PROCESS FOR PREPARING A SINTERED IRON NEGATIVE PLATE FOR AN ALKALINE STORAGE BATTERY

Needle-shaped oxygen-containing iron compound particles are heated in a first temperature range in a hydrogen atmosphere to produce a loosely tied sintered body, pulverized into finely divided particles of a predetermined size, tamped into a mould to a desired density so that the constituting needle-shaped iron particles are intertwined. The tamped mould is sintered at a second temperature range higher than the first temperature range to provide a desired porosity. Alternatively, oxygen-containing needle-like iron compound particles are initially mixed with oxygen-containing spherical iron compound particles prior to the process described above. The end product prevents disintegration of active material and provides an increased ampere-hour capacity.