Safety lithium primary batteries

As international safety standard lEC 60086-4, Primary Batteries, Part 4 Safety Standard for Lithium Batteries, is valid for lithium primary batteries and lEC 61960-1 and 61960-2, Secondary Lithium Cells and Batteries for Portable Applications, Part 1 Secondary Lithium Cells and Part 2 Secondary Lithium Batteries, apply to the secondary techniques. Here the details of test and approval procedures can be found. 

Lithium primary batteries, with their outstanding performance and characteristics, are being used in increasing quantities in a variety of applications, including cameras, memory backup circuits, security devices, calculators, watches, etc. Nevertheless, Uthium primary batteries have not attained a major share of the market as was anticipated, because of their high initial cost, concerns with safety, the advances made with competitive systems and the cost-effectiveness of the alkaline/manganese battery. World-wide sales of Uthium primary batteries for 1999 have been estimated at 1.1 billion. ... 

The liquid electrolyte generally requires hermetic sealing, which may reduce the energy density. In addition, for safety reasons, lithium ion rechargeable batteries and lithium-metal primary batteries having liquid electrolytes are designed to vent automatically when certain abuse conditions exist, sucb as a substantial increase in internal pressure which can be caused by internal or external overheating. If the cell is not vented under extreme pressure, it can explode because the liquid electrolyte used in liquid Li cells is extremely flammable. 

In a lithium battery, therefore, we need 1000/3884 = 0.26 g of lithium per stored Ah. The standard EN 62281, Safety of primary and secondary lithium cells and batteries during transport, gives 0.3 g of lithium per Ah. 

Following the primary batteries we deal with (rechargeable) secondary lithium batteries, which within the last decade found their specific markets. Examples of them will be described. Finally we will see which special components within the battery system are needed, preferably when high rate versions are called for, which procure the desired reliability and safety, and how - according to the battery type -suitable ways are used for their disposal after the end of their life. 

This section provides conclusive remarks on lithium-based primary batteries, in particular on energy density capability, power density limit, the impact of temperature on battery performance, shelf life, safety and reliability, the environmental impact of batteries, and price-to-performance ratio [3]. Each item is summarized as follows ... 

American National Standard for Portable Lithium Primary Cells and Batteries—Safety Standard... 

Primary Batteries—Part 4 Safety for Lithium Batteries... 

Lithium Metal. The search for high-energy-density batteries has inevitably led to the use of lithium, as the electrochemical characteristics of this metal are unique. A number of batteries, both primary and rechargeable, using a lithium anode in conjunction with intercalation cathodes, were developed which had attractive energy densities, excellent storage characteristics, and, for rechargeable cells, a reasonable cycle life. Commercial success has eluded all but the primary batteries due to persistent safety problems. 

Most recent secondary lithium batteries use carbon as its anode, replacing metallic lithium found in primary batteries. Carbon anode provides greater cell life with safety and low cost however, it also has lower cell voltage, rate capability, and specific charge (theoretical capacity of 372 mA h g ). For the improvement of these specific properties, scientists have studied various nanofibrous anode materials with improved performance with respect to the above parameters. A comparison of specific capacities of various modified and unmodified carbon nanofiber (CNF) anodes is presented in Fig. 3.3. Kim et al. prepared CNFs by combining electrospinning and thermal treatments. Due to the particular nanotexture, these polyacrylonitrile... 

Mine Safety Appliances Co. Ltd, Blairtummock Road, Queenlie Industrial Estate, Glasgow G33 4BT. Primary batteries, thermal batteries, lithium-iodine. 

Health nd Safety Factors. Thionyl chloride is a reactive acid chloride which can cause severe bums to the skin and eyes and acute respiratory tract injury upon vapor inhalation. The hydrolysis products, ie, hydrogen chloride and sulfur dioxide, are beheved to be the primary irritants. Depending on the extent of inhalation exposure, symptoms can range from coughing to pulmonary edema (182). The LC q (rat, inhalation) is 500 ppm (1 h), the DOT label is Corrosive, Poison, and the OSHA PEL is 1 ppm (183). The safety aspects of lithium batteries (qv) containing thionyl chloride have been reviewed (184,185). 

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