Will Lithium Batteries Explode?

On a general note, lithium batteries are amazingly safe, but they do catch fire or explode occasionally. When such happens, it always makes the news headline, especially for phones like Samsung or laptops like HP.

Basically, the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are the type of batteries you will find in your phones, tablets, laptops and generally almost in all modern-day gadgets, including electric cars and airplanes.

Without these batteries, you will be plugged into a power source almost the whole day, going nowhere. But, the main purpose of this article is to understand why these amazing batteries explode on us.

What Makes A Lithium-Ion Battery Explode?

It is the initial thing that makes lithium batteries very useful that also gives them the right capacity to either explode or catch fire. You should first of all note that, lithium batteries are ideal in storing energy.

Whenever it is related as a trickle, it can power your phone for the full day. But, when it is released at a go, the battery will instantly explode.

In every Lithium battery, there are two electrodes available, which are:

· The negatively charged anode and;

· The positively charged cathode

They are both separated by a thin sheet of micro-perforated plastic. This helps in keeping the two electrodes from touching each other.

When the lithium batteries are charged, lithium ions are being pushed via electricity coming from the cathode through the micro-perforations in its separator and a fluid that is electrically conductive to the anode.

And, when the lithium battery discharges, the reverse takes place, i.e., the lithium ion flow from the anode towards the cathode. It is this reaction that powers our laptops.

For small batteries such as those in smartphones, they practically have only a distinct lithium-ion cell while large batteries like those in laptops have a six and twelve lithium-ion cells. For electric cars and airplanes, they make use of hundreds of cells.

However, most of the lithium battery explosions and fires have to do with issues of short-circuiting. This occurs when the plastic superior majorly fails and allows both anode and cathode to touch. When these two come together, the battery begins overheating.

What Causes lithium-ion batteries To Explode?

There are so many reasons why the separator can suddenly fail, and they include:

· Manufacturing defects or bad design

An explosion may occur if the battery has been designed poorly. In such cases, the space for the separator and electrodes were not enough. For some models, the battery expands as it charges, the electrodes bend, and this causes a short circuit.

Also, note that a well-structured battery can fail if the quality control is not left-right enough or during the manufacturing process, there was a defect

· External Factors

For external factors, extreme heat has been known to cause lithium battery failure. The batteries that are left close enough to a heat source usually catches fire or explodes.

There are some other external factors asides from heat like dropping your phone too many times or very hard. As a result of the fall, the separator can get damaged and result in the electrodes touching each other. Piercing the battery also results in a short circuit.

· Charger Problems

A charger that has been badly made or a poorly insulated can result in damages of the lithium battery. Should the charger generate heat close to the battery, it can result in damages.

This is why official chargers are highly recommended to use in charging lithium batteries. However, lithium batteries have in-built protections that stop them from overcharging.

Though it is extremely rare, if safety precautions should fail, overcharging is actually a good way to overheat the lithium battery.

· Multiple cells and thermal runaway

Although not relevant to distinct cell batteries such as the type of batteries found in most of our mobile phones, the failure of one battery cell alone can lead to the whole battery getting damaged.

Basically, once a cell overheats, a domino effect known as thermal runaway occurs. This thermal runaway has the prospects of being a really huge issue.

Best Ways To Prevent A Lithium-Ion Battery From Exploding

In a bid to prevent your lithium-ion battery from issues of explosions or catching fire, you can follow these steps below. They include:

· Make sure you purchase your batteries from a supplier that is notably reputable and has the ideal record on both health and safety. Countries like the US and areas like the European Union make sure their batteries are made up to high standards so that they can be traded legally.

· The instructions provided must be read. Electronic devices do come with a series of instructions that explains how to use the device safely. The instructions can aid in reducing the risk of life-threatening fires.

· The charger you use in charging your battery should be the ones that came with the exact battery. In cases of loss of chargers, you should purchase only those recommended by the manufacturers

· Lithium batteries should be kept away from extreme heat and cold as well. And, once the battery is fully charged, it should be unplugged, and when not in use, it should be turned off.

· When transporting lithium-ion batteries, it should be done in specifically designed containers. Keep the batteries far away from not only metal but other batteries as well. These batteries can explode if they are kept in handbags or pockets or when they bump into keys and coins.

· When our electronics are modified, it increases the risks of a lithium explosion.

To Wrap It Up

Although checking out why lithium batteries sometimes fail basically paints a terrifying picture, it should not take our minds off the fact that these batteries are safe and advanced technology.

The manufacturers of lithium batteries have done their best to input lots of safeguards in the right places to prevent the battery from failing and to mitigate the damages that lithium battery failures can cause.