Continuous casting of lead-antimony alloys

Lead-calcium-tin (Pb-Ca-Sn) grids for lead/acid positive plates produced with alternative methods to mould casting have gained increasing acceptance during the last twenty years. Similar development of alternative lead-antimony (Pb-Sb) grids has been hampered by the poor electrochemical behaviour of these alloys as characterized by increased grid growth and abnormally high rates of open-circuit corrosion. Continuously-cast antimonial grids with corrosion and mechanical properties that match those of conventional, mould-cast types have been recently developed at Hoppecke. This paper gives an account of the associated development programme in the field. Different aspects of continuous casting of low-antimony alloys are discussed.