Patent US4912722A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5296261A
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Method of manufacturing a sponge-type support for an electrode in an electrochemical cell
Assignee: SAFT Societe des Accumulateurs Fixes et de Traction SA
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Filing: 1992-07-01
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Granted: 1994-03-22
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Expires: 2012-07-01
Abstract
Abstract A method of manufacturing a sponge support made of a metal selected from nickel, copper and lead, including (a) impregnating a sponge made of an organic material based on polyurethane, polyester or polyether with a solution of a nitrite or a sulfate of the metal, the concentration of the solution being a function of the desired weight per unit area for the sponge made of metal, the sponge made of an organic material has a porosity in the range of from 96% to 98% and a pore-size in the range of from 200 μm to 400 μm, and (b) heat-treating the impregnated sponge to remove the organic material.
Inventors
- 👤 Jacques Bouet
- 👤 Bernadette Pichon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:25
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C18/00; C23C18/02; C23C18/08; B; B22; B22F; B22F3/00; B22F3/10; B22F3/11; B22F3/1121; B22F3/1137; C08; C08J; C08J9/00; C08J9/36; C08J9/40; H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/02; H01M4/64; H01M4/70; H01M4/80; H01M4/808; B22F2999/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of manufacturing a sponge support made of a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper and lead, comprising the steps of: (a) first impregnating a sponge made of an organic material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester and polyether with a solution of a nitrate or a sulfate of said metal, the concentration of said solution is a function of the desired weight per unit area of said metal sponge support, said organic material sponge has a porosity in the range of from 96% to 98% and a pore-size in the range of from 200 μm to 400 μm; and (b) next heat-treating said impregnated organic material sponge to remove organic material therefrom to form said metal sponge support.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of manufacturing a sponge support made of a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper and lead, comprising the steps of: (a) first impregnating a sponge made of an organic material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester and polyether with a solution of a nitrate or a sulfate of said metal, the concentration of said solution is a function of the desired weight per unit area of said metal sponge support, said organic material sponge has a porosity in the range of from 96% to 98% and a pore-size in the range of from 200 μm to 400 μm; and (b) next heat-treating said impregnated organic material sponge to remove organic material therefrom to form said metal sponge support.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said metal sponge support of nickel has a weight per unit area in the range of from 2 g/dm 2 to 6 g/dm 2 , and said solution of a nitrate or a sulfate is a nickel nitrate solution or a nickel sulfate solution having a concentration of from 2.5 moles per liter to 6 moles per liter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said solution is at a temperature of about 80° C. and where said impregnated organic material sponge is fast cooled in air prior to heat-treating to crystallize a nickel nitrate salt or a nickel sulfate salt in the pores of the organic material sponge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said solution contains a hydroxycolloid having a concentration in the range of from 0.5% to 2% by weight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said hydroxycolloid is selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose and xanthan.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said hydroxycolloid is selected from the group consisting of xanthan and carob.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said heat-treating is carried out for two hours in a reducing atmosphere.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said heat-treating comprises: heat-treating in a first period for a half-hour at 200° C.; heat-treating in a second period for a half-hour at 450° C.; and heat-treating in a third period for one hour at 1,050° C.;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said heat-treating step comprises heat-treating for two hours in nitrogen containing 10% hydrogen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, consisting essentially of said impregnating step (a) and said heat-treating step (b).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said metal constituting the metal sponge support is introduced into the organic material in a single impregnating step (a) as a nitrate or sulfate solution of said metal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of manufacturing a sponge support made of a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper and lead, comprising the steps of: (a) first impregnating a sponge made of an organic material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester and polyether with a solution of a nitrate or a sulfate of said metal, the concentration of said solution is a function of the desired weight per unit area of said metal sponge support, said organic material sponge has a porosity in the range of from 96% to 98% and a pore-size in the range of from 200 μm to 400 μm; (b) then drying said impregnated sponge to line the pores of the organic material with said metal nitrate or sulfate; and (c) next heat-treating said impregnated organic material sponge in a reducing atmosphere to remove organic material therefrom and to reduce the metal nitrate or sulfate to its metal to form said metal sponge support.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of manufacturing a sponge support made of a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper and lead, comprising the steps of: (a) first impregnating a sponge made of an organic material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester and polyether with a solution of a nitrate or a sulfate of said metal, the concentration of said solution is a function of the desired weight per unit area of said metal sponge support, said organic material sponge has a porosity in the range of from 96% to 98% and a pore-size in the range of from 200 μm to 400 μm; (b) then drying said impregnated sponge to line the pores of the organic material with said metal nitrate or sulfate; and (c) next heat-treating said impregnated organic material sponge in a reducing atmosphere to remove organic material therefrom and to reduce the metal nitrate or sulfate to its metal to form said metal sponge support.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-03-21 | 1997-09-20 | 1998-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-03-21 | 2001-09-20 | 2002-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-03-21 | 2005-09-20 | 2006-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |