Thermal Abuse Tests on 18650 Li-Ion Cells Using a Cone Calorimeter and Cell Residues Analysis

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are employed when high energy and power density required. However, under electrical, mechanical, or thermal abuse conditions a runaway can occur resulting in an uncontrollable increase pressure temperature that lead to fire and/or explosion, projection of fragments. In this work, the behavior LIBs is analyzed. To purpose, tests on NCA 18,650 cells performed cone calorimeter by changing radiative heat flux conical heater State Charge (SoC) from full charge deep discharge. The dependence SoC onset clearly revealed. particular, discharge determines earlier cell with respect those at 50% 100% exposed (50 kW/m2). This due mechanism such as electrical abuse. Cell components before after investigated using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Electron Microscopy—Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) Diffraction (XRD) determine structural, morphological, compositional changes. It results first reaction (423–443 K) occurs anode involves decomposition electrolyte. justifies observed venting fully charged half-charged ones greater availability lithium which allows faster kinetics reaction. cathode residues, metallic nickel NO found, given metal oxide rock-salt phase cathode.