[Object] To improve both abrasion resistance and seizure resistance.

[Solution] A copper alloy sliding material is configured, which contains 0.5 to 12.0 mass % of Sn, 2.0 to 8.0 mass % of Bi, and 1.0 to 5.0 vol % of an inorganic compound, the balance being Cu and inevitable impurities, wherein the inorganic compound includes a first inorganic compound having an average particle size of 0.5 to 3.0 μm and a second inorganic compound having an average particle size of 4.0 to 20.0 μm, and wherein a value obtained by dividing a volume fraction of the first inorganic compound by a volume fraction of the second inorganic compound is 0.1 to 1.0.

A method for forming a connection such as an electrical connection, to a fibre material electrode element comprises moving a length of the fibre material relative to a pressure injection stage and pressure impregnating by a series of pressure injection pulses a lug material into a lug zone part of the fibre material to surround and/or penetrate fibres of the fibre material and form a lug strip in the lug zone. The fibre material may be a carbon fibre material and the lug material a metal such as Pb or a Pb alloy. Apparatus for forming an electrical connection to a fibre material electrode element is also disclosed.

A method for forming a connection such as an electrical connection, to a fibre material electrode element comprises moving a length of the fibre material relative to a pressure injection stage and pressure impregnating by a series of pressure injection pulses a lug material into a lug zone part of the fibre material to surround and/or penetrate fibres of the fibre material and form a lug strip in the lug zone. The fibre material may be a carbon fibre material and the lug material a metal such as Pb or a Pb alloy. Apparatus for forming an electrical connection to a fibre material electrode element is also disclosed.

A positive electrode grid body for lead-acid battery includes frame rib including first and second lateral frame ribs and first and second longitudinal frame ribs, an inner rib including a plurality of lateral and longitudinal crosspieces, a plurality of opening portions, and a positive electrode current collection lug connected to the first lateral frame rib. In a region having a length of at least one opening portion or more in the lateral direction of the lateral crosspieces from the first longitudinal frame rib, a cross-sectional area of the plurality of lateral crosspieces located on at least the first lateral frame rib side becomes larger from the second longitudinal frame rib side toward a portion connected to the first longitudinal frame rib.

Disclosed is a pyrometallurgical process for producing a crude solder from a feedstock selected in terms of its levels of Sn, Cu, Sb, Bi, Zn, As, Ni and Pb, the process comprising at least the steps of obtaining in a furnace a liquid bath of metal and slag, introducing a reducing agent and optionally also energy, separating the crude solder from the slag and removing liquid from the furnace. Further disclosed is a crude solder comprising at least 9.5-69% wt of tin and at least 25% wt lead, at least 80% tin and lead together, 0.08-12% wt of copper, 0.15-7% wt of antimony, 0.012-1.5% wt of bismuth, 0.010-1.1% wt of zinc, at most 3% wt of arsenic, at most 2.8% wt of nickel, at most 0.7% wt of zinc, at most 7.5% wt of iron and at most 0.5% wt of aluminium. The crude solder may readily be further prepared to become suitable as feedstock for vacuum distillation.

Disclosed is a metal mixture composition containing lead and tin, and comprising by weight at least 10% tin and 45% lead, at least 90% of tin and lead together, more lead than tin, from 1-5000 ppm of copper, at least 0.42% antimony and at least 0.0001 % wt of sulphur, at most 0.1% of the total of chromium, manganese, vanadium, titanium and tungsten, and at most 0.1% of each one of aluminium, nickel, iron and zinc. Disclosed is also a process comprising a pre-treatment step for producing this metal mixture composition, followed by a vacuum distillation step wherein lead is removed by evaporation and a bottom stream is obtained comprising at least 0.6% wt of lead.

Disclosed is a metal mixture composition containing lead and tin, and comprising by weight at least 10% tin and 45% lead, at least 90% of tin and lead together, more lead than tin, from 1-5000 ppm of copper, at least 0.42% antimony and at least 0.0001 % wt of sulphur, at most 0.1% of the total of chromium, manganese, vanadium, titanium and tungsten, and at most 0.1% of each one of aluminium, nickel, iron and zinc. Disclosed is also a process comprising a pre-treatment step for producing this metal mixture composition, followed by a vacuum distillation step wherein lead is removed by evaporation and a bottom stream is obtained comprising at least 0.6% wt of lead.

A method for preparing a grid alloy of a lead battery, comprising the following steps: (1) preparing an aluminum-lanthanum-cerium rare earth mother alloy by using a molten salt electrolysis method; (2) melting the aluminum-lanthanum-cerium rare earth mother alloy with sodium and partial lead and uniformly stirring same to prepare an intermediate alloy; and (3) melting the intermediate alloy with calcium, tin and remaining lead and uniformly stirring same to form a grid alloy of a lead battery.

A method for preparing a grid alloy of a lead battery, comprising the following steps: (1) preparing an aluminum-lanthanum-cerium rare earth mother alloy by using a molten salt electrolysis method; (2) melting the aluminum-lanthanum-cerium rare earth mother alloy with sodium and partial lead and uniformly stirring same to prepare an intermediate alloy; and (3) melting the intermediate alloy with calcium, tin and remaining lead and uniformly stirring same to form a grid alloy of a lead battery.

A method for preparing a grid alloy of a lead battery, comprising the following steps: (1) preparing an aluminum-lanthanum-cerium rare earth mother alloy by using a molten salt electrolysis method; (2) melting the aluminum-lanthanum-cerium rare earth mother alloy with sodium and partial lead and uniformly stirring same to prepare an intermediate alloy; and (3) melting the intermediate alloy with calcium, tin and remaining lead and uniformly stirring same to form a grid alloy of a lead battery.