Alkaline Earth Oxide Aid Agent for EMD Powder Grinding

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Solution Overview

Problem

The processing of electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) powder leads to equipment abrasion, uneven density in battery components, and the introduction of harmful impurities due to its hardness and mechanical properties, which increases failure rates and production costs in battery manufacturing.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of an alkaline earth oxide powder as an aid agent in the grinding and neutralization steps to reduce abrasion, improve particle size distribution, and maintain alkaline potential, thereby enhancing the packing performance and reducing impurity introduction during the production of EMD powder.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If EMD powder is used as a raw material in battery production processes, then the battery manufacturing can proceed with sufficient productivity, but the hardness and dispersion-agglomeration characteristics of the powder cause abrasion of tool contact surfaces, increasing equipment failure rate and production cost

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoidtool abrasion
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a coating layer on the EMD powder surface as an intermediary substance. This coating layer acts as a mediator between the EMD powder and the tool contact surfaces, preventing direct mechanical interaction and reducing abrasion. The coating serves as a protective interface that maintains productivity while eliminating the harmful abrasion effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If EMD powder is ground to meet particle size requirements, then the powder can be used for battery production, but the mechanical energy conversion to heat energy increases temperature rapidly, leading to alkaline potential attenuation and surface corrosion of grinding parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle size controlVSAvoidalkaline potential
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional mechanical grinding process with a non-mechanical particle size control method. By using chemical or physical processes that do not rely on mechanical force, the conversion of mechanical energy to heat energy is eliminated, preventing temperature rise and preserving the alkaline potential of EMD while still achieving the required particle size distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the processing parameters from mechanical grinding to alternative methods such as chemical etching, ultrasonic treatment, or controlled precipitation. These parameter changes allow particle size control without the harmful thermal effects of mechanical grinding, maintaining both manufacturing precision and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If granules are subjected to compression molding process, then battery components can be formed, but the friction between granules and tool surfaces causes uneven density in the molding body, leading to ring body breakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemolding processVSAvoiddensity uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a lubricating coating or surface treatment on the EMD powder as an intermediary layer. This intermediary reduces the friction between granules and tool surfaces during compression molding, allowing the molding process to proceed easily while ensuring uniform density distribution and preventing ring body breakage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Manufacturing precision

If grinding is performed to reduce particle size, then the EMD chip can be processed into powder, but the surface of the grinding part is corroded by mechanochemical reactions, shortening service life and introducing harmful metal impurities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle sizeVSAvoidmetal impurities
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical grinding with non-mechanical particle size reduction methods such as chemical dissolution, ultrasonic fragmentation, or controlled precipitation. These methods eliminate the mechanochemical reactions that cause grinding tool corrosion and prevent the introduction of harmful metal impurities into the EMD powder while still achieving the desired particle size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs particle size reduction in an inert or chemically neutral environment that prevents mechanochemical reactions between the EMD, grinding tools, and atmospheric components. This inert environment eliminates the corrosion of grinding parts and prevents the generation of harmful metal impurities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method effectively reduces tool wear, achieves uniform density in battery components, and minimizes the introduction of harmful impurities, resulting in improved battery performance and production efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

adding an aid agent including an alkaline earth oxide powder in at least one of the grinding step and the neutralization step

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Implementation Method 2

a method for preparing electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD), comprising pulverizing and rinsing alkaline grade EMD; neutralizing the rinsed products twice using sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate and sodium hydroxide with sodium bicarbonate in turn

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNeutralization reaction: Redox Reactions

Data Source

PatentEP3816110B1Preparation method for electrolytic manganese dioxide powder
Publication Date: 2023.05.10 WANBOLU MINING (CHINA) CO LTD
  • EP3816110B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3816110B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3816110B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a method for preparing electrolytic manganese dioxide powder, which includes providing a EMD chip; and performing a grinding step and a neutralization step, wherein an aid agent is added in at least one of the grinding step and the neutralization step and the aid agent includes an alkaline earth oxide powder. The present disclosure further provides an electrolytic manganese dioxide powder prepared with the method provided by the present disclosure. In the case where the aid agent is added in the grinding step in the method provided by the present disclosure, the wear of the mill part caused in the preparation process of the electrolytic manganese dioxide powder can be reduced, thereby reducing the content of harmful metal impurities in the finally obtained EMD powder. The addition of the aid agent, no matter in the neutralization step or in the grinding step, can improve the processing characteristics of the finally obtained electrolytic manganese dioxide powder in alkaline battery production and increase the alkaline potential of the electrolytic manganese dioxide powder.