202C JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY August 1952

Silver Chloride-Magnesium Reserve Battery

I v a n C. B l a k e ~

Silver chloride-magnesium water activated batteries first Perfornmnce of the silver chloride-magnesium water-acti-
became available on a commercial basis in 1943. In the period vated b'~ttery is shown in Fig. 1 and 2.
of 1943-45, several battery types using silver chloride-nmg-
nesium water-activated cells were produced for the nfilitary.
1.6 A
In the period of 1945-52, applications for these batteries be-
came more numerous and batteries are now produced on a
commercial basis for a diversified list of military and civilian r
uses. 1.4
The silver chloride-magnesium cell consists of an anode of
unalloyed, high purity magnesium, a cathode system of silver
and silver chloride, and an absorbent separator of cellulosic
material. The cells are maintained in the inactive state by
assembling the dry elements into cells or batteries in the ab-
sence of electrolyte and immediately packing the cells or ~.o
batteries in hermetically sealed containers. At the time the B
cells or batteries are used, they are immersed in water to
render them active. When the cell is discharged, the following
reactions take place: z 4 5
Amp min/cm 3
Mg ~ Mg ++ + 2e
Fro. 1. Discharge characteristics of silver ehloride-mag-
2AgC1 + 2e --. 2C1- + 2Ag
nesiuIn cell.
Mg ++ + 2C1- --~ MgCI~-6H~O.
Discharge current
The reactions proceed with great rapidity and the cell Curve
A m p / c m e of
develops its full voltage and current delivering power very Amp/cm 3 Amp/in. 3
electrode area
rapidly. Inasmuch as the silver chloride is reduced to silver
metal, the electronic conductivity of the depolarizer mass is A 0.006 0.098 0.0002
increased as the discharge reactions proceed and the operat- B 0.100 1.639 0.0034
ing voltage of the cell is maintained at a high and constant C 0.500 8.195 0.0180
D 1.000 16.390 0.0360
value. When the silver chloride is completely reduced to silver
E 2.000 32.780 0.0720
metal, the voltage falls rapidly.
The operating voltage of cells and batteries ranges from
1.32 v per cell at a discharge current density of 2.00 amp/era 3
(32.78 amp/in?) or 0.072 amp/era ~ to 1.60 volts per cell at a
discharge current density of 0.006 amp/era 3 (0.10 amp/in?)
A o
or 0.0002 amp/era ~. 5
Silver chloride-magnesium batteries, after activation in
water at temperatures above O~ can be discharged at r

ambient temperatures ranging from +94~ to -54~ with 4 2

outputs at either extreme of the temperature range being
substantially the same as the output at +21~
Several variations of cell and battery designs are manu-
factured. A cell for discharge at extremely high current den-
5 \
sities consists of ~n anode of thin magnesium sheet and \
cathode of silver foil, upon the surfaces of which a layer of !
silver chloride has been electroformed, separated by a layer .5 Lo [.5 ~.o
of thin absorbent paper. The cell components are rolled up to Amp/cm 3
form a cylindrical cell having a large active surface area per
FI(~. 2. Output per unit of volume (A) and weight (B) for
unit of volume. Such cells are usually designed for discharges
the silver chloride-magnesium cell.
to be completed in 30 minutes or less.
Batteries for applications requiring lower current densities,
These batteries are used in airborne electronic equipment,
longer life (0.5-24 hours), and a relatively constant discharge
signal lights, emergency flares, lights for pilot balloons, marker
voltage are made from cells using flat depolarizer sheets of
lights for floating buoys, light units for movie work, d-c
rolled silver chloride, magnesium sheet anodes, and relatively
motors, Radiosonde units for weather observation work,
thick absorbent pads as separators.
emergency radio equipment, air-sea rescue equipment, igni-
Silver chloride-magnesium water activated batteries are
tion systems, emergency lights for hospitals, and direction
available in sizes ranging from 1 to 1050 ampere minutes
finding equipment.
rated capacity and in voltages ranging from 1.5-150.
Silver chloride-magnesium water-activated batteries are
Burgess Battery Company, Freeport, Illinois. characterized by high current and power output, constant

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 Vol. 99, No. 8 ANNIVERSARY I S S U E ON P R I M A R Y CELL SYSTEMS 203C

potential, light weight, long shelf life in the inactivated condi-
tion, and are capable of being discharged at temperatures
ranging from +94~ to -54~ They have the disadvantages
of being relatively high in cost (because of the silver content)
and of inconvenience of activation procedures in certain al/-
plications.
REFERENCES
1. H. E. LAwsox (To Burgess Battery Co.), U. S. Pat. 2,428,-
850, Oct. 14, 1947.
2. H. E. L.~wsoN (To U. S. A.), U. S. Put. 2,445,306, July 13,
1948.
3. J. B. MULL~X (To Burgess Battery Co.), U. S. Pat. 2,521,-
082, Sept. 5, 1950.
4. L. H. HARRISS (To Burgess Battery Co.), U. S. Pat. 2,543,-
106, Feb. 27, 1951.
5. J. B. MULL~N AND P. L. HOWARD,Trans. Eleclrochem. Soc.,
90, 529 (1946).
6. G. W. VINAL, "Primary Batteries," pp. 274-279, John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, N. Y. (1950).

The Cuprous Chloride-Magnesium Reserve Battery

L . E. P u c h e r ~

Cuprous chloride-magnesium, water-activated reserve-type exhausted as shown in Fig. 1. The formation of MgCI~.6H20
batteries were first made commercially in 1949, these having tends to block the ceil because its combined water is obtained
been developed particularly for the military. Several types at the expense of the water added to activate the cell.
are now being produced. This couple is best suited to discharges at low current den-
The use of cuprous chloride as the oxidizing agent in a sities, for example, 0.0065 to 0.049 amp/cm 2 (0.027 to 0.318
primary pile-type battery was suggested as early "~s 1891 in a amp/in. 2) of anode surface in cells having a volume of 1.64
British patent (1), in combination with a zinc anode and a to 3.88 cm3 (0.107 to 0.236 i~l?). The discharge reaction is
40 per cent zinc chloride electrolyte. Adams (2) in 1943 sufficiently exothermic to cause overheating on high current
patented a reserve-type cell having a magnesium cylindrical drains. This characteristic can be utilized to advantage in
can anode with a cathode core of fused cuprous chloride cast cells which must be operated in extremely low temperatures,
around a copper core.
The cells and batteries now being made are of the pile
type. A sheet of magnesium of at least commercial purity is
separated from the cuprous chloride cathode by a porous
separator nmde of various natural or synthetic textile fibers. ,~o1 7 6 84
This separator also serves to retain the aqueous activating
liquid. The cathode is preferably of the pasted type which 80 I ~ \
activates much more rapidly than the fused type. It is nmde
by applying a paste of powdered cuprous chloride and a gT.0 / ~
liquid binder onto a suitable base, such as a grid of copper or 6.o 7.~a.,,- (o.zZ6 A~Pl DISCH. 6.t V.O.P.~ ~
bronze screen, though copper foil may be used. A suitable
binder is polystyrene dissolved in an organic solvent such as ,.o , I t
toluol. Aqueous salt solutions also may be used as binders. L5 I
The battery of assembled cells is taped together under
~ - I CELL ~A LS" U N I T i
pressure. Uniform pressure and separator spacing throughout l.O - - 7.8.6 # I Z , O ~ (0, $ S 6 AMP)Dh$CH.- - - I.I V.O.P, ~ ' -
the assembled battery is essential for efficient operation.
Because cuprous chloride is hygroscopic, assembled cells and ~F
, I I I I I
batteries must be stored in dry sealed containers until ac- 0 Io 50 too tso ~'oo ~5o
tivated to prevent the formation of cupric chloride. Absorbed MINUTES
moisture lowers the discharge voltage markedly and decreases FIG. 1. O u t p u t characteri sti cs of a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e cuprous
the output. c h l o r i d e - m a g n e s i u m b a t t e r y p a c k c o m p r i s i n g a 78 cell "B"
During discharge the following reaction occurs: unit discharged on 3800 ohm, a 5 cell "A" unit discharged on
28.8 ohm and an a d d i t i o n a l load on one "A" cell ( b o t t o m
Cu2CI~. + 5[g + CH20 --* 2Cu + MgCI~.. CH.20. curve).

The performance of a representative cuprous chloride- Curve AmI) Mi.n i Amp cm3 Volts AmPmmin ImiWatt
.....
servlcc i
magnesium, water-activated battery is shown in Fig. 1. A !
short voltage build-up time of 1 to 10 minutes is required Top O.027 24010.010 1.34 2.39 3.19
after activation but this does not result in appreciable self- Middle O.226 255 I 0.016 1.31 3.93 I 5.13
discharge. However, the cell should be used immediately after
this voltage build-up. The open-circuit voltage varies with
test conditions, rising to a maximum of 1.70 to 1.80 at 22~ for example, at - 5 0 ~ ( - 5 8 ~ after activating at room
(72~ Because the discharge reaction proceeds rapidly the temperature. Under these conditions the discharge character-
cell voltage is nmintained at a high value until the cell is istics are similar to those obtained at room temperatures
(Fig. 1). The discharge efficiency is relatively low, probably
The Willard Storage Battery Company, Cleveland, Ohio. of the order of 50 per cent.

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