What Causes Lithium Battery Explosions?
2 Answers
Lithium battery explosions can occur due to reasons such as prolonged overcharging of cells, battery short circuits, and excessive temperatures. The specific causes are as follows: Prolonged Overcharging of Cells: Under prolonged charging conditions, overcharging and excessive current can also lead to high temperatures and pressure, creating hazards. Lithium batteries can generate a large current in an instant under special temperature, humidity, and poor contact conditions, leading to spontaneous combustion or explosions. Battery Short Circuits: When charging, the battery is in a high-temperature state. If subjected to impacts, metal friction, or similar conditions, it can cause a short circuit in the battery, leading to an explosion. Excessive Temperatures: Excessive temperatures refer to the internal heat of the battery reaching its limit. Prolonged charging, exposure to high temperatures, and baking can easily cause the battery temperature to rise excessively, increasing the risk of explosion.
I've seen quite a few cases of lithium battery explosions, mainly caused by overcharging. When the battery is fully charged but continues to be connected to the charger, the internal temperature rises sharply, making lithium ions unstable and even forming dendrites that puncture the separator, leading to short circuits and explosions. Physical damage is also crucial—for example, if a phone is accidentally dropped or crushed, the deformed casing can cause the positive and negative electrodes to come into contact, generating heat. High-temperature environments exacerbate the risk, such as when a car is left in the sun during summer, causing temperatures to soar and accelerating battery aging. Manufacturing defects cannot be ignored either, as some cheap batteries use substandard materials or have poor designs with weak safety protections. For safety, I recommend using original chargers, avoiding overnight charging, and not storing batteries in high-temperature areas. Regularly inspect the battery's appearance, and if you notice swelling or abnormal heating, replace it immediately. Developing good habits can significantly reduce risks—after all, health is more important than anything else.
