Manufacturing experts Packaging and Crating Technologies (PACT), LLC, and Fireproof Solutions, Inc. have partnered to create what they call a powerful new invention that extinguishes lithium-ion battery fires quickly, safely, and neatly.
The PACT Lion-X is, according to the two companies, the world’s first specialized fire extinguishing agent that instantly contains and destroys deadly fires involving lithium-ion batteries, battery packs, and chargers.
“Lithium-ion battery fires are nearly impossible to extinguish and usually have to smolder out on their own after burning for many hours, even days, all while emitting lethal fumes and gases, which makes them doubly dangerous,” said Rodger Mort, Chief Operation Officer at PACT, LLC. “Safety for first responders, transportation companies, and the general public has always been the driving force of our company, and we know that PACT Lion-X will be a life-saving game-changer for everyone.”
According to TechCrunch online, as of July 3, 2023, there had been 114 investigations into lithium-ion fires, 74 injuries, and 13 deaths, compared to six deaths in 2022 and four in 2021—with 80 of the fires occurring in populated structures like homes, buildings, and offices, adding to the danger and potential mortality.
Right now, the most popular battery chemistry for electric trucks is lithium-ion batteries due to their high energy density and efficiency.
To be fair, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) is known for its durability and safety and is a relatively inexpensive battery option that also offers a longer lifespan. They are less energy dense than another type of lithium-ion battery, the NMC (nickel manganese cobalt oxide), which also offers a good balance of energy density, power, and lifespan. A third type of lithium-ion battery is the chemistry of nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA), which provides high energy density and excellent fast-charging capabilities, making it a popular choice for electric trucks.
PACT Lion X is a pre-mixed, water-based agent that forms low-expansion foam from an aspirating nozzle. The solution is compatible with both portable and wheeled extinguishers for either manual or automatic spraying. The agent can also be piped directly into EV battery packs and energy storage system (ESS) modules from agent storage tanks without foaming.
PACT Lion-X can quench lithium-ion fires upwards of 1,600 F degrees, typically within 30 seconds, while absorbing a greater amount of heat energy. Importantly, PACT Lion-X also transforms smoke formation from lithium-ion fires such that virtually zero hydrogen and methane are produced, so these toxic gases won’t be released into the environment.
“Our proprietary, American-made solution sticks to 3D shapes, overhead and vertical surfaces and easily penetrates small crevices,” said Dennis Rediker, the Chief Executive Officer of Fireproof Solutions. “Additionally, when the fire is completely snuffed out, PACT Lion-X only leaves behind a fine powder residue, which continues to cool surfaces and is easily washed off with a wet cloth or paper towel. Its flexibility and universality are revolutionary.”
Mort noted that spraying PACT Lion-X on ignited B-pack battery cases and chargers also stops thermal runaway, a phenomenon in which a lithium-ion cell enters an uncontrollable, self-heating state caused by extremely high temperatures. Thermal runaway can result in the ejection of toxic gas, shrapnel, smoke, and fire. Here, the solution keeps the surrounding cells cool to avoid a domino effect, also avoiding a larger explosive event.
Other benefits of PACT Lion-X are its ability to extinguish fires in other materials like wood, paper, and fiber, as well as items and structures, such as furniture, curtains, shelves, cars, boats, carpets, walls, and ceilings, by preventing the spread of flames without damaging the sprayed items. Further, the solution is designed to be used without personal protective equipment (PPE) and is safe to wash and flush into sewers.
PACT is no stranger to lithium-ion battery fire containment. In addition to PACT Lion-X, the company recently fabricated PACT Thermo Shield, a lightweight, paper-based, fire-suppressant wrap that controls lithium battery thermal runaway when traveling, shipping, storing, or disposing of products containing lithium-ion batteries. To date, it is the only product that has passed the proposed testing standards of SAE International for safety in shipping lithium-ion batteries via land, sea, and air.
Additionally, PACT has designed a special solution for the charging of E-mobility batteries used in the ever-prevalent EVs, E-scooters, and E-bikes—the TR Sleeve, in which its specially coated paper is wrapped around each lithium-ion battery cell to mitigate thermal runaway between them, thus serving as a crucial heat and flame barrier.
Lastly, for smaller devices such as cell phones, pagers, smartwatches, and A, B, C, and D batteries, the TR Envelope provides an eco-friendly way to ship or transport products safely to a battery recycler.
For more information about PACT Lion-X, visit www.pactlionx.com.