New Veil Requires No Capital Investment, Streamlines Production and Extends Battery Life and Capacity
 
Owens Corning (NYSE: OC), the leading global producer of glass fiber reinforcements for composite systems, announced a new solution to help battery makers meet the challenges of stop-start engine technology. The announcement was made in conjunction with the 2011 JEC Composites Show, the world’s largest composites exhibition, where Owens Corning is exhibiting.
 
Owens Corning’s new non-woven glass fiber veil using corrosion-resistant Advantex® E-CR glass technology increases cycle lifetime of traditional flooded lead-acid batteries, in particular at partial state of discharge.  Other benefits include reduced acid stratification and the ability to operate in
higher-temperature environments. 
 
Working with several battery makers and a global leader in lead-acid battery chemistry, Owens Corning developed the non-woven glass fiber veil that is applied directly to the face of the positive electrode during production, and improves the battery’s capability to support the increased requirements of stop-start engine systems.  The new glass veil technology requires no capital investment by battery manufacturers and eliminates a component by replacing sacrificial pasting paper used only as a process carrier during the electrode pasting process.  
 
“Stop-start engine technology is a growing and very promising environmental initiative to conserve fuel and cut emissions, but it places heavy demands on a vehicle’s battery,” said Industrial Business Development Leader for OCV™ Non-Woven Technologies Ralph Jousten. “To help battery manufacturers improve the performance and lifespan of their products, we developed a solution that enhances existing flooded batteries. With our glass veil, customers can meet the performance challenges of new stop-start engines and compete successfully at a lower cost versus traditional batteries.”  
 
This solution also provides cost advantages over AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery types that produce more cycles but are priced about 2.5 times higher and are more sensitive to heat and overcharging than flooded lead-acid batteries. 
 
Stop-start engine systems cut fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by temporarily shutting off during idling, such as at stoplights and railroad crossings, and then restarting the engine upon acceleration. The technology is particularly beneficial in vehicles that make frequent stops, such as delivery or service vehicles.