Are graphite alkalines better than ordinary alkaline?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jon D
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Jon D

Are alkaline batteries with graphite generally longer lasting than
alkaline batteries which do not have graphite?

I ask this because I see my local supermarket, Sainsburys in the UK,
sells a range of "Extra Long Life Alkaline" with graphite as well as a
cheaper "Long Life Alkaline" range.

But I can't find out much about the battery life this type of battery
chemisty.
 
In sci.chem.electrochem.battery Jon D said:
Are alkaline batteries with graphite generally longer lasting than
alkaline batteries which do not have graphite?

I ask this because I see my local supermarket, Sainsburys in the UK,
sells a range of "Extra Long Life Alkaline" with graphite as well as a
cheaper "Long Life Alkaline" range.

But I can't find out much about the battery life this type of battery
chemisty.
Click to expand...

In short - nowadays it's mostly pointless.
If you want long life under high load, go with NiMH.

If there are no numbers, then don't believe it.
 
Jon D said:
Are alkaline batteries with graphite generally longer lasting than
alkaline batteries which do not have graphite?

I ask this because I see my local supermarket, Sainsburys in the UK,
sells a range of "Extra Long Life Alkaline" with graphite as well as a
cheaper "Long Life Alkaline" range.

But I can't find out much about the battery life this type of battery
chemisty.
Click to expand...


I suspect it's some sales gimmick
AFAIK all Alkaline batteries contain graphite
 
Jon D said:
Are alkaline batteries with graphite generally longer lasting than
alkaline batteries which do not have graphite?

I ask this because I see my local supermarket, Sainsburys in the UK,
sells a range of "Extra Long Life Alkaline" with graphite as well as a
cheaper "Long Life Alkaline" range.

But I can't find out much about the battery life this type of battery
chemisty.
Click to expand...

The best thing to do is test them in some appliance that gives you fairly
standard returns (my Psion 5mx was good at this for AA's).

My UK experience is that nothing beats IKEA's AA yellow alkaline batteries
for cost/Ah. I'd say the same is true for AAA's, but I'm not sure for C or D
cells.
 
I suspect it's some sales gimmick
AFAIK all Alkaline batteries contain graphite
Click to expand...
In that respect, what would be the fundamental performance difference
between the usual carbon cathode and a graphite carbon cathode in a
LeClanche (dry) carbon-zinc cell?

Bill
-- Fermez le Bush
 
In that respect, what would be the fundamental performance difference
between the usual carbon cathode and a graphite carbon cathode in a
LeClanche (dry) carbon-zinc cell?
Click to expand...



My area of expertise is with lead-acid batteries...

I don't know much (if anything) about zinc-carbon
 
Salmon Egg said:
In that respect, what would be the fundamental performance difference
between the usual carbon cathode and a graphite carbon cathode in a
LeClanche (dry) carbon-zinc cell?
Click to expand...

The difference isnt with the cathode.
 
Didn't brass come later?
Click to expand...

I responded to this earlier on the basis that ordinary dry cells use carbon
rods as anodes (not cathodes). Is that true of alkaline cells? If not so,
what is the graphite (or carbon) used for in alkaline cells?

Bill
-- Fermez le Bush
 
Salmon said:
I responded to this earlier on the basis that ordinary dry cells use carbon
rods as anodes (not cathodes). Is that true of alkaline cells? If not so,
what is the graphite (or carbon) used for in alkaline cells?
Click to expand...

With classic (+) current, its emitter is the cathode. (Sucks, doesn't
it.) The diagram in my text shows a brass cathode and terminal for
the alkaline; it lasts longer because of the better conductor. If
grafite mush is in that end of the battery, it will also help, better
than solid "carbon" or a plain solution. Did you know you can recharge
primary cells?
 
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