Your Old Smartphone Could Be A Fire Risk Hiding In Plain Sight
bgr.com • • science
Key Points:
- Old lithium-ion batteries, especially in Samsung phones, can swell at a faster rate, posing a fire hazard due to gas buildup from evaporating electrolytes during inactivity.
- A swollen battery indicates a high risk of explosion, even if the phone is turned off, as deeply discharged batteries generate internal pressure from gases like carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
- To safely store old phones, charge the battery to about 50%, power the device down, and keep it in a cool, dry place, checking and recharging every six months to prevent deep discharge and capacity loss.
- If a battery is swollen, do not charge the phone; instead, power it off and seek professional help for built-in batteries, or safely remove and recycle removable batteries following EPA guidelines.
- Avoid throwing old batteries in the trash; tape the terminals, place them in a plastic bag, and take them to a hazardous waste recycling center to prevent environmental harm.
