Thermal Stability of lron Disulphide, FeS_2, Cathode Material in Thermal Batteries

摘要

Iron disulphide, FeS_2, is used as the standard cathode material in thermal batteries. Its thermal stability, measured in laboratory experiments using thermal analysis, has been reported in the literature. Internal temperatures in thermal batteries have also been reported. The DERA thermal model can calculate temperatures at different points within a thermal battery during activation and operation. However calculated temperatures in batteries are often above the temperature at which iron disulphide decomposes rapidly in laboratory experiments. In real batteries, cathode decomposition either does not occur as readily as in laboratory tests or it does not affect battery performance. In order to improve the understanding of thermal battery operation and to improve thermal battery modelling, the decomposition of iron disulphide has been investigated by thermal analysis both alone and in conjunction with molten salts, which are used as battery electrolytes and are commonly used also as cathode additives.