MXPA97008731A - Sealant composition, cover for battery and battery, and battery and battery prepared with the mi - Google Patents

Abstract

Fragable sealing compositions for coating a conductive sleeve for a lead-acid battery or stack having positive and negative plates placed within a container and a cover are described, the conductive sleeve is molded into the cover and providing electrical communication with at least one of the plates, the sleeve having an interconnection with the outside of the sleeve and the cover. The sealant compositions comprise a sealant elastomer in an amount of from about 1 percent to about 15 percent by weight and a solvent in an amount of up to about 99 percent by weight. According to the invention, the sealant composition is a terpene solvent, preferably a cyclic terpene and more preferably D-limonene. The sealant compositions preferably further comprise a reinforcing agent in an amount of from about 1 percent to about 15 percent by weight. In use, at least a portion of a sleeve is covered with a sealant composition, and the sealant composition is staked. The sleeve is insert molded into a non-conductive plastic substrate to form a cover for a battery or stack, so that the sealing elastomer seals the interface between the sleeve and the substrate.

Description

COMPOSITION SEALANT, COVER FOR BATTERY AND BATTERY, AND BATTERY AND BATTERY PREPARED WITH THE SAME TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to electrochemical cells and batteries, particularly to lead acid batteries and batteries, and more particularly to a sealing composition for effectively sealing the interference between the terminal sleeves of a battery or battery and the battery or battery cover. .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Lead-acid batteries and batteries include sulfuric acid as an electrolyte. This electrolyte easily moistens the surfaces of the internal lead components of the battery or battery, since the sulfuric acid has a very low surface tension. Sulfuric acid can easily pass through small holes and cracks. Without an effective seal between the inside of the battery or battery and the ambient atmosphere, the sulfuric acid could easily migrate out into the environment, potentially causing corrosion of the terminals or outside equipment. A seal is also required to prevent gases, such as oxygen or hydrogen, escaping in or out of the battery or the battery.

It is particularly important to prevent oxygen from escaping into valve-regulated lead-acid batteries (VRLA). The oxygen will cause the VRLA battery to discharge prematurely, thus preventing the battery from maintaining its capacity during its life.

Runoff is a particular concern at the terminals of the battery or battery. Typically, the terminals communicate electrically with the lead plates of the battery or battery through the conductive lead sleeves, which are inserted by molding into the non-conductive substrate forming a wall for the battery or the stack. Lead electrode plates typically include lead posts extending from the lead to the battery wall. These posts engage coincidently with the sleeves to electrically communicate with the terminals on the outside of the battery. This can be solved by a variety of stack constructions for the sleeves and terminals. For example, in some batteries and batteries the poles extend through the sleeves and through the battery cover. The outer ends of the posts are welded to the terminal sleeves to form the terminals. In other batteries, the sleeve contacts the lead post completely inside the battery or battery. The sleeve is provided with a conductive extension arm that extends through the battery and has an outer end that forms a terminal. In still other batteries, the sleeve extends partially through the substrate, and the outside of the sleeve is exposed. The terminal comprises a conductive element that is welded to the upper part of the sleeve. In all previous batteries and batteries, runoff can occur in the interconnection between the sleeve and the non-conductive plastic wall if this interconnection is not properly sealed.

Because the conductive sleeve and the non-conductive substrate are dissimilar materials, it can be difficult to form an effective seal between the connector and the partition wall. It is particularly difficult to form an effective seal between a conductive end sleeve, which is typically made of lead (or a lead alloy), to a non-conductive substrate, which is typically made of an organic polymer, such as plastic . This problem is exacerbated when the battery is subjected to thermal cycling, such as, for example, in the case of a car battery. A car battery can be expected to be exposed to an annual temperature cycle ranging from less than 30 degrees F in the cold months to a temperature below the deck of about 200 degrees F in the hot months. This temperature cycle will cause the materials in the battery to expand and contract repeatedly. Because the sleeve and the division will expand thermally with different expansion coefficients, there is a tendency for the lead connectors to separate from the plastic wall, thereby allowing the influx of electrolyte at the substrate-sleeve interconnection and a gas transfer through the wall seal area. A sealant therefore must effectively withstand the interfacial forces caused by the difference in the repeated expansion and contraction of the terminal sleeve and the partition wall.

The prior art has provided a number of sealing compositions for lead-acid batteries that provide satisfactory sealant coatings. Sealant compositions typically comprise a sealing elastomer such as, for example, polyisobutylene, dissolved in a solvent. Typically, the sealant composition includes polyisobutylene and the reinforcing agent, such as a wood resin, in a chlorinated solvent. In the application, the exterior of the sleeve is partially coated with the sealing composition, which is set to leave a sealing coating on the handle. A cover, such as an upper part of said wall is formed by the insert molding of the sleeve coated with a plastic dividing wall, so that the sealant makes sealing contact in the interconnection between the sleeve and the plastic wall. Polyisobutylene / resin sealants are believed to be effective for use in batteries and lead-acid batteries.

A major disadvantage in the use of polyisobutylene / resin sealants is the difficulty of dissolving these components to form a sealant composition for the application of a sealant. Among the known chemicals, chlorinated solvents are generally considered to be the most effective in forming a sealant composition with polyisobutylene and wood resin. Indeed, as far as the known is concerned, trichlorethylene is the only commercially available solvent used to prepare polyisubutylene / resin sealant compositions. However, trichlorethylene is undesirable in many aspects. Trichlorethylene is a highly toxic chemical. It is believed to cause long-term adverse health problems, and it is also suspected to be a carcinogenic to humans. Due to these concerns, special precautions should be taken when handling trichlorethylene. In addition, because trichlorethylene is a chlorocarbon, this use is strongly discouraged for environmental reasons. For example, chlorocarbons are thought to contribute to the depletion of atmospheric ozone, and are known to poison water supplies in the earth.

Despite the severe disadvantages, trichlorethylene remains the prevailing solvent currently in commercial use, due to the difficulties in providing another suitable solvent to be used to dissolve polyisobutylene and wood resin. Many parameters dictate the choice of solvent in a sealing composition. To make it suitable, a solvent must be non-chlorinated, not chemical fluorinated and must be non-toxic. The solvent also must not have adverse environmental effects, thus allowing the use and disposal of the solvent without the safety concerns necessary with the use of trichlorethylene. In addition, the solvent must be at least as effective as trichlorethylene in dissolving a sealing elastomer such as a polyisobutylene, and must have sufficient volatility so that it can be evaporated essentially completely to leave a sealant coating on an applied substrate. without setting the sealing composition. The solvent must also have a low flammability. More ideally, the solvent should also be commercially available easily at a moderate cost. The solvent must also be fully compatible with the production processes of existing batteries. These considerations have provided an unresolved need in the art for an environmentally safe and non-hazardous sealing composition having low flammability.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a sealing composition for an acid-lead battery, wherein the sealing composition does not include trichlorethylene.

It is a further general object to provide a sealing composition having a non-chlorinated, non-fluorinated and non-toxic solvent.

Another object is to provide a sealant composition including a solvent that is environmentally safe.

A further object is to provide a low flammability sealing composition that sets to leave a sealant that is stable when in contact with the sulfuric acid.

A further general object is to provide a method for making a battery terminal sleeve including a sealant.

Another general object is to provide a method for making a battery cover having at least two sleeves placed within a non-conductive substrate and extending therethrough to provide electrical communication through the wall of the container, the method includes a step of coating at least a portion of the exterior of a terminal sleeve with an environmentally safe, non-chlorinated, non-toxic sealing composition to seal the interconnection between the sleeve and the substrate. More generally, it is an object of the invention to provide a method for making a battery that is sealed without the use of a chlorinated sealant composition.

SYNTHESIS OF THE INVENTION Surprisingly, it has been discovered that terpene solvents, such as cyclic terpenes and particularly D-limonene, function effectively as polyisobutylene. D-limonene is a chemical that is used in the food industry, and its application in the battery industry is not believed to be contemplated by prior art. According to the invention there is provided a settable sealant composition comprising terpene solvent and a sealing elastomer dissolved therein. The sealing elastomer is preferably polyisobutylene, and the solvent is preferably D-limonene. In a preferred embodiment, a reinforcing agent is added to the composition in an amount effective to reinforce the sealing elastomer with the setting of the sealing composition. For example, the reinforcing agent may be a resin such as wood resin or a gum resin. The sealant composition may include other ingredients such as, for example, colorants.

The invention also encompasses a method for imparting a sleeve with a coating of a sealant including the steps of providing a conductive sleeve, coating at least a portion of the exterior of the sleeve with a sealant composition which comprises a sealant elastomer dissolved in a solvent of terpene, and forge the sealed composition.

According to the invention, a cover for a battery or stack is formed by molding the first and second sleeves into a non-conductive substrate so that the sealing elastomer forms a seal at the interconnections between the sleeves and the substrate not conductive that forms the battery cover. A battery and a battery and methods for making a battery and battery also fall within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a sectional, elevated and side sectional view of a battery and battery construction according to the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the battery terminal of the battery illustrated in Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Although the invention is broadly applicable to batteries and batteries in general, the invention finds particular applicability in the field of lead-acid batteries, particularly normally sealed ones, valve regulated batteries and flooded SLI batteries. In VRLA batteries, oxygen was generated during the operation of the battery and recombined with the reforming water in the battery. For example, the invention finds utility in batteries used in motive force applications, such as automotive and marine starting, lighting, and battery ignition (SLI). Examples of such batteries are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,169,734; 5,232,796; 5,256,502; and 5,304,433. The invention also finds applicability in the field of normally stationary and sealed storage batteries, such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 5,227,266. Such batteries are used, for example, as a backup for the power source in the telecommunications industry.

The sealing composition of the invention comprises a sealing elastomer dissolved in a terpene solvent.

With respect to the sealing elastomer, any member of this family is suitable for use in the present invention. It is only necessary that the sealing elastomer be capable of forming a sealant composition that can be set to leave a coating of a sealant on a substrate application. Suitable sealing polymers include, for example, polyurethanes, polysilanes, polybutenes, and more preferably polyisobutylene. A preferred polyisobutylene is sold under the trade designation OPPANOL B from BASF Corporation, of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Other sealing elastomers will be apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art. For example, sealing elastomers which find use in conjunction with the invention include epoxy adhesives, hot-melt polyamide adhesives, asphalts, urethanes, cyanoacrylates, pitches, and so forth. The choice of the sealing elastomer is not critical to the invention and, provided that an elastomer functions in a terpene-based sealing composition to leave a coating of a sealant as the composition settles, the elastomer will be useful in conjunction with the invention.

Preferably, the sealant composition of the invention includes a reinforcing agent in an amount effective to strengthen the sealing elastomer with the setting of the composition. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing agent is a resin compound such as wood resin or a gum resin. It has been found that the resins effectively improve the adhesion strength of the sealing elastomer, thus helping to seal the elastomer by adhering it to the sleeve and the substrate cover. A preferred wood resin suitable for use in conjunction with the invention is one available from Hercules Incorporated, of Wilmington, Delaware.

Other reinforcing agents useful in conjunction with the invention include paraffins and other waxes.

The choice of reinforcing agents is not critical. It is only necessary that the reinforcing agent be able to reinforce the seal provided by the coating of the sealing elastomer.

According to the invention, the sealing elastomer is dissolved within a terpene solvent. Terpenes are a class of chemicals having a structure based on a column of isoprene, which can be generally represented as follows: C-C-C-C i I If the structure of the terpene is resolvable in two isoprene units, the terpene is mentioned as a monoterpene. The solvent of the composition of the present invention is preferably selected from monoterpenes. Preferred among the monoterpene compounds are the cyclic terpenes, and limonene, for example, D-limonene, L-limonene, or dipentene, is especially preferred.

According to the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the solvent is D-limonene, such as that sold by Florida Chemical, Company, Inc., of Winter Haven, Florida. D-Limonene is prepared by extracting citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes and oranges. Due to the natural derivation of D-limonene, it is believed to be completely non-toxic and environmentally safe. Furthermore, it has surprisingly been found that D-limonene effectively functions as a solvent for sealing elastomers such as isobutylene, and functions effectively in conjunction with existing processes for the production of batteries. When used in a sealant composition, D-limonene evaporates easily as the composition settles to leave a coating of a sealant on an applied substrate. D-limonene is therefore effective to form a seal between the conductive material of the terminal sleeves and the non-conductive material of the shell.

In light of the present invention, other terpene solvents will be apparent to those skilled in the art. More preferably among terpenes are those that are naturally derived, non-toxic and environmentally safe In general, the amounts of the sealing elastomer and the reinforcing agent present in the composition will be dictated by the thickness of the desired coating of the sealant upon evaporation of the solvent, with the addition of more sealing elastomers and reinforcing agent resulting in a further coating. thick. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the sealing elastomer will be present in the composition in an amount ranging from about 1 percent to about 15 percent by weight, more preferably from about 1 percent to about 10 percent by weight. The reinforcing agent is preferably present in an amount ranging from about 1 percent to about 15 percent by weight, more preferably from about 1 percent to about 10 percent by weight. When the sealing composition is used in conjunction with, for example, a motive power battery, a coating thickness of about .001 millimeters to about .05 millimeters is desired. It has been found that the thickness in this range can be obtained if the sealing elastomer and the reinforcing agent are each present in the composition in an amount of from about 2 percent to about 38 percent, preferably about 2.7 percent. cent by weight.

For stationary batteries, thicker sealant coatings are often desired. The coating typically has a thickness in the range of from about .05 mil to about 4 mil (about .001 millimeters to about 0.10 millimeters).

It has been found that such a thickness can be obtained if the reinforcing agent and sealing elastomer are each present in the sealing composition in an amount of about 4.5 percent to about 5.5 percent by weight, preferably about 5 percent. by weight.

Other ingredients may be present within the sealant composition. For example, the sealant composition may include a colorant, such as a pigment or dye. It may be desired to prepare the battery or battery so that the terminals are of different colors, so that during processing, the terminal polarity can be identified. One or both of the positive and negative terminals may be painted. Conventionally, the positive terminal of a battery or battery is painted red, and the negative terminal is uncoloured or painted black. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the sealant composition to be used for sealing the positive terminal connector includes a red paint. The dye must not interfere with the stability of the sealant in the sulfuric acid. Suitable colorants include, for example, the dyes selected from the family of dyes known as solvent red dyes. A preferred dye is an anthraquinone dye commercially known as solvent red 207 and sold under the MORPLAS red 61 trademark of Morton International, of Chicago, Illinois. The dye is preferably added to the composition in an amount ranging from about 0.04 percent to about 0.07 percent by weight of the sealing composition.

Other ingredients can be added to the sealing composition. For example, it is contemplated that a stabilizer may be added in an effective amount to stabilize the composition. It is only necessary, however, that the composition include a sealing elastomer dissolved in a terpene solvent.

In accordance with the invention, a sleeve was prepared for use in a sealed lead acid battery by coating at least a portion of the exterior of the sleeve with a sealant. After coating the sleeve, the composition was set to leave a sealing coating. To minimize the processing time required to coat the sleeve, the sealing composition is preferably applied in a series of unique coating and setting steps. If desired, however, these steps can be repeated to make the sealant coating thicker.

In the setting of the sealing composition, the terpene solvent, which is volatile with respect to the volatility of the sealing elastomer and the wood resin, evaporates. The solvent can be evaporated by allowing the sealing elastomer to dry at room temperature, or the coated sleeves can be heated to force the evaporation of the solvent. In any case, the evaporation must continue until all or essentially all the solvent is evaporated to leave a sealing coating. It has been found that in the case of D-limonene, up to about 12 percent of the residual terpene solvent can be detected within the sealant coating. These solvent residues have been observed to not affect the sealing function of the coating.

An example of a battery made with the sealing composition of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. With reference to Figure 1, a battery 10 is composed of a container 12 containing a plurality of batteries connected in series separated by divisions 13. The cells include at least one porous positive electrode plate, at least one porous negative electrode plate 14, a porous absorbent separator 15 interposed between and pressed against opposite polarity plates, and an acid electrolyte. sulfuric absorbed inside the porous plates and the separator. Preferably, the plates are formed of lead grids on which a paste of active material has been applied.

Each grid is preferably provided with an integral appendage, or a current collection appendage 20. The collection appendages 20 on the positive plates each are joined together on a strip 21 as are the appendices on the negative plates (not shown) . An integral post 22 protrudes from the strip 21 and is shaped to engage coincidentally with a sleeve 24, which is integrally positioned on the cover 26 of the battery 10 and which provides electrical communication through the cover 26. The container Battery and cover can include other conventional components such as valves, handles, and others (not shown) which can be assembled within the container or the cover in any conventional manner.

According to the invention, the cover is formed by the insertion molding of the sleeve for the positive and negative terminals inside a non-conductive plastic substrate after the sealant coating has been applied to the outside of the sleeves. The choice of substrate is not critical to the invention, and the substrate can be chosen from commercially available engineering materials such as polyphenylene oxide, ABS plastics, SAN polypropylene (styrene acrylonitrile), and other materials. The sleeves are placed in an injection mold, and the non-conductive plastic substrate is molded around the sleeves so as to compress the sealant between the sleeves and the substrate. The sealant is under compression, thus acting as a "cushion" to seal the interconnection between the sleeves and the substrate. The cover 26 includes at least two sleeves to provide electrical communication with both positive and negative electrodes within the battery.

To form a battery, the battery cover is secured to the battery container 12 so that the post extending from the strip electrically bonding the positive electrode plates (e.g. the positive post) engages coincidently with one of the sleeves and so that the pole extends from the strip electrically bonding the negative electrode plates (e.g., the negative electrode post) coincidentally engaging the other sleeve. The positive and negative sleeves are then welded to the respective positive and negative terminal posts to form the positive and negative battery terminals, for example, by welding with heated induction heating the pole to the sleeve. A cosmetic outer cover (not shown) can be placed on the cover 26 to form an outer wall of the battery.

Figure 2 illustrates the sealant coating 30 (the exaggerated thickness) which seals the interface 32 between the sleeve 24 and cover 26. As illustrated, the sealing liner 30 preferably completely seals the interface 32 between the sleeve 24 and the cover 26. The wall of the sleeve 24 is preferably slotted to form a tortuous path between the inside and the outside of the sleeve. battery cover, to help therefore prevent the acid from dripping out of the battery. The coating will be effective to suppress the influx of electrolyte from the battery, and will be effective to prevent oxygen from leaking into the battery.

The above illustrated embodiment represents only one possible construction for the battery of the invention. Alternate constructions also fall within the scope of the invention. For example, the sleeve may be positioned within the non-conductive substrate forming the battery cover and only partially extending through the cover. In such a case, the sleeve preferably includes an integral arm extending therefrom through the substrate to provide electrical communication through the substrate. Alternatively, the sleeve may extend partially through the substrate so that the outer surface of the sleeve is exposed, and the separate terminal may be welded to the outer surface of the sleeve. The sealing composition of the invention is useful in conjunction with all the above alternate embodiments. For example, the sealing composition can be applied to any interface formed between the sleeve and the plastic cover. All of the foregoing embodiments should be considered as falling within the scope of the present invention.

Therefore, the general objects established above have been satisfied. The present invention provides a sealant composition including a terpene solvent, such as D-limonene. This non-fluorinated, non-chlorinated solvent is effective to form a sealing composition with a sealing elastomer and reinforcing agent. Because D-limonene is a non-fluorinated and non-chlorinated chemical and because it is non-toxic, the necessary precautions can be avoided with the use of trichlorethylene. In addition, the sealing composition has a low flammability and is compatible with the existing processes for the production of batteries.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will find many other uses for the sealing composition of the invention, particularly in conjunction with the preparation of batteries, and more particularly in the sealing of the interfaces between the lead and plastic materials in such materials. batteries For example, the composition may find utility in the sealing terminal or in the float frames in a bipolar lead-acid battery. An example of such a battery is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,384,817. A bipolar battery frame includes a conductive grid within a non-conductive polymeric frame.

It is expected that the sealing composition of the invention be effective to provide a seal between the substrate and the frame. The invention will also find applicability in other batteries, for example, in nickel-cadmium hydride or metal-nickel batteries. Although injection molding can be used in conjunction with the invention, other methods can also be used to prepare the container and cover.

Other uses for the sealant composition of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, even when the particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. It is therefore contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as incorporating these features that constitute the essential features of these improvements within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (36)

R E I V I ND I C A C I O N S

1. A settable sealant composition for coating a conductive sleeve for a lead acid battery or battery, the battery having positive and negative plates placed within a container and having a cover, the conductive sleeve is molded into the cover and provides electrical communication with At least one of said plates, said sleeve represents an interconnection between said cover and said sleeve, the composition comprises: a terpene solvent; Y a sealing elastomer dissolved therein, said terpene solvent being relatively volatile with respect to the volatility of the sealing elastomer, such that, upon application to the sleeve, and after setting, said sleeve has a coating of a sealant.

2. A settable sealant composition as claimed in clause 1, said gauge has a tortuous path through said cover.

3. A settable sealant composition as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said solvent is not chlorinated and is not fluorinated.

4. A settable sealant composition as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said sealing elastomer is polyisobutylene.

5. A settable sealant composition as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said solvent is a monoterpene.

6. A settable sealant composition as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said solvent is a cyclic terpene.

7. A settable sealant composition as claimed in clause 6, characterized in that said cyclic terpene is a limonene.

8. A settable sealant composition as claimed in clause 7, characterized in that said cyclic terpene is D-limonene.

9. A settable sealant composition as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that it further comprises a reinforcing agent in an amount effective to reinforce said sealing elastomer with the setting of said sealing composition.

10. A settable sealant composition as claimed in clause 9, characterized in that said reinforcing agent is present in said sealant composition in an amount ranging from about 1 percent to about 15 percent by weight.

11. A settable sealant composition as claimed in clause 9, characterized in that said reinforcing agent is a wood resin.

12. A settable sealant composition as claimed in clause 9, characterized in that said reinforcing agent is a gum resin.

13. A settable sealant composition as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that it also comprises a colorant in an amount of from about 0.04 percent to about 0.07 percent by weight.

14. A settable sealant composition for coating a conductive sleeve for a lead acid battery or battery, the battery having positive and negative plates placed inside a container having a cover, the conductive sleeve being molded into the cover and providing electrical communication with at least one of said plates, said sleeve has an interconnection between said cover and said sleeve, the composition comprises: from about 1 percent to about 15 percent polyisobutylene; and up to about 99 percent of a terpene solvent, said terpene solvent being relatively volatile with respect to the volatility of said sealing elastomer, such that with the application to said sleeve, and after setting, said sleeve has a coating of a sealant.

15. A settable sealant composition as claimed in clause 14, characterized in that it comprises from about 1 percent to about 15 percent of a resin.

16. A settable sealant composition as claimed in clause 15, characterized in that said polyisobutylene is present in an amount of about 2.7 percent, wherein said resin is present in an amount of about 2.7 percent.

17. A settable sealant composition as claimed in clause 15, characterized in that said polyisobutylene is present in an amount of about 5.0 percent, wherein said resin is present in an amount of about 5.0 percent.

18. A settable sealant composition as claimed in clause 14, characterized in that it also comprises a colorant in an amount of from about 0.04 percent to about 0.07 percent by weight.

19. A settable sealant composition for coating a conductive sleeve for a lead acid battery or battery, the battery having positive and negative plates disposed within a container and having a cover, the conductive sleeve is molded into the cover and provides electrical communication With at least one of the plates, said sleeve has a shell between said cover and said sleeve, the composition comprises: D-limonene; about 2.7 percent polyisobutylene; Y about 2.7 percent of wood resin; said terpene solvent being relatively volatile with respect to the volatility of the sealing elastomer, such that with the application to the sleeve, and after setting, said sleeve has a coating of a sealant.

20. A settable sealant composition for coating a conductive sleeve for a lead acid battery or battery, the battery having positive and negative plates placed inside a container and having a cover, the conductive sleeve is molded inside the cover and provides electrical communication With at least one of said plates, said sleeve has a shell between said cover and said sleeve, the composition comprises: D-limonene; about 5.0 percent polyisobutylene; Y about 5.0 percent wood resin; said terpene solvent is relatively volatile with respect to the volatility of said sealing elastomer, such that, upon application to said sleeve, and after setting, said sleeve has a coating of a sealant.

21. A method for imparting to a conductive sleeve for a lead acid battery or battery with a coating of a sealant, comprising the steps of: providing a conductive sleeve, said sleeve having an exterior; coating at least a portion of said exterior of said sleeve with a settable sealant composition, wherein said sealing composition comprises: a terpene solvent; Y a sealing elastomer dissolved there; Y setting said sealing composition to thereby impart said sleeve with a coating of a sealant.

22. A method as claimed in clause 21, characterized in that said step of setting said sealing composition includes allowing said solvent to evaporate at room temperature.

23. A method as claimed in clause 21, characterized in that said step of setting includes heating said sleeve to evaporate said solvent.

24. A sleeve having a coating of a sealant imparted on at least a portion thereof by the method as claimed in clause 21.

25. A method for making a cover for a battery or battery, the cover includes a non-conductive plastic substrate having an inner surface and an outer surface and having a first sleeve positioned within said substrate to allow electrical communication between said inner surface and said outer surface and a second sleeve placed within said substrate to allow electrical communication between said inner surface and said outer surface, each of the sleeves has an exterior and having an interface between said exterior of said sleeve and said plastic substrate, the Method comprises the steps of: (a) providing the first and second sleeves; (b) for each of said first and second sleeves, (1) apply a settable sealant composition to at least a portion of said exterior of said sleeve which comprises: a terpene solvent; Y a sealing elastomer dissolved there; and (2) setting said sealing composition; Y (c) insertively molding said first sleeve and said second sleeve into a non-conductive substrate to thereby form a stack cover, whereby said sealing elastomer forms a seal on said interleaves.

26. A cover made in accordance with the method of clause 25.

27. A method for making a stack, comprising: (a) providing a battery container comprising a compartment and having at least one positive electrode plate and at least one negative electrode plate positioned within said compartment as a separator positioned between said electrode plates, and an electrolyte absorbed in the electrode plates and the separator, said cell container has placed there a positive post communicating electrically with said positive plate and a negative post communicating electrically with said negative plate; (b) providing a cell cover including a non-conductive plastic substrate having an inner surface and an outer surface and having a first sleeve positioned within said substrate to coincidentally engage said positive post to allow electrical communication between said positive post and said outer surface and a second sleeve placed inside said substrate to coincidentally engage said negative post to allow electrical communication between said negative post and said outer surface, each of said sleeves having an exterior and presenting an interface between said exterior of said sleeve and said plastic substrate, said stack cover is prepared by a method comprising the steps of: (1) providing the first and second sleeves; (2) for each of said first and second sleeves; (i) Applying to at least a portion of said exterior of said sleeve a settable sealant composition comprising: a terpene solvent; Y a sealing elastomer dissolved there; Y (ii) setting said sealing composition; and (3) insertively molding said first and second sleeves into a non-conductive substrate to thereby form a stack cover, whereby said sealing elastomer forms a seal on said intakes; Y (c) securing said cover to said container so that said stack cover covers said compartment, whereby said first sleeve coincidentally engages said positive post and therefore said second sleeve coincidentally engages said negative post.

28. A method as claimed in clause 27, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: (d) welding said first sleeve to said positive post to thereby form a positive terminal; Y (e) welding said second sleeve to said negative post to thereby form a negative terminal.

29. A battery made as claimed in clause 27.

30. A method for making a battery comprising: (a) providing a battery container having divisions separating said container into stacks, each of said stacks containing at least one positive and negative electrode plate, a spacer placed between the plates positive and negative adjacent, and an electrolyte absorbed in said separator and said plates, each of said positive plates in each stack being joined by a positive strip and each of said negative plates in each stack being joined by a negative strip, the battery including a positive post placed inside the container and communicating electrically with said positive strip and a negative post placed inside said container and communicating electrically with said negative strip; (b) providing a stack cover including a non-conductive plastic substrate having an inner surface and an outer surface and having a first sleeve positioned within said substrate for coincidentally engaging said positive post to permit electrical communication between said positive post and said outer surface and a second sleeve placed inside said substrate to coincidentally engage said negative post to allow, the electrical communication between said negative post and said outer surface, each of said sleeves has an exterior and presents a interface between said exterior of said sleeve and said plastic substrate, said pile cover is prepared by a method comprising the steps from: (1) provide the first and second sleeves, (2) for each of said first and second sleeves, (i) Applying to at least a portion of said exterior of said sleeve a settable sealant composition comprising: a terpene solvent; Y a sealing elastomer dissolved there; Y (ii) setting said sealing composition; Y (3) insertively molding said first and second sleeves into a non-conductive substrate to thereby form a cover, whereby said sealing elastomer forms a seal on said undercuts; Y (c) securing said cover to said container so that said battery cover covers said compartment, whereby said first sleeve makes coincidental contact with said positive post and therefore said second sleeve engages coincidentally with said negative post.

31. A method as claimed in clause 30, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: (d) welding said first sleeve to said positive post to thereby form a positive terminal; Y (e) welding said second sleeve to said negative post to thereby form a negative terminal.

32. A battery made as claimed in clause 30.

33. A stack comprising: a container that includes a component; at least one positive electrode plate and at least one negative electrode plate positioned within said compartment; a separator placed between said positive and negative plates; an acid electrolyte absorbed within the separator and the plates; a positive post communicating electrically with said positive electrode plate and a negative post communicating electrically with said negative electrode plate; a cover comprising: a non-conductive plastic substrate; the first and second sleeves placed inside said substrate, each one of said sleeves having an exterior and having an interface between said exterior of said sleeve and said plastic substrate, said first sleeve communicating electrically with said positive post and said second sleeve communicating electrically with said negative post; a sealant forming a seal in said meshes which comprises: a coating of a sealing elastomer around the outside of each sleeve on each inter face, and a residue of a terpene solvent placed within said coating.

34. A battery that includes: a container having divisions separating said container in stacks, each of the stacks contains at least one positive and negative plate, a separator placed between said adjacent positive and negative plates, and an acid electrolyte absorbed in said separator and said plates, each one of said positive plates being attached to a positive strip and each of said negative electrode plates being joined by the negative strip; a positive post communicating electrically with said positive strip and a negative post communicating electrically with said negative strip; a cover comprising a non-conductive plastic substrate; the first and second sleeves placed inside said substrate, said first sleeve communicating electrically with said positive post and said second sleeve communicating electrically with said negative post, each of said sleeves has an exterior and presents a interface between said exterior of said sleeve and said plastic substrate; Y a sealant forming a seal in said meshes which comprises: a coating of a sealing elastomer around the outside of each sleeve on each interlock, and a residue of a terpene solvent placed within said coating.

35. A battery as claimed in clause 34, characterized in that said interface presents a tortuous path through said cover.

36. A settable sealant composition for a lead acid battery, the battery having at least one lead component and at least one plastic component, the lead component and the plastics component having a shell therebetween, the composition comprises : a terpene solvent; Y a non-chlorinated sealant elastomer dissolved there, said terpene solvent being relatively volatile with respect to the volatility of said sealing elastomer, such that with the application to said interface, and after setting, said interface possesses a coating of a sealant. SUMMARY Fragable sealing compositions for coating a conductive sleeve for a lead acid battery or stack having positive and negative plaques placed within a container and a cover are described, the conductive sleeve is molded in the cover and providing electrical communication with at least one of the plates, the sleeve having an interconnection with the outside of the sleeve and the cover. The sealant compositions comprise a sealant elastomer in an amount of from about 1 percent to about 15 percent by weight and a solvent in an amount of up to about 99 percent by weight. According to the invention, the sealant composition is a terpene solvent, preferably a cyclic terpene and more preferably D-li -onene. The sealant compositions preferably further comprise a reinforcing agent in an amount of from about 1 percent to about 15 percent by weight. In use, at least a portion of a sleeve is coated with a sealant composition, and the sealant composition is set. The sleeve is insert molded into a non-conductive plastic substrate to form a cover for a battery or stack, such that the sealing elastomer seals the interface between the sleeve and the substrate.