The End of Exploding Laptops

Scientists developing a fire-proof lithium-ion battery
By Gregory Mone Posted 04.16.2008 at 8:06 am 6 Comments
exploding laptop: Photo by Flickr

Hoping to bring a final end to the era of the exploding notebook, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC in Germany are developing batteries without flammable materials.

The liquid electrolytes at the heart of traditional lithium-ion batteries can catch fire, but the Fraunhofer scientists say they've figured out a way to make them with a new, solid polymer that's inflammable, and, since it's solid, won't leak. OK, so it's safe, but will it last? That's what the researchers are working on now. They are trying to improve the conductivity of the new polymer; they figure that it's going to be three to five years before this new breed of battery finds its way into consumer devices.

Via ars technica

6 Comments

Comments

joesarc
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 04/16/08 at 2:40 pm

so they are changing from flammable to inflammable? either way it will still burst into flames.

2 out of 3 people found this comment helpful
anixon
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 04/16/08 at 4:25 pm

On the contrair it will not expode because it is inflamable. What they need to do is see if it is even worth it because if it isn't there is no point.

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joesarc
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 04/16/08 at 7:14 pm

flammable = inflammable

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flyinghydrogen
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 04/19/08 at 3:53 pm

typo in article. flammable and inflammable are the same thing, i assume what they meant to say is non-flammable.

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dingo3319
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 04/20/08 at 8:31 pm

How often do laptops burst into flames? I mean coom on i never heard of a laptop burnig because of it's battery. It would take some crazy amount of heat to do that. Is it even worth it.

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singerguy74

from Grand Rapids, MI

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 04/23/08 at 1:37 pm

Many companies have recalled laptops and batteries over the past few years (most notably Dell who recalled millions) due to fire hazard. Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb_sv8Wjnn0 for the ABC story.

The problem is not with adding extra heat (i.e. leaving a laptop on a space heater or something stupid) but with the way the batteries work. You can check out http://computer.howstuffworks.com/dell-battery-fire.htm for details. Basically there are three things than can cause problem. 1. A short circuit sparks and ignites the flammable liquid used inside the battery. 2. A short circuit causes the battery to heat up quickly causing the battery to explode. 3. The battery heats slowly eventually melting the casing and leaking fluid.

Anyone who has set a laptop on their lap knows that many of them can already put out a LOT of heat. Going from a worrying about your sperm count level to setting your house on fire isn't an enormous jump.

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