Question 6A276

Lead-acid battery plates are susceptible to buckling under various forms of stress. **A) Excessive sulfation:** Occurs when a battery is left in a discharged state for too long. Lead sulfate crystals harden and expand on the plates, physically stressing and deforming them. **B) Overheating:** High temperatures, often from overcharging at excessive rates or prolonged discharge, accelerate chemical reactions within the battery. This can cause expansion of the plate material and gassing, leading to internal pressure and physical distortion of the plates. **C) Overdischarging of the battery:** Deep discharges cause extensive formation of lead sulfate, weakening the plates and making them more prone to buckling during subsequent charging cycles. The active material can also shed, further compromising plate integrity. Since all three conditions contribute to the physical degradation and deformation of lead-acid battery plates, leading to buckling, the correct answer is D.