Safety Precautions And Disposal Methods Of Polymer Batteries

The lithium polymer battery is a new, rechargeable lithium-based battery. Lithium polymer was developed as a lower cost and a more stable version of the lithium-ion cell. But there are certain safety measures that need to be followed when using such polymer batteries. They are also known as lipo cells.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:
• Never allow Lithium battery to be charged or discharged on or near combustible materials, this includes paper, plastic, vinyl, carpets, leather, wood, inside an R/C model or full-sized automobile.
• Do not put packs in the pocket of any clothing.
• Never allow lithium batteries to come in contact with moisture or water at any time.
• Never store the batteries near an open flame or heater.
• Never assemble Lithium batteries or pre-assembled packs together with other Lithium cells/packs. Only a qualified battery assembly company should assemble or modify LiPo batteries.
• Do not allow LiPo cells to become punctured, especially by metallic objects such as screwdrivers, T-pins, or hobby knives.
• Always provide adequate ventilation around LiPo batteries during charge, discharge, and during storage. If a battery becomes overheated immediately place it in a fire-proof location until it cools.
• Always store LiPo cells/packs in a secure location away from children.
• ALWAYS make sure that metallic objects, such as wristwatches, bracelets, or rings are removed from your hands when handling lithium polymer battery. Accidentally touching battery terminals to any such objects could create a short-circuit condition and possibly cause severe personal injury.
Besides the safety measures the disposal of the lithium batteries also need to be disposed properly. Lithium-polymer batteries are environmentally friendly, still, there are some things that need to be kept in mind.
• For safety reasons Lithium batteries should be fully discharged before disposal (however, if physically damaged it is NOT recommended to discharge LiPo cells before disposal - see below for details). The batteries must also be cool before proceeding with disposal instructions.
To dispose the LiPo cells and packs:
1. Place the LiPo battery in a fire-proof container or bucket of sand.
2. If any LiPo cell in the pack has been physically damaged, resulting in a swollen cell or a split or tear in a cell's foil covering, do NOT discharge the battery.
3. Connect the battery to a LiPo discharger. Set the discharge cutoff voltage to the lowest possible value, and the current as low as 20mA if possible. It's also possible to discharge the battery by connecting it to an ESC/motor system and allowing the motor to run indefinitely until no power remains to further cause the system to function.
4. Discharge the battery until its voltage reaches 1.0V per cell or lower.