samsung reveals cause of exploding note 7 cellphones - lithium battery suppliers

NEW YORK—
After months of investigation, Samsung Electronics revealed the root cause of the Note 7 mobile phone explosion: design and manufacturing defects related to lithium
Ion batteries used in mobile phones produced by Samsung battery suppliers.
The company released its findings at a news conference in Seoul late Sunday.
Samsung conducted its own internal investigation to determine the cause of some of the equipment's fires, and hired UL safety consulting and index engineering and scientific consulting to conduct its own independent tests.
Another independent company, the German company Rhine, has also begun to evaluate Samsung's factories and logistics.
The crash of Note 7 is a black eye for Samsung.
The phone must be recalled once, not twice, before it is finally put on the ranch.
The incident damaged Samsung's brand and cost the company at least $5. 3 billion.
Samsung certainly does not want any hangover effect as it prepares the next big flagship phone, possibly the Galaxy S8, which is expected to be released in the spring.
"It's been a very difficult month for us.
Obviously, its impact on consumers, on channel partners and on our employees is not trivial, and we accept that and have that, "Tim Baxter, the president and chief operating officer of Samsung Electronics USA said in an interview with USA Today.
"Over the past few months, we have learned a lot about crisis management.
South Korea of Samsung-
Headquartered in mobile chief DJ Koh, he also said in an interview with USA Today, "We are working day and night to restore our business and deliver the best products,
Samsung successfully recovered the mobile phone in question.
The company said 97% of the Note 7 phones had been returned and more than half of the remaining 3% had been disconnected from the network.
This is much higher than the typical return on product recalls.
As part of the survey, Samsung assigned more than 700 R & D engineers to try to replicate the failure of the Note 7 in the process of testing more than 200,000 Note 7 phones, more than 30,000 independent batteries.
Samsung discovered the design and manufacturing defects of the battery and blamed the responsibility on the two suppliers who made these defects.
Although the Wall Street Journal says Samsung SDI (
Another company in Samsung universe)
ATL, a Chinese supplier.
Some Note 7 s use batteries that are identified as Battery A and some use Battery B.
While Samsung has laid down basic battery requirements
Energy capacity, voltage, current, external dimensions, etc. —
Battery partners themselves have room for maneuver on the materials they use and the way they apply their own intellectual property.
Not only does this mean that Battery A and Battery B are different from each other, but the problems that arise in each battery are also different.
In short, lithium-
The ion battery is made by taking two electrodes, one positive electrode, one negative electrode, and placing a partition between the two to prevent them from contacting and causing a short circuit.
Samsung concluded that the defect associated with battery A was A design defect for the battery manufacturer as there was not enough space in the battery bag to keep the electrodes straight.
Instead, they bend, causing the electrode "deflection" in the upper right corner of the battery, which is considered to be the main cause of the problem.
Deflection causes the separator to be stressed or weakened, resulting in failure.
On the other hand, Battery B is blamed for manufacturing defects, which are related to the abnormal welding process, resulting in improper contact between the positive label or terminal and the negative pole.
Some independent testing companies have found other contributing factors.
For example, on Battery B, there should be an insulating tape covering the weld seam;
The tape is lost in some cases.
The initial Note 7 recall involved phones with Battery.
Since Battery B does not have the same problem as Battery A, Samsung thinks everything is clear when there is Battery B in the replacement notes.
Of course, the inherent problem with battery B came up very quickly, and it turns out that this second battery producer was unable to meet the requirements of being the only Note 7 supplier.
While Samsung ultimately blames its partners for design and manufacturing defects, "Ultimately we are responsible for that.
Justin Denison, senior vice president of Samsung Electronics USA, said: "This is our product and we have set the specifications . . . . . . Before the problem is on one of our devices, it is our responsibility to catch it . ".
To prevent the occurrence of repeated events, Samsung is implementing 8-
Including durability testing, visual inspection, x-
Ray and other tests.
"Even with unexpected events like notes, the failure rate is low --
One of thousands, "said the doctor.
Gerbrand Ceder, professor of materials science and engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, joined the Samsung battery advisory group.
"Most of the time, we carry lithium --
The ion batteries around are safe.
However, we should remain vigilant, continue to improve security and strengthen security.
I think people always realize that people should be cautious about them because of their high energy content.
"Samsung says it insists on working with the relevant battery supplier without any head rolling due to the Note crash.
"Everyone involved in issuing bills is involved in the bill crisis," Baxter said . ".
"This is the focus that the organization has been and continues to focus on.
"The company also insists that the problem with the Note 7 s is isolated from the battery and is not caused by any decision to rush to market --
Note 7 was released a few weeks before the iPhone 7 was released.
Historically, Samsung launched the Galaxy S flagship phone in the spring and the Notes device in the medium termto-
At the end of August, like Note 7.
Bloomberg wrote in September that the rush to capitalize on the expected "dull" iPhone triggered a bill crisis.
Samsung did not disclose the future of the Note brand itself.
But as part of damage control, Samsung has been reaching out to the most loyal Note customers;
More than 10,000 customers said they wanted to learn more about what happened.
Samsung plans to launch an advertising campaign in the spring to promote quality and assurance.
The company plans to apply the knowledge learned during the notes crash to the release of S8 or its new phone.
"The recovery process takes time.
But we also see people who have not only recovered well, but have also risen above their original level.
"This is what we are eager to do," Baxter said . ".
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