SAFETY ASPECTS IN PRIMARY HIGH-RATE LITHIUM CELLS

A comprehensive presentation of the most important features influencin g the safety of primary high-rate lithium cells is given. The design o f such cells as well as the balance of cathode/electrolyte/anode are t he most important features with respect to safety. The reliability of production, however, is of equal importance. The chemical reactions un der electrical abuse conditions for the lithium/thionyl chloride syste m are given. Examples, how lithium/thionyl chloride spirally-wound 'C- size' cells behave under charging and forced overdischarge are present ed. There are no indications that in the primary high-rate lithium sys tems, which are produced in a technical scale, dangerous chemical reac tions influence the safety of the systems. Regarding the great number of primary high-rate lithium cells available in the market, the safety of these cells is excellent.