![]() On the other end of the spectrum you’ll find extreme examples where the expansion of the battery outright rips the surrounding electronics open. We happened to have a spare identical battery on hand for comparison.Īlthough it’s not extremely dramatic to look at, the little smartphone battery has clearly failed and the center of the battery is swollen to roughly 150-200% the size of the healthy battery and the case could no longer be safely closed. We were recently preparing a pile of old smartphones for recycling, for example, and when we removed the back of the phones to double check for microSD cards, one of the batteries was swollen and the back of the case popped off like it was spring loaded. If the swelling is minor, you might simply notice that something seems a little off with your device: the back of your smartphone might seem slightly distorted, the frame of your Kindle might have an unusual gap, or maybe the trackpad on your laptop seems sort of stiff. This is where the swollen battery effect comes from: the batteries are designed to contain, as a fail safe measure, that out gassing so that it doesn’t cause a catastrophic fire. When lithium-ion batteries are over heated, over charged, or simply failing due to old age, it’s possible for the inner cells of the battery to outgas a flammable electrolyte mixture. Lithium is more reactive than previously used compounds, the batteries have very small partitions between the cells and the outer covering, and the entire battery is pressurized. Compared to its predecessors, the lithium-ion battery is less stable. Unfortunately there’s no such thing as a free lunch, so to speak, and all that high-density energy goodness comes with a trade off. They have high energy density, low self-discharge, and a very tiny memory effect: all features that make them perfect for inclusion is everything from MacBooks to Kindles. As far as compact batteries go, they’re pretty great. The vast majority of modern portable electronics, including laptops, smartphones, tablets, ebook readers, and fitness trackers are all powered by lithium-ion batteries. If you open up your phone to find a battery swollen to twice its size, proper care and handling is critical for both your safety and the safety of others. ![]() ![]() When a lithium ion battery fails, things can go south very quickly. ![]()
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