battery explosion
Power source detonation
A battery explosion is the violent rupture of a battery, typically caused by overcharging, physical damage, manufacturing defects, or thermal runaway—when internal heat builds faster than it can dissipate.
Lithium-ion batteries in phones and electric vehicles are particularly prone to this failure mode: The recall followed reports of battery explosions in several devices.
The explosion releases toxic gases and can cause fires.
- lithiumLightest solid element
- lithium ionRechargeable electrochemical cell type
- fireCombustion with flames
- smokeAirborne combustion byproduct
- thermal runawayUncontrolled self-reinforcing temperature rise
overheating · flames · sparks · swelling · cell · cell phone · charging · short circuit · electrolyte · recall · safety recall · phone · laptop · venting · toxic · toxic fumes · hissing · meltdown
- battery problemspower loss, overcharging, overheating, short circuit, leaking
- batteriesAAAA, D cell, 9-volt, C, D