NON-CORROSIVE BATTERY FLUID

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 18 June 1932, Page 3

NON-CORROSIVE BATTERY FLUID

INVENTION OF A FRENCH CHEMIST A chemical discovery of importance has just been brought to tlie commercial stage iu France (states the Paris correspondent of “Tlie Motor,” England). This is a new liquid electrolyte destined to replace, the usual dilute sulphuric acid used in accumulators, for which remarkable claims are made. Although many structural improvements have been made in accumulators during tho past fifty years, sulphuric acid is still universally employed as an electrolyte in lead -plate batteries. The successful introduction of a new liquid would thus mark something of a revolution in electrical practice. Tho new electrolyte, which is being marketed under the name of L’Eclair, is tlie invention of a French chemist, M. A. Fiorillo. It is non-corrosive, and will not attack wood, metal, or clothing, and may even ho spread on the hands without danger. Terminals remain clean indefinitely. One of the most important advantages claimed for it is its de-sulpliating property. No matter how badly sulpliated up the plates may be, tlie fluid, it is claimed, will dissolve the sulphate in from ten minutes to twenty minutes. During this process a curious phenomenon may bo noted, for the battery, it is said, takes on a charge through the electrical energy generated by the chemical process involved in absorbing the sulphate. This charge rises in some instances to very nearly the full normal voltage. , lu the ease of a car with batteries completely run down, if these are emptied of acid, washed out with water, and refilled with the new liquid, later, to have enough current for all they will he found, fifteen minutes the lighting equipment of the car, according to the claim. In some im stances the starter may even be used, although a brief charging period is advised before this is attempted. • In order to investigate some of these claims, our Paris representative selected an old accumulator (an ordinary 4-volt battery for wireless work), which had been cut of use and “scrapped” for eight months. The battery was entirely sulpliated up, dry and very dirty. He took this to the makers of L’Eclair and asked for a demonstration. As much of the sulphate and dirt as possible was first washed out, tlie process being accompanied by vigorous shaking and knocking. L’Eclair fluid was then poured in, and fifteen minutes afterwards the battery showed 21 volts. Within twenty minutes it showed 3 volts, while, on examining it at home an hour later, the voltmeter read over 3J volts. After a brief charging the normal voltage was reached, and the accumulator is now functioning very well.

Perhaps the most important advantage claimed for the new fluid is that it allows for extremely rapid charging. According to this, an accumulator filled with L’Eclair will support a charging rate ten times in excess of that possible with sulphuric acid. Under these conditions new batteries filled with the liquid can be fully charged in from two hours to three hours instead of twenty-four hours. Various other claims are advanced for this new electrolyte.