Creating Coated Button Batteries That
Do Not Dissolve in Stomach acid
Background
2,800 children swallow button batteries
each year and many of them do not
survive, which is 1 child every 3 hours
(Nation Safety Council). Hilde Krome
states, “Button batteries in particular are
able to cause serious esophageal injuries
within 3 hours after ingestion [10]. The
number of serious complications and
moralities caused by button battery
ingestions has risen in recent years.”
(Krome, 2018). The acid inside a button
battery known as sulfuric acid can burn a
hole through a child’s esophagus.
Hydrochloric acid which is a component of
the body’s stomach acid can break down
metal when it comes in contact with it.
The button battery cell is made partly of
anode materials such as lithium: when
lithium comes in contact with acid it
deteriorates. This deterioration allows for
the acid inside to be released into a child’s
stomach and can cause possibly deadly
consequences. Hydrochloric acid which is
a component of the body’s stomach acid
can break down metal when it comes in
contact with it. Other metals such as nickel
have the same reaction; however, copper
is one of the few that does not react with
hydrochloric acid (HCL). There is a serious
need for button battery awareness and
change to ensure children’s lives are not in
jeopardy.
Objectives
• Create a lining that will stop the
battery from releasing toxic
battery acid.
• Create a lining to go on the
button battery that will allow the
battery to still be operational
when used.
Kendall Boone
Material and Methods Results continued Conclusion
Materials Reaction at 2 hours inside HCL Although the button battery was not effective
in Hydrochloric acid long term, the button
• Button batteries
• Hydrochloric acid battery showed a delayed reaction 3 hours
• ABS Plastic (trial 1) after removal (Figure 2 &3 ). The button
• PLA Plastic(trial 2) battery appeared to be damaged on the
underside and the copper started to dissolve
• Silicone(trial 3)
partially on the top. Even though the battery
• Copper foil (trial 4)
had started to deteriorate, the button battery
• Toaster oven
• Electric wax melt bowl Figure 1 was still effective in the electronic (Figure 5).
Delayed Reaction 3 hours after removal: The battery prototype was not as damaged
Method(s)
as a control battery showing that the battery
1. Gather copper foil, button battery, and
has not corroded to the point of not being
Hydrochloric acid
able to function. (Figure 4). The copper
2. All batteries will be wrapped in the copper
provided a somewhat effective barrier that
foil lining
could give doctors enough time to remove the
3. Test to make sure battery can work in an
button battery without having to worry about
electronic device Figure 2 Figure 3 significant damage to the stomach or
4. Test by placing button battery in 20 Control (Button battery that was not wrapped in
copper lining):
esophagus. This innovation could be
milliliters of 1 M molarity concentration of
improved by using a more sustainable
hydrochloric acid. coating or lining that would be permanent on
5. Battery will sit in acid for 2 hours the button battery and not dissolve in
6. Record results stomach acid. This innovation was made to
Results save a child’s life and hopefully with the
correct modifications, it can do that.
In trials 1-3, silicone and plastic coating
around the button failed to conduct
electricity. In trial 4, the copper foil lined Figure 4
Battery working after being dipped in acid:
button battery met the expectation to References
conduct electricity and did not show any
All photos were taken by Kendall Boone
signs of deterioration while in the HCL
(Figure 1); however, there was a delayed NSC. (2022). Button batteries. National
reaction 3 hours after removal. Since the Safety Council. Retrieved December 9,
button battery had no reaction in the 2022.
(
hydrochloric acid, it would not deteriorate Painter, T. (n.d.). How does acid affect
in the stomach. The button battery showed copper? Hunker. Retrieved December 1,
a delayed reaction, but the battery lining 2022
prototype did still succeed as it did not
Vinay, J. (2015, July 1). Acid ingestion in
show a reaction while in the HCL. Figure 5
pediatric population; negligence to be
Trial Material Ability to Conduct Electricity Reaction to HCL compensated with lifelong morbidity.
Web. Retrieved December 1, 2022,
1 ABS Plastic The ABS Plastic was unable to be melted with the -
resources available and therefore could not coat
the battery
2 PLA Plastic The ABS Plastic was unable to be melted with the -
resources available and therefore could not coat
the battery
3 Silicone The battery did not conduct electricity when
coated with silicone.
-
4 Copper Foil The battery was able to conduct electricity when
wrapped in the copper foil.
The copper foil did not show
an immediate reaction in the
HCL but had a delayed
reaction.