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The Risk of Exploding Lithium Ion Batteries

by Josh Kirschner on August 07, 2013

What do Apple, Sony, Dell, Acer, Lenovo and HP have in common? They all make laptops, sure, but each has been forced to recall their laptop batteries because of the risk of fire. In fact, since 2002, there have been more than 40 recalls due to explosion or fire risk from lithium ion batteries in laptops, phones and other electronic devices.

And when lithium ion batteries fail, they can do so in spectacular fashion. As the video below from computer support company PC Pitstop shows, lithium ion battery fires not only burn extremely hot (up to 1000 degrees fahrenheit), but can explode, sending chunks of burning metal across the room.

Lithium ion fires are also difficult to put out. Throwing water on one can actually makes matters worse. Experts recommend a Class D commercial fire extinguisher, not something most of us have sitting around the house.

UPDATE 8/9/2013: Reports from the Fire Prevention Research Institute and the FAA indicate that lithium ion battery fires do not require a Class D extinguisherwater works effectively to extinguish the flames and cool the cells to prevent further thermal runaway (thank you to Mark Rogers, Director, Dangerous Goods Programs for the Air Line Pilots Association for bringing the FAA report to my attention). If your device is plugged into an electrical outlet, it may be wise to unplug it, if possible, prior to extinguishing with water.

What causes lithium ion batteries to fail?

Lithium ion batteries have circuitry inside to prevent overcharging and short circuits, but if this circuitry is damaged, the battery could become overheated, resulting in a process known as "thermal runaway." Thermal runaway is a chemical process where the battery generates heat, causing additional reactions that generate more heat, and so on until the entire thing finally erupts in flame. Manufacturing defects can also result in thermal runaway.

How much heat it takes to get a battery to go into thermal runaway may vary based on the type of battery. According to Tony Olson, CEO of D2 Worldwide, which conducted the lithium ion battery test for PC Pitstop, thermal runaway can occur if the battery is heated to anywhere from 140 degrees fahrenheit up to 350 degree fahrenheit. Not standard household temperatures, obviously, but possible if the battery experiences a failure.

While the likelihood of lithium ion battery fires is still very low, two factors are increasing the risks. First is the simple fact that it's becoming far more common for us to own devices containing lithium ion batteries, including laptops, tablets, smartphones, Kindles, etc. Secondly, as manufacturers are pushing to put more and more power into these devices, the results of a failure become more pronounced. 

To help avoid issues with your batteries, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends the following safety tips:

  1. Only purchase batteries and chargers directly from the manufacturer or from a manufacturer-recommended source. Buying counterfeit or poorly manufactured batteries increases the chance of having an issue.
  2. Do not let a loose battery come in contact with metal objects, such as coins, keys, or jewelry. Metal objects can cross the electrical connections and cause an incident if the internal protection circuitry isn't functioning correctly.
  3. Do not crush, puncture or put a high degree of pressure on the battery, as this can cause an internal short-circuit, resulting in overheating.
  4. Do not place the phone or batteries in areas that may get very hot, such as on or near a cooking surface, cooking appliance, iron, radiator or the dashboard of your car in the summer.
  5. If you drop your phone or laptop on a hard surface, it can potentially cause damage the battery. If you suspect damage to the battery, take it to a service center for inspection.
  6. If your phone gets wet, even if the device dries and operates normally, the battery contacts or circuitry could slowly corrode and pose a safety hazard.

And if you see any bulging, leakage or other abnormality from your battery, stop using it immediately.


Topics

, News, Computers and Software, Computer Safety & Support, Phones and Mobile, Home Safety & Security, Blog


Discussion loading

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From Greg on March 23, 2014 :: 11:58 pm


It is my understanding that there are two types of lithium ion batteries. One is simply LiIon and the other is LiIon Polymer ... LiPo. It is also my understanding that the LiPo batteries are primarily used in consumer electronics like cell phones & computers and are the most dangerous of the two types.

Any thoughts or information on this?

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From Andrew ZAchary on February 12, 2015 :: 1:14 am


hello, just a random student here. we are working on a way to prolong or even stop this fire, we have already done trials, but the only difference was a 7% time of explosion difference., we used (not sure) 3.4 Volt batteries and strapped them up to a heatsink/Pelletier tile combo. after the initial explosion, the heatsink was actually able to pull off prolonging the fire. however, not enough to make it any safer than what it already was, we added a fan, but the pelletier tiles failed in our experiment. if the tiles did, work, we may have completely found the solution to this problem. just a small thought to a large community.

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From Johan Persyn on March 20, 2015 :: 11:28 am


Thanks for sharing Josh. I knew there were some dangers about the vibrations, but the fire dangers was completely something new. You don’t find this kind of information here. Love and blessings. Johan Persyn.

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From Jay on September 30, 2015 :: 2:05 am


What is considered a high degree of pressure as cited in tip 3 of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recommendations? Is this 3 BAR? 5 BAR? I’m looking to use these batteries in a pressurized environment. e.g. Underwater at depth. The safety switch/vent is designed to release gas if the internal pressure exceeds 10 BAR….. Most dive lights are triple sealed, to isolate the battery from increased pressure. How would an increase to 5 BAR affect these batteries? Would they survive? Or are they doomed, as well as the individual operating them?

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From Josh Kirschner on September 30, 2015 :: 9:16 am


My guess (and it is a guess) is that the pressure max will be variable depending on the battery manufacturer. That said, 5 BAR does not seem to me like it would be a issue for the battery to the point where it would cause a internal short circuit. Especially since Lithium polymer batteries are often made to withstand internal pressures of 10 BAR before venting: http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/lithium_ion_safety_concerns. However, I would stick with brand name batteries which (hopefully) have a higher degree of manufacturing quality than generics.

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From Jay on September 30, 2015 :: 9:36 am


What is the ratio between external pressure and internal pressure? Most batteries are made to vent at an internal pressure of 10 BAR. However, what is the beginning pressure when the battery is charged but not discharging? How much does the internal pressure increase during a normal discharge rate? Heat is generated during a discharge but is quickly dissipated by water. Does a reduction in heat reduce the increased pressure? I’m looking for answers from an expert.

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From heizeris on September 02, 2016 :: 3:25 pm


i understand if fthis topic is really old and nobody will help me but i kinda made a hole in my battery is there a chance of danger ol a spisific area must be hit for that to happen?

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From Amy on February 07, 2017 :: 1:01 pm


I have an Ematic 7” dual-core tablet and both of them pink and blue had the batteries blow.  No injuries yet but the blue just popped the cover and you can see the whole inside while the pink expanded so much it broke it into pieces.  The battery number is +3 7V 2200mah -HR 3070100PL and Ematic does not want to do anything about it!

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