Why Do Laptops Catch Fire?

I'm sure everyone reading this has at some point read a horror story in the press or seen a report on the news regarding to gadgets like a laptop or mobile phone suddenly overheating and bursting into flames without any warning whatsoever. In many circumstances where this unexpected event has occurred it has resulted in severe damage to property or human life.

Why Do Laptops Catch Fire?

Why Do Laptops Catch Fire?

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Why Do Laptops Catch Fire?

Why Do Laptops Catch Fire?

Now it isn't just the users of these items who are concerned about this dangerous side effect but also the manufacturers of the electronic equipMent too. It was only last year that Packard Bell made it into the news due to the fact that they had to recall a number of their laptop Computers due to fire safety concerns of the batteries.

The laptops in question that caught fire all used lithiumbatteries and until recently no one had managed to come up with a reason as to why they should over heat so quickly and catch fire. That is until now. Scientists at Cambridge University in England have now announced that they believe they have found the answer as to why this odd phenoMenon is happening.

They have found that it is all to do with the growth of the metal fibres contained within the lithium batteries. The metal fibres are known as dendrites and it's a case that when lithium batteries are charged up rapidly or repeatedly, small lithium dendrites start to form on the carbon anodes which then causes short circuits. These are then responsible the devices rapidly overheating and thus catching on fire.

The scientists at Cambridge University, whichis one of the worlds leading seats of education used Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) to see how the dendrites formed inside of the lithium batteries. This technique is normally used to identify eleMents in molecules.

Thanks to using NMR they can actually take a peek inside of the batteries and see the changes that take place in real time while the battery is being used. Prior to this they relied on things such as theoretical models or optical as well as via scanning electron microscopes to study the dendrites. I know NMR has now represented a major leap forward in this field of study.

Thanks to the research carried out at the University they can see what conditions cause the problem and so manufacturers can start to adDress the problem and produces far safer modelsfor the consumer market.

One of the Professors at Cambridge, Clare Brown, was quoted as saying, "These dead lithium fibres have been a significant impediment to the commercialisation of new generations of higher capacity batteries"

She continued, "safety must be solved before we can get to the next generation of lithium-ion batteries and before we can safely use these batteries in a wider range of transport applications. Now that we can monitor dendrite formation inside batteries, we can identify when they are formed and under what conditions. Our new method should allow researchers to identify which conditions lead to dendrite formation and to rapidly screen potential fixes to prevent the problem. "

Thanks to this research we should now start to see vastly improvedbatteries on the market that are safe to use and will no longer present a possible fire hazard.

To fight a lithium fire actually requires a specialist extinguisher known commonly as an L2 which is designed specifically to tackle such a blaze safely. Metal fires are in actual fact extremely dangerous and notoriously hard to fight.

Any scientific or industrial environment using metals such as lithium or magnesium need to be properly protected with extinguishers such as the L2 or M28. They work by using special applicators and powders designed to safely tackle the metals involved.

In your home you should also ensure you are protected and a standard ABC powder model extinguisher should be sufficient.

Why Do Laptops Catch Fire?

Phoenix Tattoos Are the Best Choice For New Beginnings

The Legend ...

Phoenix Tattoos Are the Best Choice For New Beginnings

Phoenix Tattoos Are the Best Choice For New Beginnings

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Phoenix Tattoos Are the Best Choice For New Beginnings

Phoenix Tattoos Are the Best Choice For New Beginnings

In Greek, ' phoenix ' means ' palm tree ' but to most of us we know the phoenix as the mythological bird of fire. Many ancient cultures contain stories about the phoenix which, like the sun, dies in flames and rises each morning.

Christians came to see this as a metaphor for resurrection and Jewish legends talk about the Phoenix as the one creature that didn't leave paradise with Adam (and so wasn't tempted by ' forbidden fruit '). To the Chinese, the phoenix represents virtue and grace and in Japan the Phoenix is often combined with the dragon. Also, don't forget that the North American Indians have the Thunderbird which is a take on the Phoenix legend.

In short, the phoenix lives for 500 years and then sets fire to itsnest and is consumed by the flames, only to be reborn from the ashes.

Today ...

Today, the phoenix represents reliability, kindness, duty and often has feminine connotations. If you've been through a transformation because of adversity in your life, then the flames of the phoenix should be special to you. It's a great way to express a new beginning in your life and a symbol of moving on.

The Phoenix Tattoo ...

Here are a few things to consider:

1. A phoenix tattoo needs to be quite large to get all the detail to stand out clearly. The back is a great area to have one inked, or maybe the chest. You need a bold stateMent. This is not a tattoo to wear discretely on your ankle!

2. You need lots of color-orange, yellow andred. However, don't be afraid to use a touch of blue, gold, copper and green to add your own unique touch.

3. Do you want the phoenix to be engulfed by flames or bursting from ashes? How about displaying your phoenix surrounding the globe so that you can portray the passing of time?

4. How about using an Egyptian phoenix design? Here, the phoenix has a man's body but with large wings. This would be different and certainly eye-catching!

As you can see, there are lots of things to consider when deciding on the style and design of your phoenix tattoo. Don't rush the process as this is going to be a big project that you want to be proud of.

Here's to a new beginning!

Phoenix Tattoos Are the Best Choice For New Beginnings