With the innovation in automotive and small portable devices, the demand for electronic batteries become higher. Batteries are always a great revolution to enhance lifestyles. The use of batteries has brought so much reliabilities and ease in our daily life aspects. From our mobile phones to our cars, the use of batteries is everywhere. Lithium batteries somehow changed the whole concept of rechargeable batteries. With its outstanding feature, cost-effective approach and high usage value, lithium batteries grow a significant market share. Lithium-ion batteries, however, change the trend of use of local batteries.
With the high usage of batteries, it is vital to understand the potential hazards of declarable batteries. Although the lithium batteries offer a minimal range of safety concerns, it’s still there. Handling the lithium battery with more care and precision could prevent the battery and user from potential harm and battery abuse. The Material Safety Data Sheet of the lithium batteries provide all the essential information that could assist one in generating the better performance of the battery. It is crucial to understand all the safety regarding information to be surer about the use of your battery. This article summarizes all the information about the Material Safety Data Sheet.
Rechargeable Lithium Batteries
Rechargeable lithium batteries share a significant portion of the global market because of their advanced technology and reliability. The working efficiency of the lithium batteries makes them a better choice compared to the Nickel-cadmium and other lead batteries. Lithium batteries hold an upper hand over other regular batteries because of their unique features. This including a lightweight, effective charge and discharge cycle, potential voltage, and overcharge protection system from an electric vehicle to our smartphones, portable devices to high-quality solar panels etc. The high durability and low recharge cycle increase the importance of lithium batteries. In today’s age, lithium-ion batteries experiencing the fastest and most promising battery growth and chemistry. The concept of lithium batteries was created for the first time in the 1970s, and shortly after, it becomes commercially available sometime in the 1980s. The tremendous internal battery chemistry makes it more fit. The lithium ions move between the two electrodes, anode and cathode. Lithium batteries are available in the form of cells; the most commonly used is 18650. It is also available in the form of a battery pack. The 18650 cells connected in a series and parallel fashion for the high voltage.
Material Safety Data Sheet
Material Safety Data Sheet is also known as MSDS of lithium batteries. It is a complex set of instructions and safety precautions that could be taken seriously when using lithium batteries for your various commercial projects. MSDS of lithium batteries hold four parts and each part indicate a different set of information and precautions. Every aspect has great importance regarding the use of lithium batteries. From material to handling, everything described in the material safety data sheet. Different manufacturers follow the MSDS of other regions, i.e. Canada, the USA etc.
The material safety and data sheet pattern could be different, but all hold the same procedure and indicate the same precautions. The MSDS mostly declared that all the information is only subjected toward the customers of the particular manufacturer’s customers and users of lithium-ion batteries. While using the lithium batteries for your projects, you need to know that the lithium batteries are subjected to the class 9 of miscellaneous hazards material in the United States and international hazard materials. Hence the packing, labelling and delivery require the most critical precise attention.
Part 1: Material & Knowledge For Emergency
The first step of the MSDS generally indicates the product material, potential hazard chances, and product composition. Each lithium battery holds its product code, supplier’s address and other information regarding the product. The first part of the material safety data sheet further categorized in three headings. The first heading is about the product code, name, synonym and other similar knowledge. And the second heading of the MSDS of lithium battery holds vital information regarding the hazards and safety. Each lithium battery referred to as the article in the MSDS. The emergency overview indicated all the knowledge about the health hazard, flammability hazard, reactivity hazards, environmental hazards and emergency response.
Before using lithium batteries, it is essential to understand all the potential hazards to know every unfortunate happening. The third heading of part one of MSDS focused on the chemical composition of the lithium battery. You can see the number of chemicals used in the battery composition and their percentage and other valuable aspects in the tabular form. The first part holds all the general knowledge you want to know before using rechargeable lithium batteries.
Part 2: Measures During Emergency
Lithium batteries are preferable for various essential factors. More minor hazards are one of the main advantages of lithium batteries. But still, there are potential hazards that are linked with the use of lithium batteries. It is essential to know what to do in time of emergency. The second part of the MSDS of lithium battery focuses on the needing actions during an emergency. This part also concentrates on the three particular headings. The first heading is about the first-aid measures. This heading indicated the necessary steps to perform for your safety, including protecting your eyes or other essential body parts during an emergency linked with lithium batteries. In case of battery explosion or firework that could follow by overcharging lithium battery, MSDS also points out the fire fighting trouble. Damaged cells or opened lithium batteries could cause combustible flames and alarmingly elevated temperature. MSDS also focused on the accidental measures. While cleaning up, you must have the proper cleaning equipment, no matter how small or large the spill.
Part 3: Prevention of Hazards
By using lithium batteries, you can easily dodge particular hazards. All you need to do is pay a little attention while using, charging or discharging your lithium battery. The third part of the lithium batteries’ material safety and data sheet focused on protecting hazards. Handling and storage are essential to prevent hazards. The most important thing about storing a battery is never to keep batteries of different chemistries together. Avoid inhalation of any vapour that could release from a battery or produce due to exposure of electrodes of a ruptured battery with air. The MSDS indicated various common dos and don’ts, including not exposing the battery pack to heat or fire. By following the instruction, you can enhance the service life of your battery life. By controlling personal exposure, you can easily prevent significant damage.
Proper personal equipment, including respiratory protection, eye protection, and skin protection, are the sole focus of the third part of MSDS of lithium batteries. MSDS of the lithium batteries also indicated the physical and chemical properties of the product, including the colour, odour, reactivity, boiling point etc. The material safety data sheet also focus on the stability and reactivity of the product. Before applying the lithium battery for your essential commercial development, it is crucial to complete knowledge about the battery’s reactivity and stability governing factors. The damaged lithium batteries can release the electrolyte solution, which can cause swear reactivity or potential damage for you. So it is vital to handle the situation using proper protective equipment. Mostly rubber gloves are the preferred choice to clean up and manage the spill. Overcharging of batteries mainly cause battery rupture or other related problems. So make sure to avoid overcharging or discharging your lithium batteries.
Part 4: Useful Information Regarding Lithium Batteries
The MSDS is a complex set of instruction and information. Sometimes it’s hard to find the time to read the whole sheet, but it is essential to do so. The fourth and the last part of the Material Safety Data Sheet press more attention regarding the other important toxicological, ecological and transportation information. While using the lithium battery, avoid inhalation or direct skin touch when the battery is not in good shape. The inhalation is not harmful in average condition. But during the overcharging, the temperature becomes elevated, and fumes from the electrolytes can irritate. So it is advisable to avoid the inhalation of lithium batteries, no matter in whatever condition.
The ecological information of the MSDS indicated information about the impact of lithium battery on the environment and ecosystem. But the good thing is that the lithium batteries do not hold any chemical in the electrolyte solution or in its composition that could cause potential damage to the plants. The mobility of the lithium battery in the soil is also negligible. The disposal of lithium batteries carried out per the federal and state laws and regulations. Before the final disposal, the lithium batteries fully discharged, tapped or capped its circuit to avoid the short circuit. The various States also have different recycling programs, so recycling takes place accordingly.
