Lithium metal-atom reactor

Lithium atoms produced in a metal-atom reactor react with simple alkenes at 700-800°C to give mixtures of dilithiobutenes in low yield ". ... 

The metals are employed in a variety of alloys. Lithium generally hardens and strengthens, but also causes embrittlement from 0.05 to 0.1% is used in Al, Zn and Mg alloys. Sodium is an important additive to lead such an alloy is the basis of the manufacture of lead tetraethyl, and another, containing 0.6% Na, 0.6% Ca and 0.05% Li, is a bearing metal. Ternary alloys of caesium with aluminium and either barium or strontium are used in photoelectric cells. Liquid sodium or sodium-potassium alloy is employed to transfer heat from the core of certain atomic reactors, e.g. Dounreay fast breeder. 

Deuterium is in very low concentration. Lithium has an atomic weight of 6.94 and the abundance of Li is around 7% in natural Li. The main reaction product of B is Li which does not generate but there are other, minor reactions that do. Except in boron steels, the activation of Li predominates. Another source of in fission reactors is the low yield, ternary fission of fuel (-130 x 10 atoms per fission product pair). In Magnox gas-cooled reactors, from ternary fission is mainly retained in the metallic uranium fuel and its cladding but some is released into the coolant circuits, where it may possibly diffuse into structures within the primary vessel. Tritium is a low energy /5 emitting radionuclide of low radio-toxicity and with a half life of 12.3 years. 

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