Characterization of microglass wet laid nonwovens used as battery separators

Significant advancements have been made in the battery industry with the development of valve regulated lead-acid (VRLA) cells for a variety of applications. Today, most sealed or gas recombining, lead-acid batteries utilize absorptive microglass separators in their design. The 100 percent microglass battery separator mat used in rechargeable lead-acid batteries has been identified as being a critical component necessary for the operation of these cells. With the growing importance of the microglass separator in modern battery technology, an understanding of the various properties of the separator is essential to better understand the impact separators have on battery performance. A method for characterizing microglass separators is described by surface area, mechanical, chemical, and microscopy techniques