Owens Corning originally announced the product in conjunction with the 2011 JEC Composites Show. The new non-woven glass fiber veil using corrosion-resistant Advantex E-CR glass technology increases cycle lifetime of traditional flooded lead-acid batteries, in particular at partial state of discharge. Other benefits include reduced acid stratification and the ability to operate in higher-temperature environments.

Working with several battery makers and a global leader in lead-acid battery chemistry, Owens Corning developed the non-woven glass fiber veil that is applied directly to the face of the positive electrode during production, and improves the battery’s capability to support the increased requirements of stop-start engine systems.

The new glass veil technology requires no capital investment by battery manufacturers and eliminates a component by replacing sacrificial pasting paper used only as a process carrier during the electrode pasting process.

This solution also provides cost advantages over AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery types that produce more cycles but are priced about 2.5 times higher and are more sensitive to heat and overcharging than flooded lead-acid batteries, the company says.