why loose lithium batteries aren’t allowed in hold luggage, but electronics containing lithium batteries are allowed
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Have you ever seen video of people’s vapes exploding in their pocket? Well 9 times out of 10 it’s not the vape but the loose batteries in their pocket getting shorted by keys or coins or something.
The problem with those lithium batteries is that they are very high drain batteries, a regular double A will just get warm, lithium explodes
To the main answer to your question is [thermal runaway.](https://ul.org/research/electrochemical-safety/getting-started-electrochemical-safety/what-thermal-runaway#:~:text=Thermal%20runaway%20is%20one%20of,or%20particulates%20(violent%20cell%20venting))
Basically all lithium ion batteries are in a very high energy charge and have the potential to overheat when stressed too much and can catch fire which can spread rapidly. Because of how the fire is produced, they can overwhelm many of the fire suppression systems in airplane cargo compartments since those systems were designed with non-lithium ion battery fires in mind decades ago. These fires also aren’t as reliant on oxygen to burn like traditional fires. Aircraft fire suppression systems use a chemical called halon which basically displaces oxygen and suffocates the fire out. Lithium ion fires will just continue to burn.
When the batteries are in devices, their contacts are connected to the circuit and are less likely to spontaneously ignite, however [some ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_Note_7#%3A%7E%3Atext%3DBattery_defects_caused_many_Note%2Cdue_to_these_repeated_incidents.?wprov=sfla1) [devices](https://eridehero.com/hoverboard-recalls/) have had well known instances of catching fire and airlines won’t transport them. When the batteries are loose, the contacts are exposed and if they touch and get too stressed the opportunity for them to short out and catch fire is very high. There was a [UPS flight](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UPS_Airlines_Flight_6?wprov=sfla1) that crashed because of loose batteries being shipped and autoignited leading to thermal runaway.
Now if lithium ion batteries are so bad, why can I carry them in my carry on in the cabin instead of the cargo hold?
Well, when a fire ignites in the cargo compartment there’s 1) no way to know what kind of fire it is and 2) the fire suppression system is not designed to put out lithium ion battery fires. The solution? Remove the batteries and carry them with you in the cabin. If they ignite, [the flight attendants have procedures to isolate the device](https://medium.com/faa/fighting-fire-with-videos-30d59034a001) and contain the fire’s spread.
The hold isn’t pressurized like the cabin and lithium batteries have a liquid electrolyte in them. In low pressure the electrolyte can “boil” especially if there’s a discharge. This will make the pack inflate and potentially short leading to combustion, or it can pop. The popped cell can easily ignite if water makes contact with the lithium. And we’re talking a very small amount of water. I work at a plant that makes lithium batteries and the areas with exposed lithium are kept at less than 10% humidity because 30-40% and you start to run the risk of spontaneous combustion.
Basically, no one is riding in the luggage hold if something suddenly starts smoking or starts a fire. By the time it was noticed, it would already be out of control at 60,000 feet, and there isn’t anywhere to run, and it’s a long way down.
In the cabin, there is a good chance that someone might notice something if one starts smoking or catches fire. There is a chance to react to it and isolate the battery fire. Plus a battery will usually stop working before it ever catches fire, so the owner might put the device away which may help take strain off the battery.
Essentially because if it’s in the cabin they can do something about it to contain it until the plane emergency lands.
In the hold fire suppression systems can only do so much…plus it might be too late when they activate.
Looks like my loose batteries need a containment product. Anyone know where I can find a lithium backpack?
Looks like my loose batteries are living a more exciting life than the ones stuck in my old electronics.
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