Abstract
LEAFLET No. 14 of the Utilisation Section, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, deals with investigations into woods for battery separators. The battery separator is a thin sheet made of wood, ebonite or glass interposed between the positive and negative plates of an acid storage battery in order to prevent the plates from touching each other during handling or use, while at the same time allowing the ionic exchange to take place in the electrolyte. When wood is used its essential characteristics must be good permeability, freedom from volatile acids, low percentage of tannins and resinous matter, sufficient mechanical strength and resistance to chemical action of the electrolyte. The most commonly used timber has been the American Chamcecyparis lawsoniana or the Port Orford cedar. The Indian Forest Research Institute has been investigating the suitability of Indian timber for the purpose for some time past. The research work has shown that the following are suitable for use as battery separators: Adina cordi-folia (haldu), Cupressus torulosa (cypress), Michelia champaca (champ or champak), and Talauma phello-carpa. The leaflet describes some of the tests carried out. As regards the Michelia it is more likely to be earmarked for aeroplane construction than battery separators, unless the wastage from the former can be utilized for the latter.
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Indian Woods for Battery Separators. Nature 150, 630 (1942). https://doi.org/10.1038/150630b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/150630b0