Battery industry
Batteries using lithium as anode have high energy density because of the small atomic weight of lithium. In addition, lithium batteries also have the advantages of light weight, small size, long life, good performance, non-polluting, and so on, thus doubly favored. In recent years, the application of lithium in the field of batteries has been the fastest growing, has risen from 7% in 1997 to 35% in 2013, the battery field has become the largest consumer of lithium in the world. Now, lithium batteries have been widely used in laptop computers, cell phones, digital cameras, small electronic equipment, aerospace, electromechanical and military communications. As electric vehicle technology continues to mature, lithium batteries will also be widely used in the automotive industry.
Glass industry
Lithium concentrates or lithium compounds in the manufacture of glass has a greater fluxing effect, added to the glass ingredients can reduce the temperature of the glass melting and the viscosity of the melt, simplify the production process, reduce energy consumption, prolong the age of the furnace, increase production, improve the operating conditions, reduce pollution. In addition, the addition of lithium compounds in glass can also reduce the coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass, improve the density and finish of the glass, and improve the strength, ductility, corrosion resistance, and heat-resistant acute change performance of the products. Now the lithium-containing glass is widely used in chemistry, electronics, optics and modern science and technology sectors, and even also used in daily necessities.
Ceramics industry
Ceramics adding a small amount of lithium pyroxene can reduce the sintering temperature, shorten the sintering time, improve the fluidity of ceramics and adhesion, improve the strength of ceramics and the refractive index, enhance the ceramics of the heat-resistant, acid-resistant, alkali-resistant, abrasion-resistant as well as heat-resistant acute change performance. Now, the use of lithium pyroxene made of lithium pyroxene low thermal expansion ceramics and low thermal expansion glaze is widely used in microwave ovens, trays, induction cooker panels, turbine blades, spark plugs, low coefficient of thermal expansion of foam ceramics, as well as lightweight ceramics and so on.
Grease industry
Lithium grease and potassium, sodium, calcium-based grease, compared with the advantages of anti-oxidation, pressure resistance, good lubricating properties, especially lithium grease working degree of width, good water resistance, at -60 ℃ ~ 300 ℃ almost does not change the viscosity of the grease, even if the amount of water is very small, but also maintain good stability, and therefore is used in airplanes, tanks, trains, automobiles, goldsmiths, and other industries.
Metallurgy, metallurgy and other industries, the grease can be used in the following fields: metallurgy, metallurgy and other industries.
Metallurgical industry
Lithium as a light alloy, ultra-light alloy, wear-resistant alloys, as well as other non-ferrous alloys as part of the alloy can greatly improve the performance of the alloy. For example, lithium-magnesium alloy is a high-strength lightweight alloy, not only has good thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, ductility, but also corrosion resistance, wear resistance, good impact resistance, resistance to high-speed particle penetration, etc., known as "tomorrow's aerospace alloys", is widely used in aerospace, defense and military industries. With the world's lightweight structural materials, weight reduction and energy saving, environmental protection and sustainable development requirements are increasing, magnesium and lithium alloys will also be applied to the need for lightweight structural materials in the field of transportation, electronics, medical products and other fields.
Lithium is added to beryllium, zinc, copper, silver, cadmium and boron to form alloys that are not only tougher or tougher, but also have improved tensile strength and elasticity. The amount of lithium in these alloys varies from a few thousandths to a few percent.
Lithium is also an effective degasser. Because of the strong chemical activity of lithium, lithium will be added to the molten metal or alloy, lithium will react with the metal or alloy such as hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen and other gases to generate a small density and low melting point of the compounds, not only to remove these gases, so that the metal becomes denser, but also eliminates the metal in the bubbles, as well as other defects, so as to improve the grain structure of the metal to improve the mechanical properties of the metal.
Other applications
Lithium metal has a large heat capacity, a wide range of liquid-phase temperatures, a high thermal conductivity, a low viscosity, and a low density, and is used as a coolant in nuclear fusion or nuclear fission reactors.
Lithium bromide is a highly efficient water vapor absorbent and air humidity regulator, and is widely used in air conditioning, dehumidification, refrigeration and air purification systems.
Lithium and its compounds are characterized by high combustion, high speed, wide flame and high heat generation, and are often used as high-energy fuels in rockets, airplanes or submarines.
Lithium can also make "lithium salt fertilizer" to prevent tomato rot and wheat rust spike disease.
Aluminum electrolyzer add lithium salt can improve the molten salt mobility, reduce the degree of electrolysis, saving electricity effect is significant.
N-butyllithium is also used as a synthetic styrene, butadiene alcohol initiator, widely used in high and low temperature rubber sealing materials and rubber tires, rubber tires to add butyl lithium can make its life more than four times.