What causes alkaline batteries to leak?

[Talcite]

Does anyone know why alkaline batteries will randomly leak all their acid out? I know it happens to aged batteries... but is it because the seal fails due to age? Or is it something else? I'm really confused.

 

[bobsmith1492]

If you try to charge them (push current into them) or draw excessive current from them (short/overload them), they can heat internally, causing all kinds of nastiness. Also I'm sure age would do it. Exposure to water leading to rust could be bad as well.

Do you have some particular application in mind where your batteries are leaking, or did you just hear somewhere that alkaline batteries leak or did you read the warning on the batteries?

 

[Talcite]

They've leaked on me several times already. TV remote controls, radios, and most recently my maglite mini. Got any ideas why this could be happening?

 

[bobsmith1492]

Those all sound like applications where the battery would have been in the device for a long time.... it seems like it could have just been from age, like you said. They do have some pretty powerful chemicals (alkali is very basic), which would likely chew the battery up from the inside-out after a long time. But, they usually have years worth of shelf life....

Are they long past the expiration date on the batteries? If it's still before that date, age alone shouldn't be an issue.

 

[djhuber82]

Mixing old and new batteries can cause the old ones to leak. Also could be due to overheating (e.g. leaving your maglite in the car on a hot day).

 

[TitanDiddly]

Doing something bad to the battery that would cause gas production will cause pressure to build in the cell and make the electrolyte push through the seals. Generally this includes reverse polarity, high discharge, attempted/excessive recharge, or high temperatures. Did you leave you Maglite somewhere hot, like a car in the sun?

 

[joshd]

sorry to not be very constructive, but wouldn't ALKALI leak out of the battery?

i have never had much problems with them, unless they are old. maybe it is something to do with the brand you are buying?

 

[theMan]

yeah, the fun thing to do is connect a thin copper wire (with little resistance) up to each end of a battery. then, just let it sit for a few hours, and run away...

 

[Talcite]

ahh... it's probably the heat... Thanks guy. I'll be sure to keep them out of the car. The batteries are duracell btw.

 

[duragezic]

Originally posted by: theman
yeah, the fun thing to do is connect a thin copper wire (with little resistance) up to each end of a battery. then, just let it sit for a few hours, and run away...

Or have a 9V in your pocket that is dead shorting against the metal on your lighter.

I was like wtf is hot as hell in my pockets. Remembering I had that in there (put it in there 5-10min before) I took it out right away before the bastard exploded in my pocket or something!!

 

[theMan]

hahaha

 

[NeoPTLD]

I actually have some that are within expiration and leaked still new in package..