Alkaline Primary Cells

Introduction

The three main primary cylindrical battery systems are based on zinc metal anode and manganese dioxide cathode but are classified by the electrolyte composition. The Leclanché cell is based on an ammonium chloride–zinc chloride (NH₄Cl–ZnCl₂) electrolyte. The zinc chloride cell is based on a zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) electrolyte. Both are classified as generic carbon–zinc cells and differ from the alkaline cell in that the alkaline cell is based on KOH electrolyte. The common features in each are the use of zinc as the negative or anode and manganese dioxide as the positive or cathode electrodes. The two main classifications of primary alkaline batteries are (1) cylindrical and (2) coin or button cells. Coin or button cells will be discussed later.

The alkaline zinc–manganese dioxide cell was introduced in 1959 as a high-performance primary cell to replace the Leclanché (carbon–zinc) cell that was developed by Georges Leclanché in 1860 and is still the battery of choice in the...

Appendices

Appendix

Battery Standards

The International Electrochemical Commission (IEC) is the designated organization responsible for standardization in the field of electricity, electronics, and related technologies. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) serves as the administrator of the voluntary battery standardization system in the United States and is the US representative in the IEC. The minimum performance, the dimensions, and chemistry are also specified in the standard. The process for developing a standard requires that the cell manufacturers generate and agree on physical dimensions, cell termination, etc., as well as test methods, sizes, minimum performance levels, for each cell size and chemistry. As a result, the physical dimensions and shapes of the battery cell, e.g., AA-size cell or the 1625 coin cell, are the same in the United States as in Japan, China, Germany, etc. One can purchase the AA-size alkaline cell anywhere in the world and it will fit your device. This interchangeability has been a key element in the success and growth of the battery industry as well as the electronic devices they power.

The number in front of the cell size is the number of cells in the unit structure. The AAAA-size cells are not sold separately but packaged as a 9 V rectangular package.

Product Ban

In the past, most alkaline cells contained mercury as a corrosion inhibitor to prolong shelf life in alkaline electrolyte cells as well to act as the cathode active material in hearing aid cells. This ended on May 13, 1996. An exception was given for up to 25 mg in miniature alkaline button cells. The 1991 European commission directive 91/157, when adopted by member states, prohibited the marketing of certain types of batteries containing more than 25 mg of mercury, or, in the case of alkaline batteries, more than 0.025 % by weight of mercury. In 1998 the ban was extended to cells containing more than 0.005 % by weight of mercury.

In the United States, in 1992 the state of New Jersey prohibited sales of mercury batteries. In 1996 the United States Congress passed the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act (the Battery Act), 104–142, May 13, 1996, that prohibited further sale of mercury-containing batteries unless manufacturers provided a reclamation facility, with an exemption for alkaline zinc–air button cells.

Cross-References

Carbon-Zinc Batteries

Manganese Oxides

Metal-Air Batteries