An ionically permeable separator for a LeClanche cell, and methods of making and using same, are provided for in the invention. The separator comprises a Kraft paper separator and a corrosion-inhibiting coating thereupon selected to prevent corrosion of a zinc anode of the LeClanche cell. The separator may be configured for use in round or flat LeClanche cells. The separators of the invention may be used in heavy duty batteries containing an electrolyte comprising zinc chloride as a primary component. Cells made in accordance with the invention exhibit comparable or improved capacity and other performance characteristics in respect of conventional cells.
This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/526,762, filed Sep. 11, 1995 which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/275,019, filed Jul. 13, 1994, both pending.
There is described in the specification a mercury-free manganese primary dry battery wherein the cathode mixture contains boric acid or an alkali borate at a ratio of 0.04 to 0.4 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of manganese dioxide as a boron conversion value or wherein the separator contains boric acid or an alkali borate at a ratio of 0.1 to 8.0 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of a dry solid content in the pasting agent. Such battery has excellent discharge properties under light loading conditions.
A metal-air cell with an anode container. The anode container is made from a reactive metal. The metal-air cell also has an absorbent layer with a first side and a second side. An electrolyte is substantially trapped within the absorbent layer. The first side of the absorbent layer is positioned in contact with the anode container and an air electrode is positioned in contact with the second side of the absorbent layer.