the following is a post from Mooch on another board
All credit to Mooch.
Some concerns about QSO batteries
MOOCH
I have been testing some QSO cells and trying to get the datasheets and safety documents for them. I have received one of the safety documents, the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)***, but I have gotten no response to my requests to send the datasheets and other safety documents (the UN38.3 safety test reports). Here are my concerns...
- The White 2500mAh 25A/40A 18650 looks identical to, and performs essentially identical to, the 20A-rated Samsung 25R.
- The Black 3200mAh 10A/30A 18650 looks identical to, and performs essentially identical to, the 10A-rated LG MH1.
- The Black 3500mAh 12A/30A 18650 looks identical to, and performs essentially identical to, the 8A-rated Samsung 35E.
- Does this prove these are “rewrapped” cells? No. But it does concern me as these cells don’t match the chemistry listed in the MSDS and QSO has given them very high undefined “pulse”/“max” ratings unsuitable for the cells they appear to be.
- Here’s the chemical composition page from the QSO MSDS: https://imgur.com/a/RK8iAT3
- The MSDS I received, which states it’s for all of QSO’s cells, lists them as having the same “chemistry” as LiPo’s. That does not mean they are dangerous! If they do use this chemistry though it would mean that if they are misused or mishandled they can go into thermal runaway, and possibly burst, at a lower temperature and that their reactions during runaway are more violent than the other Li-Ion chemistries we can use.
- But my examination and testing of these three 18650 QSO cells show them to be identical to particular Samsung and LG cells, which do not use the same chemistry as LiPo’s. I am unable to explain this discrepancy with the claims in QSO’s MSDS.
- I was very surprised to see QSO list the same chemistry as used by LiPo’s in their MSDS since that chemistry, lithium-cobalt oxide (LCO), is rarely used anymore in round cells. I am told by those who know a lot more about the battery industry than I do that the price of cobalt is just too high to justify its use for low cost round cells like the ones we use. Well, they’re low cost when manufactured. The markups in price before y get to us are huge.
- The wraps for these cells say “LI-MN” which I am pretty sure QSO wants us to think is lithium-manganese. This is consistent with the chemistry for some non-LiPo cells we use but is in direct conflict with QSO’s claim that these are LiPo’s in their MSDS. There is no manganese in a LiPo cell.
- A sharp-eyed (Patreon) patron of mine noticed this...the minimum percentages in the MSDS chemical composition table add up to 100%. So why are there ranges of values for each entry in the table when only the minimums for each can be valid?
- So what’s the big deal about the MSDS? MSDS’ exist to inform employees and first-responders of the risks involved if they need to handle a spill or fire involving a product. If the MSDS is wrong that would make responding properly harder to do.
- An incorrect MSDS would mean that any vendor importing those cells into their country, like in the EU, would be submitting documents with the wrong info to the authorities. This means the wrong substances are being registered and could affect whether that vendor can sell those cells if the MSDS issues are discovered. I suspect that would be less than good news to the vendors.
Regards, Mooch
***This is the document that lists the chemical composition of a product, describes any hazards when using them, and lists how to handle spills, fires, etc., involving the product. They are important safety documents and are used by first responders to better understand what they are dealing with when an accident or fire occurs.- The wraps for these cells say “LI-MN” which I am pretty sure QSO wants us to think is lithium-manganese. This is consistent with the chemistry for some non-LiPo cells we use but is in direct conflict with QSO’s claim that these are LiPo’s in their MSDS. There is no manganese in a LiPo cell.