Battery environmental testing is a fundamental step to ensure the quality and safety of products.
All materials and devices must withstand difficult environmental conditions, but for batteries, central components of electric vehicles, medical devices and aerospace applications, environmental tests are even more crucial.
In today's article we will see in detail what battery environmental testing is for, how it is carried out and which international regulations it must comply with.
What is Battery Environmental Testing For
Battery environmental testing aims to simulate the environmental conditions to which battery packs can be subjected during various phases such as transport, storage and, of course, use.
Batteries must be protected from various environmental factors including: humidity, which can cause corrosion and malfunctions, extreme temperatures, but also sudden temperature changes that can lead to loss of capacity, mechanical breakages or dangerous thermal runaway phenomena.
These tests must be performed by all battery manufacturers and developers who intend to place their products on the international market. Compliance with current regulations not only protects consumers, but also protects companies from potential liability and costly recalls.
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How Battery Environmental Testing Works
Battery environmental testing is based on tests that reproduce, in a controlled and replicable way, the conditions that batteries may encounter during their life cycle.
The main types of tests include:
- High and low temperature resistance tests
- Thermal shocks with rapid temperature changes
- Exposure tests to high levels of humidity for extended periods
During these tests, essential parameters such as capacity stability, resistance to accelerated aging and the mechanical integrity of the batteries are monitored.
To carry out these tests, it is necessary to use laboratory instruments designed for the purpose: environmental chambers.
An environmental chamber consists of a hermetically insulated compartment, and within which it is possible to set and monitor some fundamental environmental parameters, such as temperature and relative humidity.
Environmental chambers are also part of the larger family of climatic chambers and are the specialized type for so-called extreme tests, that is, tests that touch very significant values, positive or negative.
Due to the nature of many environmental tests on batteries, which require temperatures above 80° and relative humidity levels close to saturation, environmental chambers are necessary to conduct them.
International Standards for Battery Environmental Testing
Environmental testing on batteries is conducted in accordance with standards issued by internationally recognized bodies that serve to guarantee their uniformity and safety.
Among the main bodies that issue these standards are the United Nations (UN), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
Among the most relevant regulations we find:
- UN 38.3: regulates the safety of lithium batteries during transport, requiring pressure, shock, vibration, thermal cycles and short circuit tests.
- IEC 62133: establishes the safety requirements for rechargeable batteries, with high temperature resistance tests and electrical and mechanical abuse tests.
- UL 1642: defines the test procedures for the safety of primary and rechargeable lithium cells, with internal and external short circuit tests.
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The FDM Chamber for environmental testing on batteries
The environmental chambers of FDM - Environment Makers are the ideal solution for performing precise and reliable environmental testing on batteries.
Our environmental chambers allow you to simulate extreme environments, from -70°C to +180°C, with accurate controls even on high levels of relative humidity (up to 95%).
Our technicians are also available to design a customized solution that meets the specific needs of the customer.
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