Posted on 06/02/2008 7:31:32 PM PDT by Flavius
Lithium-ion batteries are both a blessing and a curse when it comes to mobile electronics
The topic of exploding lithium-ion batteries has been debated to death in the wake of massive battery recalls over the last couple of years. Amidst the deft public relations maneuvering and finger-pointing, however, the question as to why they explode in the first place is still shrouded in mystery for many.
The most important thing to understand here is that lithium-ion technology is considerably more volatile compared to other forms of rechargeable battery technologies. Defects in the insulating membrane can result in a mini-explosion that rips a battery open to release steam in excess of 600 degrees Fahrenheit.
BlackBerry Curve battery: Cells made in Japan, but assembled where? (Source: Paul Mah)
And all know that gasoline tanks are perfectly safe and never explode. /sarcasm.
Exactly. This article would make great material for John Stossel's "Are we Scaring Ourselves to Death?"
Well, the difference is that usually there is an outside factor in the gasoline explosion, a collision for example.
Not so for the battery. At least not a noticable outside force.
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