ABSTRACT
The current collectors of lead-acid batteries consist of the grid, which holds the active material; the strap, which connects all the positive or negative grids in a cell and joins it to the next cell; and the posts and terminals, which connect the interior of the battery to the exterior of the battery. The grid of a lead-acid battery consists of a lead or lead-alloy material arranged in a mesh or lattice shape. The grid is designed to hold the positive or negative active material within the grid network, carrying the discharge current out of the active material and the recharge current back into the active material. The grid must hold the active material securely and resist the expansion forces produced when the active material PbO2 is converted to PbSO4 in the positive grid and Pb to PbSO4 in the negative grid. The positive grid corrodes during use and must minimize corrosion, retain its shape, and retain a good bond between it and the active material to retain capacity and prevent degradation of the battery. The grids may be as small as 3 cm or as large as 1.8 m.
