Nickel Electrode Development For Space Station Cells

At the outset of the Development Phase to provide nickel-hydrogen battery cells for Space Station "Freedom", Yardney Technical Products, Inc. (YTP) embarked on a muttipath program to quantify opportunities for improving life and capacity of the nickel electrode. This effort was performed under contract to Ford Aerospace Corporation (FAC) and took the form of three stages, namely, 1) Nickel Powder and Sintering Effects Study. 2) Laboratory Electrochemical Impregnation (EI) Sensitivity Investigation. 3) Stress Testing of Production Manufactured Electrodes. YTP prepared aplan to analyze a broad range of variables and define detailed paths for their evaluation. Figure I illustrates the order of performing specified tasks, with the Powder-Sintering Study generating standard thickness sintered plaque variants white the Laboratory El Investigation proceeded employing a control reference (standard-type) sinter. Subsequently the preferred Sinter-types reflecting both YTP standard powder and special nickel particle size blends were processed in the production facility employing the preferred El bath parameters. These later plates were stress tested simultaneously in a new dedicated test facility to over 1000 cycles. In accordance with the Development Plan under Phase A, the results of this three stage investigation provided the basis for selection of electrodes to be manufactured and tested under the boilerptate stage of the program.