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Alkaline batteries

Alkaline batteries are the most common type of battery used worldwide. They are the product of continued development of the technology used in zinc-carbon batteries.

The most significant technical challenge which faced scientists developing alkaline batteries was the issue of how to contain the aggressive chemical substances used.

Fortunately nylon seals and modern plastic cases helped solve these problems, allowing alkaline batteries to be developed that could be used safely by the public for a range of applications.

Recent developments have led to the appearance of “ultra” versions of premium manufacturers’ batteries, such as:

• Duracell batteries.
• Sanyo batteries.
• Eveready batteries.
• Toshiba batteries.
• GP batteries.

These “ultra” batteries usually perform between 30% and 100% better than their regular equivalents, depending on how the batteries are used. This improvement in performance is achieved by applying additional coatings to the electrodes, using finer chemical grains and packing the same space more densely.

Advantages of alkaline batteries

The main difference between alkaline batteries and zinc-carbon batteries is that alkaline batteries use an alkaline electrolyte of potassium hydroxide, rather than the acidic electrolyte used by zinc-carbon batteries.

Alkaline batteries offer numerous advantages over zinc-carbon ones, in that they:

• Have a higher energy density – meaning more power for your applications.
• Deliver better performance - the effective operating times of alkaline batteries are between four and 15 times those of comparable zinc-carbon batteries.
• Perform well at temperatures as low as -30°C.
• Have a longer shelf-life - making them attractive to retailers.

When compared with silver oxide batteries in the form of button batteries, alkaline batteries have lower energy density and shorter lifetimes - however, their redeeming feature is that they cost less.

Can I recharge alkaline batteries?

In most cases, the answer is “no”, despite the fact that some alkaline batteries are marketed as rechargeable batteries.

As a general rule, alkaline technology doesn’t lend itself well to recharging.

By trying to recharge an alkaline battery, you run the risk of the battery rupturing, allowing hazardous liquids to leak out and corrode equipment.

Types of alkaline batteries available

Alkaline batteries are available in a variety of voltages, including:

• 6v batteries.
• 9v batteries.
• 12v batteries.

These battery sizes are used in a wide range of applications such as: dog collars and transmitters (6v); remote controls and smoke alarms (9v); remote car openers and car alarms (12v).