Can the Thermal Runaway of a Thionyl Chloride Cells Generate a Shock Wave?

Due to their high energy density, thionyl chloride technology are used in a wide range of applications in the aerospace industry. These cells consist of a lithium metal anode and a SOCl ₂ liquid cathode. The safety problems posed by these cells received particular attention in the 70 and 80s. However, the generation of shock waves during thermal runaway has never been demonstrated. In this article, for the second time, aerial shock waves are characterized for cells composed of lithium metal. Although the TNT equivalent of thionyl chloride cells is widely dispersed between 0.008 and 0.3 g. Its impact on the mechanical structures of the battery module should not be neglected, nor should its impact on people.