Why phones explode

Phone explosion

A mobile phone has become a common thing for users. The production of smartphones has been put on the assembly line. However, like all the things that people create, they can be defective. The consequences for mobile devices from this can be very different, from ordinary glitches to an explosion.

Can a phone explode

It’s not the mobile device that’s exploding, but the battery, which ensures its operation. The fact is that lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries are now used everywhere, and lithium is a very inert substance. This can happen, both due to improper operation, and as a result of factory defects.

Statistics show that in the United States about 50 phones spontaneously ignite during the year. Specialists found that out of 40 batches of batteries, only 60 percent of batteries meet all safety standards.

Burned out battery

Which phones explode more often

The explosion of Chinese batteries bought at the bazaar is a common thing. They are much cheaper, but often assembled from rejected materials using artisanal technologies. Storage and transportation also happen randomly. However, companies that have made a name for themselves and use their brand all over the world also have misses.

Battery explosions were recorded even at such well-known manufacturers as: Asus, Honor, HTC, Huawei, iPhone, Meizu, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Sony and Xiaomi. So it’s not worth talking about less popular ones.

Many airlines have banned the use of smartphones during the flight. And since 2016, it was forbidden to transport Li Ion batteries in the cargo compartments of aircraft.

Causes of Phone Battery Explosion

The electrical community in Canada has done research. The following facts were clarified, which become the causes of the explosion.

  • Short circuit inside the lithium battery. A lithium anode reacts with an electrolyte. Battery heating starts. A negative battery electrode or cathode is connected to the process. Overheating occurs and the temperature rises to 200 degrees. Carbon dioxide and oxygen are released, the battery swells. Oxygen ignites and an explosion occurs.
  • Using the wrong charger. Manufacturers make battery electrodes from different materials. In Li Ion (lithium-ion) batteries, the charging speed is different from Li Poly (lithium-polymer). Therefore, the latter is not recommended to charge intensively. Slow destruction begins. Outwardly, this does not affect the battery. But later there is an explosion.
  • Battery breakdown. It is enough just to drop the smartphone on the floor or the child can take it apart and play, bend the battery, the integrity of the battery will be broken. This will lead to improper functioning of the electrodes, which may lead to explosion of the device.
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  • The failure of the chip, which controls the level of charge. He is responsible for disconnecting the smartphone from the mains when exceeding 100%. If this microprocessor breaks, then the phone may soon explode while charging from the network.
  • Manufacturing defect. If the device was assembled by incompetent workers, it is quite possible that metal particles got into the battery or production technologies were violated.

Important! The electrodes in the battery are very close together. Therefore, any even minor damage can disrupt the electrochemical processes that occur in it during operation.

What portends a possible explosion

First of all, what you need to pay attention to so that there is no sudden explosion that can cripple a person is strong heat or swollen battery. Heating can occur when playing on the phone. However, if the user feels that the phone can no longer be held in his hands, it is better to put it aside.

If the user has noticed that the battery is starting to swell, it is necessary to replace it. It is by no means recommended to carry a phone with a swollen battery in your pocket.

When charging, you need to pay attention to the battery charge speed. If the battery becomes faster to charge, it is recommended to replace it in order to avoid problems that may arise in the future.

What could be the consequences

The consequences of the explosion can be disastrous not only for the owner of the device, but also for others. If the phone explodes on the bed, the bed will light up. If the owners are not at this time, then a fire is inevitable. An explosion in your pocket or while talking can harm human health.

Squealed battery

To avoid the explosion of a mobile gadget, you must follow several rules:

  1. Buy the device only in company stores. It is not recommended to take cheap smartphones and do it on one-day websites or on spontaneous markets where low-quality cheap products are sold.
  2. Charge the phone only from the chargers that come with the kit when sold. It is not recommended to charge the phone in extreme cold.
  3. It is not recommended to store and hold the phone in direct sunlight for a long time.
  4. Do not hit the device, do not let children play with it. Do not disassemble the battery, bite it, or attempt to break it. Lithium is an active substance that can ignite in the hands.
  5. The gadget should not be in a compressed space or near heating appliances, open flames.
  6. It is recommended that you discharge the battery fully and recharge it once a week.
  7. Do not charge the device while talking or watching videos, listening to music or games.
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Following these simple rules, the user will be able to avoid the serious consequences and harm that a smartphone can cause him if they explode in his hands.

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