by: Jeff Anderson
Are you confused by the terms thrown around on batteries.such as Magnesium or Zinc-Carbon? We will walk you through a brief definition of each type of Alkalinee Batteries. Types of alkaline non-rechargeable batteries include:
Zinc-Carbon. Zinc-carbon cells, also known as "Leclanche" cells, were the first widely used household batteries. Rated at 1.5 volts per cell, they are much lower in cost compared to alkalines, but also have a lower energy density. Available in AAA, AA, C, D and 9-volt sizes, common applications are toys, remote controls, flashlights and other household items. Zinc-carbon cells, also known as "Leclanche" cells, were the first widely used household batteries. Rated at 1.5 volts per cell, they are much lower in cost compared to alkalines, but also have a lower energy density.
Zinc-Chloride: Heavy-duty zinc chloride batteries (ZnCl2) are the result of technological advances in zinc carbon battery manufacturing. A powdery mix serves as the cathode component of the zinc chloride battery. The mix is made of manganese dioxide (the active ingredient), carbon black (for electrical conductivity and moisture absorption), and zinc chloride electrolyte (which assists the chemical reaction).
Magnesium batteries - have twice the service life of a zinc cell of equivalent size. It is able to retain its capacity during storage due to a protective film that forms on the surface of the magnesium anode. The cost is competitive.
Alkaline-manganese Dioxide - These batteries were developed in the early 1960s and still hold a strong position in today's market. Alkalines are a very popular, multi-use premium battery. Rated at 1.5 volts per cell, they are available in the common AAA, AA, C, D and 9-volt sizes. They have a very good shelf life and are excellent for high drain rate applications, such as electronics applications. Alkaline batteries can deliver 50-100% more total energy than conventional carbon zinc batteries of the same size, making them popular for consumer applications.
Silver Oxide Cells: commonly found as button cells that power small electronic devices such as watches, calculators, hearing aids and other small specialty devices. Rated at 1.55 volts per cell, their advantage is small size, high energy density and long shelf life. Hope this summary helps.next time - you will be a battery expert!