Gelled alkaline electrolyte

Claim 2

Gelled alkaline electrolyte for electrochemical generators consisting of potassium hydroxide solution together with added gelling agent, said gelling agent consisting of mixtures of reticulated starches having a processing index of from 25-50 and native starches, and said processing index of said reticulated starches being ascertained from a mixture of 5 grams thereof with 100 cc of water at approximately 100°C. that will after a 24 hour rest period settle a volume of from 25 to 50 cc of said reticulated starches, said electrolyte viscosity being independent of the concentration of said potassium hydroxide therein.

Claim 3

Gelled alkaline electrolyte according to claim 1 wherein said solution has a normality below 11N.

Claim 4

Gelled alkaline electrolyte according to claim 1 wherein said gelling agent consists of mixture of native starches and of said modified or reticulated starches, the amount of the latter in said mixture exceeding that of the native starches.

Claim 5

Gelled electrolyte according to claim 3 wherein the content of said reticulated starches in said mixture exceeds about 60% by weight.

Claim 6

Electrochemical generator embodying a gelled alkaline electrolyte consisting of a potassium hydroxide solution containing a gelling agent, said gelling agent consisting of mixtures of reticulated starches and native starches, said reticulated starches having a processing index lying between 25 and 50 whose swelling factor is substantially constant irrespective of a normality between about 1N to about 11N of said potassium hydroxide solution.

Claim 7

Electrochemical generator embodying a gelled alkaline electrolyte consisting of a potassium hydroxide solution containing a gelling agent, said gelling agent consisting of mixtures of reticulated starches and native starches, said reticulated starches having a processing index lying between 25 and 50 whose swelling factor is substantially constant irrespective of a normality between about 1N to about 11N of said potassium hydroxide solution.

Claim 8

Electrochemical generator according to claim 5 wherein said gelling agent consists of a mixture of said reticulated starches and said native starches, said reticulated starches being present in the amount of about 60% by weight in said mixture.

Claim 9

Electrochemical generator according to claim 5 wherein said reticulated starches are present in an amount ranging from 150 to 240 grams per liter.

Claim 10

Electrochemical generator according to claim 5 wherein the negative electrode is constituted by the said gelled electrolyte mixed with powdery zinc.

Claim 11

Electrochemical generator according to claim 5 wherein said gelling agent also includes native starches in a smaller amount than the said reticulated starches.

Claim 12

Electrochemical generator according to claim 5 including a negative active material and wherein said negative active material consists of zinc powder together with said gelled electrolyte, said electrolyte consisting of potassium hydroxide solution with added gelling agent, said gelling agent comprising said reticulated starches.

Claim 13

Electrochemical generator according to claim 10 wherein said potassium hydroxide solution has a normality below 11N.

Claim 14

Gelled alkaline electrolyte for electrochemical generators consisting of a potassium hydroxide solution together with added gelling agent, said gelling agent consisting of mixtures of reticulated starches having a processing index of from 25 - 50 and native starches, the amount in said mixture of said reticulated starches exceeding the amount of said native starches therein, and said processing index of said reticulated starches being ascertained from a mixture of 5 grams thereof with 100 cc of water at approximately 100°C. that will after a 24 hour rest period settle a volume of from 25 to 50 cc of said reticulated starches, said electrolyte viscosity being independent of the concentration of said potassium hydroxide therein.

Claim 15

Gelled alkaline electrolyte for electrochemical generators consisting of a potassium hydroxide solution together with added gelling agent, said gelling agent consisting of mixtures of reticulated starches having a processing index of from 25 - 50 and native starches, the amount in said mixture of said reticulated starches exceeding the amount of said native starches therein, and said processing index of said reticulated starches being ascertained from a mixture of 5 grams thereof with 100 cc of water at approximately 100°C. that will after a 24 hour rest period settle a volume of from 25 to 50 cc of said reticulated starches, said electrolyte viscosity being independent of the concentration of said potassium hydroxide therein.

Claim 16

Electrochemical generator embodying a gelled alkaline electrolyte consisting of a potassium hydroxide solution containing a gelling agent, said gelling agent consisting of mixtures of reticulated starches and native starches wherein the amount of reticulated starches exceeds the amount of native starches in said mixture, said reticulated starches having a processing index lying between 25 and 50 whose swelling factor is substantially constant irrespective of a normality between about 1N and about 11N of said potassium hydroxide solution.

Claim 17

Electrochemical generator embodying a gelled alkaline electrolyte consisting of a potassium hydroxide solution containing a gelling agent, said gelling agent consisting of mixtures of reticulated starches and native starches wherein the amount of reticulated starches exceeds the amount of native starches in said mixture, said reticulated starches having a processing index lying between 25 and 50 whose swelling factor is substantially constant irrespective of a normality between about 1N and about 11N of said potassium hydroxide solution.