Corroded Grids

When the grids of a plate are attacked chemically, they become thin and
weak, and may be spoken of as being corroded.
1. Impurities. Those impurities which attack the lead grids, such as acids
other than sulphuric acid, compounds formed from these acids, or
substances which will readily form acids dissolve some of the lead which
composes the grids. The grids gradually become weakened. The decrease in
the amount of metal in the grids increases the internal resistance of the cell
and give a tendency for temperatures to be higher in the cell. The contact
between grids and active material is in time made poor. If the action of the
impurities continues for any length of time, the plate becomes very weak,
and breaks at the slightest touch.
2. High Temperatures. Anything that raises the temperature of the
electrolyte, such as too high a charging rate, causes the acid to attack the
grids and form a layer of sulphate on them. The sulphate is changed to
active material on charge, and the grids are thereby weakened.
3. Age. Grids gradually become weak and brittle as a battery remains in
service. The acid in the electrolyte, even though the electrolyte has the
correct gravity and temperature, has some effect upon the grids, and in time
this weakens them. During the life of a battery it is at times subected to
high temperatures, impurities, sulphation, etc., the combined effects of
which result in a gradual weakening of the grids.
Granulated Negatives
1. Age. The spongy lead of the negative plate gradually assumes a !grainy!
or !granulated! appearance. The lead then seems to be made up of small
grains, like grains of sand, instead of being a smooth paste. This action is a
natural one, and is due to the gradual increase in the si"e of the particles of
the lead. The plate loses its porosity, the particles cementing together and
closing the pores in the lead. The increase in the si"e of the particles of the
spongy lead decreases the amount of surface e#posed to the action of the
electrolyte, and the plate loses capacity. $uch plates should be thrown away,
as charging and discharging will not bring the paste back to its original state.
2. Heat will also cause the paste to become granulated, and its surface to
become rough or even blistered.
The temperature of the electrolyte affects the specific
gravity since heat causes the electrolyte to e#pand. If we take
any battery or cell and heat it, the electrolyte will e#pand and
its specific gravity will decrease, although the actual amount of
acid is the same. The change in specific gravity amounts to one
point, appro#imately, for every three degrees %ahrenheit. If the
electrolyte has a gravity of &.'() at *)+%, and the temperature
is raised to *,+%, the specific gravity of the battery will be
&.'-.. If the temperature is decreased to /*+%, the specific
gravity will be &.'(&. $ince the change of temperature does not
change the actual amount of acid in the electrolyte, the gravity
readings as obtained with the hydrometer syringe should be
corrected 0one point for every three degrees change in
temperature. Thus !"#$ is considered the normal
temperature, and one point is added to the electrolyte reading
for every three degrees above *)+%. $imilarly, one point is
subtracted for every three degrees below *)+%. %or
convenience of the hydrometer user, a special thermometer has
been developed by battery makers. This is shown in %ig. ,*. It
has a special scale mounted beside the regular scale. This scale
shows the corrections which must be made when the
temperature is not *)+%. 1pposite the *)+ point on the
thermometer is a !)! point on the special scale. This indicates
that no correction is to be made. 1pposite the /*+ point on the
regular scale is a 0&, indicating that & must be subtracted from
the hydrometer reading to find what the specific gravity would
be if the temperature were *)+%. 1pposite the *,+ point on the
regular scale is a 2&, indicating that & point must be added to
reading on the hydrometer, in order to reduce the reading of
specific gravity to a temperature of *)+%.
%. &torage 'atteries are strongly affected 'y changes in
temperature. 3oth e#tremely high and very low temperatures
()cessive temperatures say over 11"# $ are ho*ever more harmful
than lo* temperatures. 4vaporation of the water takes place very rapidly,
the separators are attacked by the hot acid and are ruined, the active
materials and plates e#pand to such an e#tent that the active materials break
away from the grids and the grids warp and buckle. The active materials
themselves are burned and made practically useless. The hot acid also
attacks the grids and the sponge lead and forms dense layers of sulphate.
$uch temperatures are therefore e#tremely dangerous.
A 'attery that persistently runs hot re5uiring fre5uent addition of water,
is either receiving too much charging current, or has internal trouble. The
remedy for e#cessive charge is to decrease the output of the generator, or to
burn the lamps during the day time. 6otorists who make long touring trips
in which considerable day driving is done, with little use of the starter,
e#perience the most trouble from high temperature. The remedy is either to
decrease the charging rate or burn the lamps, even in the day time.
Internal short+circuits cause e)cessive temperature rise 'oth on charge
and discharge. $uch short circuits usually result from buckled plates which
break through the separators, or from an e#cessive amount of sediment. This
sediment consists of active material or lead sulphate which has dropped
from the positive plate and fallen to the bottom of the battery ar. All battery
ars are provided with ridges which keep the plates raised an inch or more
from the bottom of the ar, and which form pockets into which the materials
drop. $ee %ig. &). If these pockets become filled, and the sediment reaches
the bottom of the plates, internal short circuits result which cause the battery
to run down and cause e#cessive temperatures.
If the electrolyte is allo*ed to fall 'elo* the tops of the plates the parts
of the plates above the acid become dry, and when the battery is charged
grow hot. The parts still covered by the acid also become hot because all the
charging current is carried by these parts, and the plate surface is less than
before. The water will also become hot and boil away. A battery which is
thus !charged while dry! deteriorates rapidly, its life being very short.
If a battery is placed in a hot place on the car, this heat in addition to that
caused by charging will soften the plates and ars, and shorten their life
considerably.
In the *inter it is especially important not to allo* the 'attery to
'ecome discharged as there is danger of the electrolyte free"ing. A fully
charged battery will not free"e e#cept at an e#tremely low temperature. The
water e#pands as it free"es, loosening the active materials, and cracking the
grids. As soon as a charging current thaws the battery, the active material is
loosened, and drops to the bottom of the ars, with the result that the whole
battery may disintegrate. 7ars may also be cracked by the e#pansion of the
0water when a battery free"es.
To avoid free"ing, a battery should therefore be kept charged, The
temperatures at which electrolyte of various specific gravities free"es are as
follows8