Why did batteries from 20 years ago corrode and ruin electronics and why doesn’t this happen anymore?
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It does happen these days. However, these days people use batteries less than they did (heavily used stuff tends to have rechargeable batteries these days).
Additionally, most shops tends to sell the more expensive alkaline batteries these days. Alkaline batteries don’t corrode and leak except very rarely.
Historically, when more batteries were sold, people would often buy the cheapest they could get – things like zinc-carbon batteries. In these batteries, the battery casing actually dissolves to produce the power. When depleted, there is not much metal left, and if you leave them, then they often develop holes and leak.
So, imagine the situation, you have a kids toy, you’ve put the cheapest batteries you could get in it, because, well it’s a stupid toy. The toy gets used, the battery drains and it goes on the shelf and gets forgotten about. While it is sitting on the self, the wafer thin battery corrodes and all the goo leaks out
Alkaline batteries last much longer (about 6x as long as a zinc carbon battery) and the battery casing doesn’t dissolve during use. Big brands like energiser, duracell, etc. made their name on alkaline batteries, so if you buy one of these brands, it’s likely an alkaline battery you are getting (or a modern alternative like lithium which is even better performing, but even more expensive).
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