Stratification of electrolyte has challenged lead batteries since its inception, especially in flooded lead batteries (FLB) used in applications like energy storage systems (ESS), and in auxiliary batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles. The variability of stratification exacerbates open circuit voltage excursions and discharge voltage fluctuations, which result in battery sulfation that ultimately impacts the charge acceptance and cycle life of the battery. The typical functions of a flooded battery separator involve managing <10% of the electrolyte in the system, but unfortunately, the separator does not regulate the distribution of the acid in each cell.

Advanced absorbent glass mat (AGM) separator technology provides a solution to these stratification issues, improving the efficiency of battery management systems. However, this comes at the expense of increased complexity with a cost of more than 2x in battery design and manufacturing.

Daramic’s innovative Daramic® StratosphereTM technology, featuring a proprietary gelation composite substrate, adeptly controls the electrolyte by absorbing the electrolyte and expanding into the void space by 50%. In the context of flooded batteries, this evolution in technology retards stratification, ensuring reliable sulfate ion transport and communication with the battery management system (BMS) by at least 2x the battery’s Partial State of Charge (PSoC) cycle life — all while maintaining affordability of FLB. Daramic® StratosphereTM separator technology also improves positive active material (PAM) utilization by applying homogenous compression over the electrode surface resulting in longer PSoC cycle life.

Daramic® StratosphereTM technology combines the best aspects of flooded, gel (VRLA) and AGM lead battery separator technologies like no other separator developed to date. The introduction of Daramic® StratosphereTM technology represents a significant advancement and evolution in the field of lead batteries, reinforcing their position as one of the most cost-effective battery technologies available today.