Plate Pasting
1. Definition
Application of active material paste onto lead grids — converting bare metal grids into functional battery plates. Positive plates receive lead dioxide (PbO2) precursor paste. Negative plates receive sponge lead (Pb) precursor paste. Paste composition and density directly determine battery capacity and CCA performance.
2. Process
1. Paste Mixing
Positive paste: Lead oxide (PbO) powder + water + sulfuric acid (H2SO4) — mixed to a stiff consistency. Paste density target: 4.0-4.3 g/cm3. Negative paste: Same base materials + expander additives (barium sulfate, carbon black, lignin) to prevent negative plate passivation and improve low-temperature performance.
2. Continuous Belt Pasting
Mixed paste is fed into a hopper above a continuous belt paster. Grids are fed automatically onto the belt. Paste is forced into the grid openings by a reciprocating pasting head. Excess paste is scraped off the grid surface by a doctor blade set to the target plate thickness. Double-sided pasting ensures uniform active material distribution on both grid faces.
3. Flash Drying
Pasted plates pass through a tunnel dryer at 60-80degC for 2-5 minutes — enough to set the paste surface without fully curing. Prevents paste sticking during handling and stacking.
4. Plate Cutting
Continuous pasted grid strip is cut into individual plates by a rotary cutter. Plates are stacked with separator material between them for the next process (curing). At Chengguang, pasting is fully automated with real-time thickness monitoring and automatic rejection of out-of-spec plates.
3. Quality Control at Chengguang
Paste density (g/cm3 — measured inline by gamma backscatter gauge), plate thickness (target +/- 0.05mm), paste-to-grid weight ratio, surface quality (no voids, no cracking), paste penetration (visual check of grid cross-section).Chengguang uses automated optical inspection at the paster exit.
4. Why Grid Quality Matters for OEM Buyers
Every manufacturing step directly impacts the battery you receive. When sourcing OEM batteries, ask your manufacturer about their grid alloy, paste formulation, curing profile, and formation process — these are the four factors that determine real-world battery life in your market. Chengguang's IATF 16949 certification guarantees documented, audited, and traceable manufacturing at every step.
View Chengguang Factory Capabilities · Request OEM Manufacturing
Author: Chengguang Power Tech Engineering Team | Reviewed: IATF 16949 Quality Department | Battery Database