DRYING PROCESS

FIELD: post-formation drying of active material of pasted negative plates for lead-acid batteries. ^ SUBSTANCE: proposed process for drying formed plates of lead-acid batteries is characterized in infrared irradiation at wavelength of 2 - 6 mum and temperature of 60 - 80 °C with air blowing at speed of 1 - 2 m/s until moisture content of negative plate active material, whose paste is made of pre-inhibited lead powder, is brought to 0.3 - 0.5%. Inhibition is made by aqueous solution of glycerin at density of 0.01 - 1.02g/cm3. Paste is irradiated for 10 -12 minutes by infrared radiators equally distributed on both ends of plates, their spatial position being chosen from following expression: b/h = 1.6, where b is distance from radiators to plates; h is distribution pitch of radiators; rows of infrared radiators spaced 45 mm apart are disposed at distance of 143 mm. Oxidability of active material obtained in the process is between 3.5 and 4.5% which is steadily maintained for long time when in contact with atmospheric air; paste embedded in plates is free from microcracks and does not exfoliate from plate grid. ^ EFFECT: enhanced quality of active material. ^ 2 cl, 2 dwg, 1 tbl