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Described is an additive for producing the positive active material for lead-acid storage batteries on the basis of finely divided tetrabasic lead sulfate. The additive contains a tetrabasic lead sulfate of an average particle size smaller than about 3 μm as well as finely divided silicic acid

Described is an additive for producing the positive active material for lead-acid storage batteries on the basis of finely divided tetrabasic lead sulfate. The additive contains a tetrabasic lead sulfate of an average particle size smaller than about 3 μm as well as finely divided silicic acid for preventing an agglomeration of the particles of the tetrabasic lead sulfate. During maturation, this additive ensures the formation of the structure of a tetrabasic lead sulfate crystal with a very narrow bandwidth of crystal sizes and a very homogeneous distribution. In a subsequent electrochemical formation to lead oxide, this leads to particularly efficient lead-acid storage batteries. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of making the additive according to the invention as well as its advantageous use in the positive material for the maturation and drying of singled and not singled plates in the production of lead-acid storage batteries.

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The invention claimed is: 1. An additive for producing a positive active material for a lead-acid storage battery, comprising: tetrabasic lead sulfate particles having an average particle size of less than about 3 μm; and finely divided silicic acid for preventing agglomeration of the tetrabas

The invention claimed is: 1. An additive for producing a positive active material for a lead-acid storage battery, comprising: tetrabasic lead sulfate particles having an average particle size of less than about 3 μm; and finely divided silicic acid for preventing agglomeration of the tetrabasic lead sulfate particles. 2. The additive of claim 1, wherein the finely-divided silicic acid is hydrophilic. 3. The additive of claim 1, wherein the finely-divided silicic acid is pyrogenic. 4. The additive of claim 1, wherein the average particle size of the tetrabasic lead sulfate particles is less than about 1.5 μm. 5. The additive of claim 1, wherein the average particle size of the tetrabasic lead sulfate particles is from about 0.2 to about 0.9 μm. 6. The additive of claim 1, wherein the finely divided silicic acid has an average particle size from about 10 to about 120 nm. 7. The additive of claim 1, wherein the finely divided silicic acid has an average particle size from about 20 to about 80 nm. 8. The additive of claim 1, wherein the finely divided silicic acid has an average particle size from about 40 to about 60 nm. 9. The additive of claim 1, wherein the finely-divided silicic acid has a specific surface area according to BET of less than about 300 m2/g. 10. The additive of claim 1, wherein the finely-divided silicic acid has a specific surface area according to BET of less than about 150 m2/g. 11. The additive of claim 1, wherein the finely divided silicic acid is present in an amount from about 0.01 to about 10 wt. %, based on the total weight of tetrabasic lead sulfate and finely divided silicic acid. 12. The additive of claim 1, wherein the finely divided silicic acid is present in an amount from about 0.05 to about 5 wt. %, based on the total weight of tetrabasic lead sulfate and finely divided silicic acid. 13. The additive of claim 1, wherein the additive is in the form of an aqueous suspension. 14. The additive of claim 13, wherein the aqueous suspension has a solids content from about 10 to about 70 wt. %. 15. The additive of claim 13, wherein the aqueous suspension has a solids content from about 20 to about 50 wt. %. 16. The additive of claim 1, wherein the additive is in the form of a powder. 17. A positive active material for a lead-acid storage battery, comprising the additive of claim 1. 18. A method of producing an additive for a positive active material for a lead-acid storage battery, comprising the steps of: wet grinding tetrabasic lead sulfate particles to a particle size of less than about 3 μm; and adding a finely divided silicic acid to the tetrabasic lead sulfate particles. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the finely divided silicic acid is hydrophobic. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the finely divided silicic acid is hydrophilic. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the finely divided silicic acid is pyrogenic. 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the finely divided silicic acid is added to the tetrabasic lead sulfate prior to said wet grinding step. 23. The method of claim 18, wherein the finely divided silicic acid is added to the tetrabasic lead sulfate after said wet grinding step. 24. The method of claim 18, wherein the tetrabasic lead sulfate is wet ground in agitating ball mills. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the tetrabasic lead sulfate is wet ground in closed agitating ball mills. 26. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of drying the product of the wet grinding step to produce a powder. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein said drying step comprises spray drying the product of the wet grinding step. 28. A method for producing plates for lead-acid storage batteries, comprising the steps of: producing a positive active material including an additive comprising tetrabasic lead sulfate particles of an average particle size of less than about 3 μm and finely divided silicic acid for preventing agglomeration of the tetrabasic lead sulfate particles; forming plates including the positive active material; and drying and maturing the plates for use in a lead-acid storage battery. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the finely divided silicic acid is hydrophobic. 30. The method of claim 28, wherein the finely divided silicic acid is hydrophilic. 31. The method of claim 28, wherein said drying and maturing step comprises maturing the plates in stacks through the use of water vapor at a temperature of more than about 60�� C. within about one hour. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein said drying and maturing step comprises maturing the plates in stacks through the use of water vapor at a temperature from about 80 to about 95�� C. within about one hour. 33. The method of claim 28, wherein the maturing and drying step is continuous. 34. The method of claim 28, wherein said drying and maturing step comprises maturing the plates in stacks through the use of water vapor at a temperature of below about 60�� C. within 12 to 24 hours. 35. The method of claim 28, wherein said maturing step comprises maturing the plates either lying, standing or hanging in stacks. 36. The method of claim 28, wherein said maturing step comprises maturing the plates in batch chambers. 37. The method of claim 28, wherein said drying and maturing step comprises drying the plates in stacks in a continuous process using multistage drying with increasing temperatures. 38. The method of claim 27, wherein said drying step comprises drying the plates with increasing temperatures staffing at about 50�� C. and increasing to about 90�� C. over about 1 to about 4 hours. 39. The method of claim 38, wherein said drying step comprises drying the plates with increasing temperatures staffing at about 50�� C. and increasing to about 90�� C. over about 2 to about 3 hours. 40. The method of claim 37, wherein said drying step comprises drying the plates either lying, standing or hanging in stacks. 41. The method of claim 28, wherein the producing step comprises producing a positive active material including the additive, lead oxide, lead sulfate and water.