Application of lithium ore in different industries

The atomic structure of lithium determines the special properties of lithium element. Lithium and its compounds are widely used in batteries, ceramics, glass, lubricants, refrigerants, nuclear industry, and optoelectronic industries.

44% of the world's lithium is used in traditional industries such as ceramics, glass, polymers, lubricants and lithium alloys, and 56% of lithium is used in the battery industry. Almost all consulting agencies believe that the application of lithium in the battery industry and energy storage industry will grow rapidly and dominate the future lithium consumption market.

battery industry

Lithium batteries have high energy density, light weight, long life and good cycle performance. The battery industry has become the fastest growing field of lithium applications, and its market share has risen from 7% in 1997 to 56% in 2018, making it the largest consumer of lithium.

Lithium batteries have been widely used in notebook computers, mobile phones, digital cameras, small electronic equipment, aerospace, electromechanical and military communications and other fields.

With the continuous maturity of electric vehicle technology, lithium batteries are accelerating their entry into the automotive industry, and lithium power batteries will become the fastest growing area of lithium consumption.

glass industry

Lithium concentrate or lithium compound has a strong melting effect in the manufacture of glass. Adding it to glass ingredients can reduce the temperature of glass melting and the viscosity of the melt, simplify the production process, reduce energy consumption, prolong the service life of the furnace, and increase production. , Improve operating conditions and reduce pollution.

In addition, adding lithium compounds to glass can also reduce the coefficient of thermal expansion of glass, improve the density and smoothness of glass, and improve the strength, ductility, corrosion resistance and thermal shock resistance of products.

Lithium-containing glasses are now widely used in chemistry, electronics, optics and modern science and technology departments, and are even used in daily necessities.

ceramic industry

Adding a small amount of spodumene in ceramic production can reduce the sintering temperature, shorten the sintering time, improve the fluidity and adhesion of ceramics, increase the strength and refractive index of ceramics, and enhance the heat resistance, acid resistance, alkali resistance, wear resistance and resistance of ceramics. Thermal shock performance.

Spodumene low thermal expansion ceramics and low thermal expansion glazes made of spodumene are widely used in trays in microwave ovens, induction cooker panels, steam turbine ceramic blades, spark plugs, low thermal expansion coefficient foam ceramics, and lightweight ceramics.

Grease industry

Compared with potassium, sodium, and calcium-based greases, lithium-based grease has the advantages of anti-oxidation, pressure resistance, and good lubricating performance, especially lithium-based grease has a wide working range and good water resistance. At ~300 ℃, the viscosity of the grease hardly changes, and it can still maintain good stability even with a small amount of water, so it is applied to aircraft, tanks, trains, automobiles, metallurgy, petrochemical, radio detection and other equipment superior.

Metallurgical industry

As a component of light alloys, ultra-light alloys, wear-resistant alloys and other non-ferrous alloys, lithium can greatly improve the properties of alloys.

For example, lithium-magnesium alloy is a high-strength light-weight alloy, which not only has good thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and ductility, but also has the characteristics of corrosion resistance, wear resistance, good impact resistance, and high-speed particle penetration resistance. "Tomorrow's Aerospace Alloys" are widely used in aerospace, national defense and other fields.

With the increasing requirements for lightweight structural materials, weight reduction, energy saving, environmental protection and sustainable development in today's world, magnesium-lithium alloys will also be applied to transportation, electronics, medical products and other fields that require lightweight structural materials.

Adding lithium to beryllium, zinc, copper, silver, cadmium, and boron, among others, results in alloys that are not only tougher or stronger, but also increase in tensile strength and elasticity. The content of lithium in these alloys varies from a few thousandths to a few percent. Lithium is also an effective degassing agent.

Because of the strong chemical activity of lithium, when lithium is added to molten metal or alloy, lithium will react with gases such as hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, etc. in the metal or alloy to form compounds with low density and low melting point, which can not only remove these The gas makes the metal denser, and can also eliminate the bubbles and other defects in the metal, thereby improving the grain structure of the metal and improving the mechanical properties of the metal.

other apps

Metal lithium has the properties of large heat capacity, wide liquidus temperature range, high thermal conductivity, low viscosity and low density, and is used as a coolant in nuclear fusion or nuclear fission reactors.

Lithium bromide is an 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 have the characteristics of high combustion, fast speed, wide flame, and large calorific value. They are often used as high-energy fuels for rockets, aircraft or submarines.

Lithium can also make "lithium salt fertilizer" to prevent tomato rot and wheat rust. Adding lithium salt to the aluminum electrolytic cell can improve the fluidity of the molten salt, reduce the degree of electrolysis, and have a remarkable effect in saving electric energy.

N-butyllithium is also used as an initiator for the synthesis of styrene and butadienol, and is widely used in high-temperature and low-temperature-resistant rubber sealing materials and rubber tires. Adding butyllithium to rubber tires can increase its life by more than four times.