AEROSIL® fumed silica for battery gels

The use of AEROSIL^® 200 or its densified version, AEROSIL^® 200 V, improve the limitations of the widely used lead acid accumulators containing liquid electrolytes.

Conventional batteries, like the ones used in most automobiles, usually are not secure regarding acid containment and can only be used in upright positioning. Though this is currently acceptable for paved road conditions, it is not safe in other conditions. Highly corrosive battery acid can flow or leak out in off road conditions, at sea or in the air.

Adding AEROSIL^® 200/200 V to the battery acid changes the liquid form of the electrolyte to a gel like consistency, and prevents the leaking of the battery content. Due to the fact that the acid is trapped in the gel, acid stratification is not observed.

Actually, the electrolyte thickened with AEROSIL^® 200/200 V significantly increases service life of the lead accumulators and improves the resistance to extreme temperatures, shock and vibration. Gel batteries are nearly maintenance free, do not show any memory effect and can be used as deep-cycle batteries. This results in the use of these batteries in electric vehicles, forklifts, solar plants, radio stations and emergency generators as well as in back-up power supply for example alarm systems, marine/military applications and telecommunication.

AEROSIL^® fumed silica is also available as easy to handle water based dispersions, marketed as AERODISP^®. AERODISP^® contains AEROSIL^® in a dispersed and stabilized form. The special features of AEROSIL^® like high purity and the thixotropic effect are maintained.

 ^* Regionally restricted availability.