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| Burried Warnings . . . |
| Lithium Ion Batteries: ". . .Burning lithium ion batteries can produce toxic fumes including HF. . ." (42) My comment: Hyrdofluoric is one of the nastiest acids: it passes unimpeaded through skin to attack bone calcium. Half a day later, the itchy skin starts dying. Sixty calcium-shots may stave-off major bone loss. This is according to my mentor, Bill King. I believe he'd know first-hand. ". . .Should the battery become disassembled, the electrode should be stored in a fireproof cabinet away from other flamible materials. . . ." It seems the manufacturer expects spontaneous combustion. ". . . Device must be labeled:. . .May ignite, explode, leak, or get hot causing personal injury. . . ." I've never seen such a warning on any device that uses these. "In case of fire . . . flood area with water . . . might not extinguish them . . . [must] cool adjacent batteries . . . [must] control . . . spread of fire . . . hydrogen gas is evolved . . . [this] form[s an] explosive mixture with air . . . ." I paraphrase but these are not comforting words. Let's all get ready for fires that produce hydrogen when doused. Or look out below, for molten metal pouring down through the floors---one after the next. ". . . this battery [is] not subject to [the] Community Right to Know Act." I am concerned about end-of-life failure modes. Hydrofluoric Acid release is nothing to be scoffed at. Burning molten metal will cause the user to flee. Adjacent cells won't stay cool. Fire will spread. We should get the word out: warn everyone below, anticipate a miniature-China-Syndrome. "Firefighters should wear self-contained breathing aparatus. Burning. . . produces toxic fumes including HF. . . oxides of lithium, cobalt. . . phosphorous pentafluoride. . . .[Smother] with LITH-X (powdered graphite), copper, sand, dolomite, or soda ash." In short; run for your life! Courtesy of the Eveready material safety data sheet (MSDS). |
| According to one report, natural deterioration of Amp-Hour capacity is accellerated by the combination of high temperature and a discharged condition. A low-battery stored in a hot car can loose all remaining energy-storage capacity in one single day. Keep 'em charged. keep 'em cool. |