Defined: The Cause Behind Lithium Batteries Catching Hearth

The key perpetrator in Li-ion battery fires is a chemical course of often called thermal runaway. In layman’s phrases, thermal runaway happens when, for one purpose or one other, one thing causes a spark contained in the Li-ion battery’s casing, resulting in a series response that finally causes that casing to blow up. That explosion can begin a fireplace by itself, however within the worst-case state of affairs, if the battery is close to flammable supplies like fabric or oil, the fireplace can unfold in a short time.

So why does this occur? A Li-ion battery’s casing is hermetic, holding electro-conductive gasses and chemical compounds. If the casing is compromised via bodily injury or overheated from improper charging, the gasses are vaporized, and the case expands. When it reaches a essential level, it ruptures, releasing flammable fumes that may ignite violently. If the battery in query was in a smartphone, as an illustration, the cellphone would most probably explode.