The corrosion behavior of positive grids with lead calcium aluminum alloys in VRLA/AGM cells and monoblocs. Test results with up to 2% tin and 0.05% silver additions

Accelerated aging tests of VRLA batteries show the excellent corrosion resistance of a PbCaAl alloy with an addition of 2% Sn. This grid alloy shows a large grain microstructure and very reduced amounts of secondary recrystallization with little coarse (Pb/sub 1-x/ Sn/sub x/)/sub 3/Ca precipitate. The increase of the tin content from 0.7% to 2.0% results in an approximate doubling of VRLA service life as deducible from the accelerated float life test at 60/spl deg/C (140/spl deg/F). The addition of 0.05%Ag does not improve the corrosion resistance of a PbCaAl-2%Sn alloy.