Samsung Electronics Introduces "8-Point Battery Safety" Testing
The damage phenomenon was reproduced through a charge-discharge test using 200,000 products and 30,000 batteries.

On the 23rd, Samsung Electronics transparently disclosed the cause of the Galaxy Note 7 fire and announced measures to prevent a recurrence in the future, with approximately 300 domestic and international media outlets in attendance at its Seocho office building.

To enhance the objectivity of the investigation into the cause of this damage, independent investigations were conducted by overseas expert organizations such as UL, Exponent, and TÜV Rheinland. Sajeev Jesudas, President of UL's Consumer Business Unit, Dr. Kevin White, Chief Researcher at Exponent, and Holger Kunz, Vice President of TÜV Rheinland, each presented their findings.

In addition to improving the cause of this fire, Samsung Electronics has introduced an '8-point battery safety inspection' process, including introducing special equipment to identify internal battery problems, strengthening mass charge-discharge testing of batteries and finished products, and accelerated testing that takes into account actual user environments.


▲ President Koh Dong-jin announces the final conclusion on the cause of the Galaxy Note 7 damage.


'8-point battery safety inspection includes: △'Safety inspection': This is an inspection to check the safety and durability of the battery, and the cycle and number of times have been greatly expanded. △'Battery appearance inspection': Comparative evaluation of the battery appearance with a standard sample to determine if there are any abnormalities. △'X-ray inspection': An inspection to detect pressing of the electrode plates inside the battery in advance. △'Battery disassembly inspection': An inspection to check the tab fusion status, insulation status, and process quality status inside the battery. △'TVOC inspection': An inspection to detect battery leakage (TVOC: Total Volatile Organic Compound). △'ΔOCV (Delta Open Circuit Voltage) measurement inspection': Checks if there is a change in the battery voltage at room temperature to determine the battery life.Inspection to recheck for defects △ 'Charge and discharge test': Repeated charging and discharging tests on finished products under consumer conditions △ 'Accelerated user condition test': Intensive inspection tailored to consumer usage environment, conducted before product shipment to verify safety once again.

A dedicated "parts specialist team" has been established to handle core components, and the recruitment of external experts has been expanded.

Samsung Electronics has further strengthened its expertise in component development by establishing a "Component Specialist Team" dedicated to the design, verification, and process management of core components and expanding the recruitment of external experts. From the product planning stage, safety is the top priority, and "multiple safety devices" are implemented.

By securing additional battery mounting space, we have added a device that minimizes physical shock to the battery in case the consumer drops the product while using it, and have also strengthened safety design standards for batteries.

Additionally, we have strengthened our software protection algorithms, including applying safer algorithms for charging temperature, current, and charging speed. Samsung Electronics has also established an advisory group comprised of experts from academia and research institutes to objectively evaluate the safety of its products.


▲Large-scale charge-discharge experiment

Samsung Electronics has also decided to consider disclosing its multi-layered safety design and verification processes to relevant organizations, so that this lesson can serve as an opportunity for the entire industry to ensure the safety of lithium-ion batteries. Meanwhile, the cause of the Samsung Galaxy Note7 fires was ultimately determined to be a defect in the battery itself.

Samsung Electronics reproduced the burnout phenomenon in large-scale charge-discharge tests conducted on 200,000 products and 30,000 batteries, and confirmed that the burnout occurred for different reasons in batteries A and B used in the Note 7. The results of analyses by overseas expert agencies participating in the analysis of the cause of the Galaxy Note 7 burnout also converged on the battery defect.

External expert organizations such as UL and Exponent also analyzed the battery defect.

UL, a global scientific company and leading safety certification company, conducted a detailed technical analysis to determine the cause of the Galaxy Note 7 fire. UL was unable to find any issues related to the Note 7 damage at the product level, and analyzed that Battery A caused the damage due to a compression phenomenon at the upper corner of the battery and a thin separator that caused an internal short circuit, and for Battery B, analyzed that the combination of an abnormal fusion protrusion, no insulation tape attached, and a thin separator caused a short circuit inside the battery.

Exponent, a U.S.-based science and technology analysis firm, also conducted a detailed analysis of the entire product and announced that no factors related to the damage were found in the hardware and software analysis. For Battery A, the main cause of the damage was identified as the compression phenomenon at the jelly roll corner of the negative tab area, and for Battery B, the main cause of the internal short circuit was identified as the abnormally high fusion protrusion and the resulting damage to the insulating tape and separator.

TÜV Rheinland, a global certification body headquartered in Germany, conducted an intensive investigation into battery safety in battery logistics systems and phone assembly processes. TÜV Rheinland stated that no factors that could compromise battery safety were found in the phone manufacturing processes and battery logistics systems it audited.

CEO Koh Dong-jin said, "In order to create an innovative Note 7, we set goals for battery specifications, and I feel responsible for not being able to confirm and properly verify problems in the battery design and manufacturing process before product launch." He added, "We will continue to innovate in product safety by strengthening our quality-first management system across all management."