a coil In anothei embodiment, the fust and second batteiy plates ot the batteiy plate assembly aie stacked into a pπsmatic contiguiation In geneial, micioglass libeis that aie used in practicing the instant invention can be made by any ot the usual piocesses, so long as they have diameteis which tall within the limits specified Fibeis having the requisite diameters can be produced by the rotaiy and flame blown 0 piocesses. and by the CAT piocess, which is illustrated in US patent No 5,076.826 It is usually pieteired that the tibeis be not longer than about one halt inch, pieteiably not longer than about one quaitei inch Indeed, milled tibeis aie also opeiable, as aie mixtures ot glass fibeis and paniculate siliceous matei lals Indeed many ot the advantages ot the instant invention can be achieved in a batteiy paste consisting essentially ot at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sulfate, S sultunc acid, from 15 to 40 peicent ot watei, and tiom 002 peicent to 15 peicent based on the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide sultate, calculated as the lead oxide, ot a paniculate siliceous mateiial having an average surface aiea of at least 03 m " per giam, and having then siliceous suitaces in direct contact with the lead oxide, the lead oxide sultate, the sultunc acid and the watei Many ot the advantages ot the instant invention can also be achieved in a batteiy paste consisting essentially ot at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sulfate, sultunc acid. tiom 1 5 to 40 pei cent ot watei , and ti om 0 02 pei cent to 1 5 pei cent based on the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide sultate calculated as the lead oxide ot a mixture ot glass fibers having an av ei age diametei ti om 0 25 mici on to 10 microns and a paniculate siliceous matei ial having an avei age surface ai ea ot at least 0 1 m " pei gi am the glass fibei s and s the paniculate siliceous matei ial having their siliceous sui taces in duect contact with the lead oxide the lead oxide sultate the sultunc acid and the watei However, optimum results have been achieved when the paste has consisted essential ly ot at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sultate sultunc acid tiom 1 5 to 40 peicent of water and tiom 0 02 percent to 15 pei cent based on the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide sultate calculated 10 as the lead oxide ot glass tibei s having an avei age diametei ti om 0 25 mici on to 10 microns and a length to diametei i atio ot at least 5, the glass fibei s having their siliceous surfaces in duect contact with the lead oxide, the lead oxide sultate, the sultunc acid and the water There is a need to find a use tor separator l eclaimed ti om scrap batteries Such sepai atoi when composed ot glass tibei s, is an excellent souice tor glass fibers in a battery paste i s accoi ding to the instant invention Accoidingly, in one aspect the instant invention is a method tor pi oducing a battei y paste which consists essentially ot at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sultate tiom 0 02 jieicent to 1 5 percent, based on the weight of the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide sultate, calculated as the lead oxide, of glass fibers having an avei age diametei ti om about 0 25 micron to about 10 mici ons, and having exposed glass 0 smfaces, sufficient sultunc acid to form the desu ed lead oxide sulfate content and sufficient water to moisten the paste, which method comprises i ecovermg glass fiber separator from sci ap battenes, charging at least a pai t of the watei and l ecovei ed glass fibers as at least a part of the glass fibers desu ed in the paste to a mechanical mixei , subjecting the water and fibers to mixing adding the lead oxide oi oxides desu ed in the paste to the mixer, subjecting the watei , glass 5 tibei s and lead oxide oi oxides to mixing until essentially all ot the tree watei in the mixer has been mixed with the lead oxide oi oxides, adding the lest ot the water, if any, requned to moisten the paste to the desired consistency, any additional glass fibers required, and the sultunc acid l equii ed to foi the lead oxide sulfate or sulfates and completing the mixing of the paste 0

Claims: We claim 1 A battei y paste consisting essentially ot at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sultate, and sufficient watei and sultunc acid to moisten the paste, and fi om 0 02 percent s to 15 pei cent based on the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide sultate, calculated as the lead oxide, ot glass fibei s having an average diametei ti om 0 25 micron to 10 mici ons, and having their glass sui taces in du ect contact with the lead oxide, the lead oxide sultate, the sulfuπc acid and the watei 2 A batteiy paste as claimed in claim 1 which additionally contains at least one additive 0 such as an expandei , flocked tibei s and giound glass 1 A battei y paste as claimed in claim I containing fiom I percent by weight to 6 peicent by weight ot glass fibers 4 A batteiy paste as claimed in claim 1 containing from 2 peicent by weight to 4 percent by weight ot glass fibers 5 s A battery paste as claimed in claim I wheiein the water content ot the paste is from I 5 to 40 peicent by weight, based upon the weight of the lead oxide plus the weight of the lead oxide sultate, calculated as the lead oxide 6 A battery paste as claimed in claim 1 wherein the watei content of the paste is from 20 to 10 pei cent by weight, based upon the weight of the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead 0 oxide sultate, calculated as the lead oxide 7 A method tor producing a battery paste which consists essentially of at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sulfate, ti om 0 02 percent to 15 percent, based on the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide sulfate, calculated as the lead oxide, ot glass tibei s having an average diameter from about 0 25 micron to about 10 S mici ons, and having exposed glass surfaces, sufficient sultunc acid to foi m the desired lead oxide sultate content and sufficient water to moisten the paste, which method compnses chai ging at least a part of the water and at least a pai t of the glass fibers desired in the paste to a mechanical mixer, subjecting the water and fibers to mixing, adding the lead oxide oi oxides desu ed in the paste to the mixer, subjecting the water, glass tibei s and lead oxide or oxides to mixing until essentially all ot the free water in the mixer has been mixed with the lead oxide or oxides, adding the rest of the water, if any, SUBSTITUTE SHEΞT (RULE 26) . 1 required to moisten the paste to the desired consistency and the sulfuric acid required to form the lead oxide sulfate or sulfates. and completing the mixing of the paste. 8. A method as claimed in claim 7 for producing a battery paste wherein the water mixed with the other ingredients constitutes from 1 to 40 percent by weight of the lead oxide and lead sulfate. calculated as the oxide. 9. A method as claimed in claim 7 for producing a battery paste wherein the water mixed with the other ingredients constitutes from 20 to 30 percent by weight of the lead oxide and lead sulfate. calculated as the oxide. 10. A method for producing a battery plate which comprises applying to a lead grid a body of a battery paste which consists essentially of at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sulfate. from 0.02 percent to 1 percent, based on the weight of the lead oxide plus the weight of the lead oxide sulfate, calculated as the lead oxide, of glass fibers having an average diameter from about 0.25 micron to about 10 microns, and having exposed glass surfaces, sufficient sulfuric acid to form the desired lead oxide sulfate content and sufficient water to moisten the paste, which method comprises charging at least a part of the water and at least a part of the glass fibers desired in the paste to a mechanical mixer, subjecting the water and fibers to mixing, adding the lead oxide or oxides desired in the paste to the mixer, subjecting the water, glass fibers and lead oxide or oxides to mixing until essential ly all of the free water in the mixer has been mixed with the lead oxide or oxides, adding the rest of the water, if any, required to moisten the paste to the desired consistency and the sulfuric acid required to form the lead oxide sulfate or sulfates. and completing the mi xing of the paste, applying the paste to a lead or lead alloy grid, drying the paste, and forming the plate. 1 I . A battery plate comprising a lead grid embedded in a body of a dried battery paste consisting essentially of at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sulfate, and from 0.02 percent to 15 percent based on the weight of the lead oxide plus the weight of the lead oxide sulfate. calculated as the lead oxide, of glass fibers having an average diameter from 0.25 micron to 10 microns, and having their glas.s surfaces in direct content with the lead oxide and the lead oxide sulfate. 1 2. A method for producing a battery paste which consists essentially of at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sulfate. from 0.02 percent to 15 percent, based on the 12 weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide sulfate, calculated as the lead oxide, ot a siliceous tillei having a suitace aiea ot at least 0 1 m " pei gram, and having exposed siliceous surfaces, sufficient sultunc acid to foi m the desu ed lead oxide sultate content and sufficient water to moisten the paste, which method comprises chai ging at s least a part ot the watei and a pai t ot the siliceous fillei desired in the paste to a mechanical mixer, subjecting the water and tiller to mixing, adding the lead oxide oi oxides desued in the paste to the mixei , subjecting the watei, glass fibers and lead oxide oi oxides to mixing until essentially all ot the ti ee watei in the mixer has been mixed with the lead oxide oi oxides, adding the l est of the water lequn ed to moisten the paste to 0 the desu ed consistency and the sultunc acid l equn ed to toi m the lead oxide sultate oi sultates, and completing the mixing ot the paste 11 A method as claimed in claim 12 wheiein glass fibers having a length to diameter l atio ot at least 5 1 constitute the siliceous tiller 14 A method tor producing a battery paste which consists essentially of at least one lead s oxide and at least one lead oxide sultate, from 0 02 percent to 1 5 percent, based on the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight of the lead oxide sulfate, calculated as the lead oxide, ot glass tibei s having a length to diameter ratio of at least 5 1 and an average diameter from about 0 25 micron to about 40 microns, and having exposed siliceous suitaces, sufficient sultunc acid to form the desired lead oxide sultate content and water, 0 which method compnses chaiging at least a part ot the water and a part of the glass fibei s desired in the paste to a mechanical mixei , subjecting the water and fibers to mixing, adding the lead oxide or oxides desired in the paste to the mixer, subjecting the water, glass fibers and lead oxide oi oxides to mixing until essentially all of the free water in the mixer has been mixed with the lead oxide or oxides, adding the rest of the water, it any, 5 required to moisten the paste to the desued consistency and to bring the water content ot the paste to ti om I 5 to 40 peicent, based upon the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide sulfate. calculated as the lead oxide, charged to the mixer, and the sultunc acid l equn ed to form the lead oxide sulfate or sulfates, and completing the mixing of the paste 15. A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the water content of the paste is from 20 to 30 percent, based upon the weight of the lead oxide plus the weight of the lead oxide sulfate, calculated as the lead oxide, charged to the mixer. 16. A battery plate as claimed in claim I I which has substantially parallel major surfaces and a plurality of minor surfaces extending between said major surfaces, and which additionally includes a pasting paper sheet on at least one of said major surfaces. 1 . A battery plate as claimed in claim 16 wherein the pasting paper sheet is substantially coextensive with said major surface. 18. A battery plate as claimed in claim 17 which has substantially parallel major surfaces and a plurality of minor surfaces extending between said major surfaces, and which additionally includes a pasting paper sheet on both of said major surfaces. 19. A battery plate assembly comprising a first battery plate as claimed in claim 1 1 wherein the first battery plate has first and second, opposed, major surfaces, a second battery plate as claimed in claim I I wherein the second battery plate has first and second, opposed, major surfaces, the first of the opposed major surfaces of said first battery plate being in spaced, opposed relationship with the second of the opposed major surfaces of said second battery plate, and a separator between the first of the opposed major surfaces of said first battery plate and the second of the opposed major surfaces of said second battery plate. 20. A battery plate assembly as claimed in claim 19 wherein said first and second battery plates are wound together into a spiral. 21 . A battery plate assembly as claimed in claim 19 wherein said first and second battery plates constitute a tubular assembly. 22. A battery plate assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second battery plates are stacked into a prismatic configuration. 23. A battery plate as claimed in claim 1 1 wherein there is from about 0.1 percent to about 1 percent of a flocked fiber filler dispersed in said dried battery paste. 24. A battery plate as claimed in claim 1 1 which consists essentially of the grid pasted with the dried battery paste. 14 25. A method as claimed in claim 1 2 for producing a battery paste wherein only a part of the siliceous fi ller and a part of the water are charged to the mixer and subjected to mixing before the lead oxide or oxides desired in the paste are added to the mixer. 26. A method as claimed in claim 25 wherein the siliceous filler includes glass fibers having a length to diameter ratio of at least 5: 1 . 27. An electrochemical cell comprising a plurality of spaced battery plates each of which comprises a lead or lead alloy grid embedded in a body of a cured battery paste consisting essentially of at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sulfate, and from 0.02 percent to 1 5 percent based on the weight of the lead oxide plus the weight of the lead ox ide sulfate, calculated as the lead oxide, of glass fibers having an average diameter from 0.25 micron to 10 microns, and having their glass surfaces in direct content with the lead oxide and the lead oxide sulfate, a separator between adjacent ones of said plates, an electrolyte in contact with the major surfaces of said plates, positive and negative battery posts, and electrical connectors operably connecting said battery posts and said plates. 28. An electrochemical cell as claimed in claim 27 which is a lead acid battery. 29. An electrochemical cell as claimed in claim 27 which is a flooded electrolyte lead acid battery. 30. An electrochemical cell as claimed in claim 27 which is a valve regulated lead acid battery. 31 . A valve regulated lead acid battery as claimed in claim 30 with a separator which is a glass mat in which the electrolyte is absorbed. 32. A valve regulated lead acid battery as claimed in claim 30 which has a gelled electrolyte. 33. A battery plate as claimed in claim 16 wherein said pasting paper sheet is a sheet of cellulosic fibers. 34. A battery plate as claimed in claim 16 wherein said pasting paper sheet is a sheet of glass fibers. 35. A method for producing a battery paste which consists essentially of at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sulfate, from 0.02 percent to 15 percent, based on the weight of the lead oxide plus the weight of the lead oxide sulfate, calculated as the lead oxide, of glass fibers having an average diameter from about 0.25 micron to about 10 microns, and having exposed glass surfaces, sufficient sulfuric acid to form the desired is lead oxide sultate content and sufficient watei to moisten the paste, which method compnses lecoveπng glass tibei sepaiatoi tiom sciap battenes. chaiging at least a pait ot the watei and lecoveied glass tibeis as at least a pait ot the glass tibeis desued in the paste to a mechanical mixei, subjecting the watei and tibeis to mixing, adding the lead oxide oi oxides desued in the paste to the mixei, subjecting the water, glass tibeis and lead oxide oi oxides to mixing until essentially all of the tiee water in the mixei has been mixed with the lead oxide 01 oxides, adding the lest of the water, it any, lequired to moisten the paste to the desued consistency any additional glass fibers lequned. and the sultunc acid lequned to toi in the lead oxide sultate oi sultates, and completing the mixing ot the paste A batteiy paste as claimed in claim I wheiein the glass tibeis aie chemically lesistant glass tibeis A batteiy paste as claimed in claim 16 wheiein the chemically lesistant glass fibers aie C-type glass A batteiy plate compnsmg a lead gnd embedded in a body ot a positive active mateiial oi ot a negative active material, which consists essentially, in either case, ot at least one lead oxide and at least one lead oxide sulfate, and tiom 002 percent to 1 peicent based on the weight ot the lead oxide plus the weight ot the lead oxide sulfate, calculated as the lead oxide, ot a siliceous filler having a surface area ot at least 03 m " /g, and having siliceous surfaces in direct content with the lead oxide and the lead oxide sulfate, at least a part ot the siliceous tiller being operable to release a metal selected from the group consisting ot Ni, Ba, Bi, Na, Co, Pt and Sn into the positive active or the negative active mateiial A batteiy plate as claimed in claim 18 wheiein at least a pait of the siliceous tiller is opeiable to lelease Ni into the positive oi negative active material A batteiy plate as claimed in claim 18 wheiein at least apart of the siliceous filler is ojieiable to lelease Ba into the positive or negative active material A batteiy plate as claimed in claim 18 wherein at least a pait ot the siliceous tiller is opeiable to lelease Bi into the positive oi negative active mateiial A batteiy plate as claimed in claim 18 wheiein at least a part ot the siliceous tiller is opeiable to lelease into the positive or negative active material .16 43. A battery plate as claimed in claim 38 wherein at least a part of the siliceous filler is operable to release Co into the positive or negative active material. 44. A battery plate as claimed in claim 38 wherein at least a part of the siliceous filler is operable to release Pt into the positive or negative active material. 45. A battery plate as claimed in claim 38 wherein at least a part of the siliceous filler is operable to release Sn into the positive or negative active material. 46. An electrochemical cell as claimed in claim 27 wherein said battery plates are coiled to form a spiral wound cell. 47. An electrochemical cell as claimed in claim 27 which comprises a plurality of spaced, parallel plates. 48. A method as claimed in claim 12 for producing a battery paste which includes the additional step of removing water from the paste after the mixing thereof is complete. 49. An article of manufacture which is a sheet or a mat composed of a mass of intermeshed fibers which can constitute an additive for a battery paste and, dispersed uniformly in the mass of intermeshed fibers, a second additive for a battery paste, the intermeshed fibers and the second additive being present in such proportions that a given area of the sheet or mat constitutes the amount of the intermeshed fibers and the amount of the battery paste additive required in a given quantity of the battery paste. 50. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 49 wherein the sheet or mat is composed of a mass of intermeshed glass microfibers or of glass nanofibers. 5 I . An article of manufacture as claimed in 49 wherein there are a plurality of additives for a battery dispersed uniformly in the sheet or mat of intermeshed fibers, and the additives are present in such proportions that a given area of the sheet or mat constitutes the amount of the intermeshed fibers and the amount of each of the plurality of battery paste additives required in a given quantity of the battery paste.

Inventors: FERREIRA ANTONIO L, ZGURIS GEORGE C, FERREIRA, ANTONIO, L., ZGURIS, GEORGE, C.
Applicants: FERREIRA ANTONIO L, KVG TECHNOLOGIES INC, ZGURIS GEORGE C, FERREIRA, ANTONIO, L., KVG TECHNOLOGIES, INC., ZGURIS, GEORGE, C.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H01M4
IPC codes: H01M4, H01M10