Hot pressing process for thermal battery components

摘要

Thermal batteries have an important role in missiles and other military applications because of their fast activation, high energy density, high rate capability and stability during long term storage. However, there are increasing needs forimproved thermal batteries that will have decreased volume and weight, increased voltage and increased power output.These improved batteries will require thinner cells, in the order of one half the thickness or less of present cells. This paper covers the demonstration of a new hot pressing process used to fabricate thin cell components for thermal batteries. The workwas performed under a Phase I SBIR contract sponsored by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division.Anodes (LiSi plus LiCl/KCl eutectic), cathodes (FeS{sub}2 plus LiCl/KCl eutectic), and electrolyte (LiCl/KCl eutectic plus MgO) were hot pressed to pellet forms in this work. Pellets with good strength were obtained, in thicknesses down to 0.010". Theresults indicate that 0.010" is not the lower limit for pellet thickness using the hot pressing process.Overall, the work indicated that hot pressing has excellent potential for making thinner and stronger thermal battery components that can help meet the goals noted above for improved thermal batteries.