Sounds like the type of charging and filling you were doing with the screwy must have been throwing a lot of acid. I just replaced my truck battery last year and found that the battery "blanket" that surrounds it was doing a good job with acid control. They also sell those absorbent pads for batteries now. That may be something that would fit your application.
I don't know if I have enough 1/4" aluminum plate left but the vendor is a quick 30 mins. away. I buy off-cuts from their fabrication shop so price is by the pound. If I have a 12 pack of soda ready for my scale guy, the prices really dip, lol.