Specialty plastic molding for VRLA and other battery technologies

Abstract

The material of choice for battery container construction is an important consideration depending on the particular battery technology being addressed. For instance, the automotive lead acid battery industry uses primarily polypropylene and/or re-processed polypropylene almost exclusively for this application. Automotive batteries being a commodity demand a cheap versatile polymer and polypropylene fits the bill. However, while standard polypropylene's relative low cost and versatility lends itself very well to automotive applications, it may not be the material of choice for stationary batteries which are designed for much longer life, oftentimes requiring important anti-flame properties, stiffer side and end walls, and having rigidly controlled venting systems. The author identifies a few specialized plastic molding designs, molding techniques, testing parameters, and materials used during the molding of plastic components for technical battery manufacturers who require more than a simple plastic box and cover.