It isn’t news to anyone that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was recently discontinued due to fires originating in the lithium ion (LiIon) battery.
Less widely known is a single claim of an iPhone 7 Plus delivered after apparently having a battery fire in transit.
And it’s not just phones. Fires in e-cigarettes have demonstrated that anything containing a LiIon battery is at risk.
A solicitor said that the victim suffered third-degree burns which will require surgery.
https://www.cnet.com/news/e-cigarette-explode-in-mans-pants-lawyer-says/
Further risks are posed by the chemicals inside a LiIon battery & the toxic smoke produced by their combustion.1,2
What you can do:
● avoid subjecting a device to any force which may deform the case – & potentially, the LiIon battery
● a pants pocket is one of the worst places to carry a device containing a LiIon battery:
◌ may be bent when the user sits down
◌ places only one layer of (usually thin) fabric between the user & the potentially pyrotechnic device
◌ better alternatives to a pants pocket include a jacket pocket, backpack, handbag, bumbag, or holster
◌ See also, "Jeans with a dedicated phone pocket", https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2017/04/jeans-with-dedicated-phone-pocket.html
● avoid exposure to smoke or other chemicals which may be released in a battery fire
● if possible, move the device to a well ventilated area, away from flammable materials – although this may conflict with the previous point
__________1 Energizer Battery Manufacturing Inc: “Energizer Product Safety Datasheet – Lithium Ion Batteries”, http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/lithiumion_psds.pdf
2 Honeywell Batteries: “Material Safety Data Sheet – HD220R-Li, HDR202-Li Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery”,
“When exposed to extreme heat/fire batteries may rupture leaking corrosive material &/or emit toxic fumes. Burning batteries may emit acrid smoke irritating fumes, & toxic fumes of fluoride.”
“Cobalt: Suspected human carcinogenic agent.”
/ Samsung Galaxy Note 7 production permanently discontinued Samsung permanently discontinuing production Galaxy Note 7 smartphones halted global sales devices reports replacement devices catching fire South Korean regulatory filing stop manufacturing Note 7s consumer safety Samsung struggling regain consumer trust recall recalls prompted criticism faulty devices company's handling of the problem global halt sales Note 7 multiple reports exploding batteries major retailers stopped selling phones Samsung recalled devices initial recall identified manufacturing defect batteries battery top-of-the-line smartphone shipping new Note 7 phones safe safer reports replacements catching fire Samsung announcement announce stopping sales devices Monday Tuesday Wednesday South Korean firm comment identified cause of the fires replacement devices officials in Seoul several possibilities including batteries more difficult analyse cause accidents various patterns of the accidents official Korean Agency for Technology and Standards met with Samsung experts company offering exchange Note 7s other products refund them Note 7 could cost Samsung $17 billion analysts Samsung's decision pull Note 7s off the shelves raises fresh doubts about firm's quality control huge financial and reputational costs analysts permanent end Note 7 sales cost Samsung $17 billion tarnish other phone products minds consumers carriers investors wiped nearly $20 billion off Samsung Electronics market value Tuesday local time shares gadget vape vaping e-cigarettes e-cigarette /
