Positive-plate gauntlets—the non-woven fabric solution

The tubular positive plate has undergone a gradual change in design that has progressed from single tube assembly to the gauntlet concept. The latest step in gauntlet development is the introduction of non-woven fabrics. These latest fabrics offer many advantages to the tubular battery. The advantages are both of a technical as well as of an economic nature. On the technical side, these non-woven fabrics offer structures which are very porous and yet have relatively small pore sizes. This combination of characteristics results in excellent positive active-material retention and low electrical resistance. The surface finish and physical characteristics of the non-woven fabrics also have an impact on the different plate-manufacturing techniques. But the one of the greatest benefits of this type of positive-plate gauntlet is its contribution to an improvement of the electrical output of the cycling battery both in terms of higher capacity (due to the lower electrical resistance) and to longer cycle life (due to the finer pore structure).