Lithium batteries do not explode when fired from a gun - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2016, 01:34:12 pm
content: Found this on you tube, it is something I had wondered about doing, now I don't need to. They don't explode when hitting a steel plate at high velocity.https://youtu.be/uuOxqE5mY6c

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2016, 03:03:15 pm
content: I don't see why they would do either of those things, you need a puncture through the layers to get it to start on fire, and while it is energetic, it's not nearly quick enough to be considered an explosion. I doubt you could get them to release their energy that quickly.

author: Kilrah
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 03, 2016, 03:45:26 pm
content: Yep, lithium battery fires are due to thermal breakdown of the components, so by definition this requires time measured in seconds to heat everything up and more importantly keep those components held together long enough for them to react. Instant mechanical destruction obviously won't do anything "impressive".

author: stmdude
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2016, 03:54:54 pm
content: Quote from: Kilrah on May 03, 2016, 03:45:26 pmHowever, if you get the amount of stupidity involved _just_ right, the thermal breakdown goes quite quickly:But yes, generally, Lithum cells aren't small bombs. More like potential welding-torches.

author: engineer_in_shorts
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2016, 04:01:12 pm
content: well its a way to leave poisonous metals in a farmers field.....

author: Augustus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2016, 04:04:04 pm
content: Meanwhile, at the phone battery disposal facility...

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2016, 04:27:51 pm
content: Talking about blowing things up... there is this old Dutch tradition:

author: Augustus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2016, 04:42:49 pm
content: The last one... WTF...

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2016, 06:20:31 pm
content: I'm reminded of an entry into the Darwin Awards from Vietnam where a group of guys were taking turns to hit the business end of an unexploded shell with a hammer. The game did not end well for all concerned.

author: senso
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2016, 10:32:47 am
content: Is that old old school milk "jugs"? At least they seem so.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2016, 12:06:41 pm
content: Man, that sledgehammer one is insane, but it looks like a lot of (very dangerous and stupid) fun for some reason.

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2016, 02:49:42 am
content: In this scenario I would be concerned with the residual metallic lithium eventually igniting when it came in contact with moisture. Just the moisture from the air can get it going to ignition temperature of flammable materials.

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2016, 03:45:38 am
content: Quote from: Augustus on May 03, 2016, 04:42:49 pmLooks like they were seeing how loud it would be. My guess it was loud enough/Lots of Darwin wannabes

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2016, 03:59:27 am
content: Lucky no nuclear explosion, since H bombs are made with lithium. I wonder if he would have pulled that trigger knowing this?

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2016, 04:15:22 am
content: right. Totally possible.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2016, 07:12:23 am
content: H bombs use lithium tritide as a source of tritium and need a nuclear fission device to ignite it. Lithium batteries now are lithium phosphate and it dose not burn very well, lithium cobalt on the other hand burns very well.

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2016, 09:17:36 am
content: "H bombs use lithium tritide as a source of tritium and need a nuclear fission device to ignite it"Just think, until a few years ago that information was highly classified and if you revealed it to a foreign power you would probably spend a long time in a prison cell. Only this week I watched a documentary where Tony Robinson visited a former RAF base where the parts for Britain's nuclear bombs were stored and the man being interviewed said that he still felt very uncomfortable talking about where he worked.