Safety study regarding an exothermic reaction at elevated temperature of comb-shaped siloxane polymer and its interpenetrating network type solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) are investigated. Accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC) is used to examine exothermic reactions. The thermal stability of the polymer electrolyte in the presence of charged electrodes is also monitored. Resulting data were compared with those of 1.0 M LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate:ethyl methyl carbonate (3:7 by wt.) electrolyte. The self-heating exothermic reaction of mono comb-shaped siloxane polymer electrolyte starts at approximately 300 degreesC. Comparison of the heat generation profiles from ARC tests indicates that SPE reduces the intensity of exothermic reactions resulting from charged electrodes and electrolyte. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.