Lithium metallurgy

Metallurgy. Lithium forms alloys with numerous metals. Early uses of lithium alloys were made in Germany with the production of the lead alloy, BahnmetaH (0.04% Li), which was used for bearings for railroad cars, and the aluminum alloy, Scleron. In the United States, the aluminum alloy X-2020 (4.5% Cu, 1.1% Li, 0.5% Mn, 0.2% Cd, balance Al) was introduced in 1957 for stmctural components of naval aircraft. The lower density and stmctural strength enhancement of aluminum lithium alloys compared to normal aluminum alloys make it attractive for uses in airframes. A distinct lithium—aluminum phase (Al Li) forms in the alloy which bonds tightly to the host aluminum matrix to yield about a 10% increase in the modules of elasticity of the aluminum lithium alloys produced by the main aluminum producers. The density of the alloys is about 10% less than that of other stmctural aluminum alloys. 

Lithium is used in metallurgical operations for degassing and impurity removal (see Metallurgy). In copper (qv) refining, lithium metal reacts with hydrogen to form lithium hydride which subsequendy reacts, along with further lithium metal, with cuprous oxide to form copper and lithium hydroxide and lithium oxide. The lithium salts are then removed from the surface of the molten copper. 

Lithium chloride is used in the production of lithium metal by electrolysis. It also is used in metallurgy as a eutectic melting composition with potassium chloride (LiCl 41 mol% KCl 59 mol%). Other applications are in low temperature dry-cell batteries as a dehumidifier in air conditioning in welding and soldering flux as a desiccant in fireworks and in mineral waters and soft drinks. 

In metallurgy, lithium metal is used as a deoxidizer, desulfurizci, and degasitier in the production of a number of molien metals, noiahly copper and copper alloys, l ithium also is an ingredient of an increasing number of alloys, particularly with aluminum Early alloys included aluminum alloy... 

In ferrous metallurgy background correction is mainly used after fusion, when light absorption occurs on salt particles because of high total salt concentrations. By dissolving the fusion substance in inorganic acids, such as HC1, alkali halides develop in high concentration (NaCl, KC1 with soda-potassium fusions LiCl with lithium tetraborate fusions etc). These result in the molecular absorption already described. 

Lithium is presently widely used for the production of ceramics, glass, in the aluminum industry, in ferrous metallurgy, in the chemical industry and in electrotechnics [ 108,109] Significant quantities of lithium... 

Lithium is used to make alloys for aircraft parts and other components where lightness is an important quality. It is also used to make hthium batteries and hthium grease, and to scavenge oxygen in metallurgy. Certain hthium salts are used to treat depression. Lithium is also used to certain glasses and ceramic glazes. 

Chemistry and metallurgy were very international at the turn of the century 1800. The discovery of lithium, however, involves international features beyond the ordinary. 

Kroll W J, Schlechten A W. Laboratory Preparation of Lithium Metal by Vacuum Metallurgy , 182(1949), 266-274. 

Figure 1.41 The Big Whopper lithium pegmatite (Pearse and Taylor, 2001 figure first published in the CIM Bulletin, Vol. 94, No. 1049. Reprinted with permission of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum).

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