Two newly approved ASTM standards are filling a gap that has existed for tests for battery separators. The new standards, D 7129, Test Method for Determination of Ammonia Trapping in a Grafted Battery Separator, and D 7131, Test Method for Determination of Ion Exchange Capacity (IEC) in a Grafted Battery Separator, are under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee D09.19 on Dielectric Sheet and Roll Products. The subcommittee is part of ASTM Committee D09 on Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials.

According to George Zguris, technology director/senior scientist, Hollingsworth and Vose Company, the two new standards, which have been in the works for nearly three years, are part of an effort to establish uniform global testing of battery separator materials. "Until now, there has been no set of standardized test methods for these types of separators," says Zguris.

Test Method D 7129 covers the measurement of the ability of a material to capture ammonia, and is intended for testing grafted polyolefin materials used as a battery separator. Test Method D 7131 evaluates the ion exchange capacity of polyolefin or other fibrous nonwoven sheet material intended for use in alkaline battery separator applications. While D 7131 is intended primarily for testing copolymer-grafted polyolefine materials used as battery separators, it could be used for any grafted material.

Zguris notes that interested parties are welcome to participate in future revisions of D 7129 and D 7131, as well as in the development of other standards on battery separators.

ASTM standards are available for purchase from Customer Service (phone: 610/832-9585; https://www.astm.org/contact) or www.astm.org/.

For further technical information, contact George C. Zguris, technology director/senior scientist, Hollingsworth & Vose Company, West Groton, Mass. (phone: 978/448-7166; gzguris@hovo.com). Committee D09 meets Nov. 9-11, in Dallas, Texas. For membership or meeting details, contact Christine Sierk, ASTM International (phone: 610/832-9728; csierk@astm.org).

Release #7156