Fieldlines.com || Make your electricity from scratch!

Front Page - [Homebrewed Electricity-- (wind) (solar) (hydro) (steam) (controls) (storage) (mechanical)] - Classifieds - Site News
Everything - Newbies - [Remote Living-- (housing) (heat) (light) (water)] - Reviews - Diaries - Our Products

Battery Corrosion
By NGrann, Section Remote Living Posted on Sat Apr 15, 2006 at 11:35:30 PM MST
Question about battery corrosion

I recently had to change my battery and due to the corrosion build up, I had to clean off the terminal and the case holding the battery and replace the battery. I did not put of gloves and my skin did not get burned, but I was curious if I should be cautious of any other injury's I could have sustained due to my carelessness. My hands did have direct contact with the corrosion (by the way it was blue) and the stuff used to clean the corrosion off of the battery. I was able to wash my hands off within 30 minutes of the contact. Thanks for any help.

Battery Corrosion | 11 comments (11 topical)

Re: Battery Corrosion (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by picmacmillan on Sat Apr 15, 2006 at 05:58:15 PM MST

i would think if you wiped your hands on any of your clothing, you will have holes in the material after its next wash...i dont think anything major will happen, but its just nasty stuff to put on your skin..i would be more concerned about breathing in the fumes than anything else...i have a battery file here in my file uploads it is called "battery chapter.pdf"...if you would like to read up on batteries, myths and facts....might be something you would keep for a reference later on...pickster
http://www.frecklefarmloghomes.com

Re: Battery Corrosion (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by sPuDd on Sat Apr 15, 2006 at 11:36:21 PM MST

I made a similar mistake when changing a bunch of
12V SLA UPS batts. I mistook the white powder under
the batts to be UV damaged white paint going chalky.
I had to carry the batts quite some distance in my
bare hands, and being in the tropics they started to
sweat - activating the acid which worked its way into
any crack or cut in my hands.

I was glad to find a water tap and bathed under it for
some time. Where it contacted with my blue shirt, was
now purple :)

Won't make that mistake twice...

sPuDd..

Re: Battery Corrosion (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by jmk on Sun Apr 16, 2006 at 06:52:11 AM MST

Yes, I have had it ruin a pair of bluejeans before. Now I ware junk clothes when working with stuff like that, or greasey engens,and such. I would be real carefull of looking clean still and going into the house and ruining interior stuff like couches and chairs, or even the seats in cars.
jmk

Re: Battery Corrosion (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by kitno455 on Sun Apr 16, 2006 at 08:43:14 AM MST

i once worked in a textile factory. they use sulphuric acid as part of the dying process. a worker once got himself covered head to toe in the solution. he rinsed off on-site, and changed clothes.

the next morning, he awoke to find a huge hole in the shape of his body in his upper and lower sheets! when he washed his clothes, pretty much only the thick areas remained (cuffs, pockets). he suffered no ill effects.

every time i have ever spilled batt acid on myself, i have not felt burned or seen any issues, but the clothes always have holes after washing.

allan

[ Parent ]

Re: Battery Corrosion (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by BT Humble on Tue Apr 18, 2006 at 04:32:35 PM MST

every time i have ever spilled batt acid on myself, i have not felt burned or seen any issues, but the clothes always have holes after washing.

If you're working with batteries/acid, it's always a good idea to thoroughly wash your hands before the next time you "point Percy at the porcelain".

(Speaking from painful experience!)

BTH

[ Parent ]

Re: Battery Corrosion (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by TomW on Sun Apr 16, 2006 at 09:18:54 AM MST

Well, I never actually saw any question in your "question" just statements, but assume it had to do with treating for skin contact:

Whenever I have any questions about the safety / handling of chemicals and materials I just Google the MSDS for that material.

Usually no nonsense hard facts on any hazards storage, etc.

There is a PDF for sulfuric [battery] acid here:

http://www.battery.co.za/download/dl/MSDS%2001.pdf

Yes, it is wicked, nasty stuff but flushing off spills and skin is the main thing and as soon as possible. Clothing it gets on is pretty much ruined beyond use for nasty chores.

Just FYI I never work on batteries without glasses, a jug of water to flush off any acid I may contact, old clothes and a pair of gloves.

Cheers.

TomW

The Truth is the Truth, even if no one believes it; and a lie is a lie even if everyone believes it

Re: Battery Corrosion (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by richhagen on Sun Apr 16, 2006 at 12:06:54 PM MST

Where non-permeable gloves. Check the datasheets like TOMW suggests. I believe that lead sulphate is generally not absorbed through the skin, but off the top of my head, I recall that some lead salts can be, lead acetate comes to mind. This would form if vineger, or an acetate containing cleaning solvent were used.

I found this site as well:
http://www.acnem.org/journal/15-2_december_1996/skin_absorption_of_lead.htm
definitely where gloves, because if cleaning agents contain, or other contaminants are present, that contain chloride, or nitrate ions in solution, it appears that skin absorbtion could be a problem. The chloride absorbion also means that inhalation of any dust (from corrosion) around a battery box would be very hazardous as there are chloride ions in solution on the mucous membranes of the nose, air passages and lungs. Safety first, Rich Hagen
'A Joule saved is a Joule made'

Re: Battery Corrosion (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by NGrann on Sun Apr 16, 2006 at 04:14:03 PM MST

I don't believe there is any lead from corrosion on a battery terminal, is there?
N.G.
[ Parent ]

Re: Battery Corrosion (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by richhagen on Mon Apr 17, 2006 at 01:36:14 AM MST

Battery electrolyte is constantly exposed to lead oxide and lead sulphate. Neither of these are very soluble in aqueous solution, however if other ions such as nitrate, or acetate are present in any concentration, then those lead salts would form and would be more soluble. Dried electrolyte may contain other lead salts as well. Maybe its just me, but I'd expect it to contain lead, and if it didn't, well I'd still be OK with gloves and not making and breathing the dust from that corrosion in. Rich Hagen
'A Joule saved is a Joule made'
[ Parent ]

Re: Battery Corrosion (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by hobot on Sun Apr 16, 2006 at 08:49:28 PM MST

After all the connectors are properly made I spray with a
clear coat paint to seal from acid gases and looks same as day
painted dryed on new battery bank terminals in late '99.

hobot

Re: Battery Corrosion (3.00 / 0) (#11)
by ghurd on Tue Apr 18, 2006 at 11:12:59 PM MST

I have been burned by battery acid.
'Emergency' call on the cell phone, quick stop, change the fuse, swap batteries.

Later a burning iching feeling on my leg, then a few more spots (still on my leg).

Scratching my leg produced 'fuzz'.
Got home.
Fuzz turned out to be brand new Levi's.
Itchy spots were red, almost blistering. Hurt for a week (much worse than Zippo fluid for the old timers like me).
About 6, 1cm holes up my right leg where the battery touched. It looked dry at the time!

After a wash, the Levi's had a dozen 2cm holes.
And they were new too! Damn.
G-
Ghurd.info

Battery Corrosion | 11 comments (11 topical)

Menu

� create account
� How to use the board
� FAQs
� search the board
� Google search the board

Login

Make a new account

Username:

Password:

Total Views

��89 Scoop users have viewed this posting.

Related Links

� Also by NGrann

You must be a registered user to post here. It's easy and free, and the link is on the upper right side of your page.
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. Postings are owned by the poster, but may be deleted or moved at the ADMIN's sole discretion. The Rest � 2009 Forcefield.
You can Email the board ADMIN here. PLEASE include the username you signed up with!