Ion exchangeable inorganic fibers based on sodium silicate have been successfully developed. The fibers have the ion exchange capacity of 83.8 meq·100 g −1 which is comparable to that of ion-exchangeable resin. Absorbing glass mat (AGM) for separators in lead-acid batteries was also successfully prepared with ion-exchangeable sodium silicate fibers. It was clarified by charge/discharge cycle test and morphological observation with scanning electron microscopy that the ion exchangeable AGM can

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... hibit the precipitation of PbSO 4 particles on the surface of electrodes and consequently reduces the deterioration in coulomb efficiency during repetitive cycles. Furthermore it was also clarified that ion-exchangeable AGM can inhibit the precipitation of PbSO 4 in separator itself notably. This will allow the reduction of thickness of separator and downsizing of lead battery body.