Magnesium battery characterization

The cell design chosen for the initial work was the zinc carbon construction, leading to prototype BA4590 batteries. The efforts to develop a magnesium-based 14-cell BA4590 battery showed that increased continuous rate capability increased service life, and improved low temperature performance could be achieved by modification of the zinc carbon construction. This design, however, was totally inadequate for transmit/receive cycles. Alloy studies showed that AZ21 alloy was still the reliable choice for anode material. Studies to determine the kinetics of corrosion inhibition by chromates showed that the transfer of chromation to the magnesium surface was reduced with depth of discharge. Continuing design efforts include a 16-cell BA 4590 for transmit/receive duty cycles. In addition, an inside-out construction is being developed to restudy the rate capabilities