NEW BINDING MATERIALS FOR METAL HYDRIDE ELECTRODES WHICH PERMIT GOOD RECYCLABILITY

Thermoplastic elastomers such as styrene-butadiene-styrene block copol ymer (SBS) and styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS ) were used successfully as binding materials for metal hydride (MH) e lectrodes of a nickel-metal hydride battery. These binding materials h ave a rubber-like nature and are soluble in organic solvents. It was e asy to remove the alloy powder from a used electrode for recycling. Th e battery performance depended on both the kind and amount of binding materials. The best discharge capacity and rate capability were obtain ed for MH electrodes containing 2-5 weight percent (w/o) SEBS. The par ticle size distributions for the alloy were examined successfully.