In this era of rapid development, the speed of technological evolution is getting faster and faster, and the birth of some new products is always coveted, and the invention and composition of these products are inseparable from the application of various elements. Among them, lithium element has attracted much attention, and because of its uniqueness and wide range of uses, it has become a “new element star in the 21st century”.
Lithium element was first discovered in 1817 by the Swedish scientist Afwecong when analyzing lithium feldspar ore. The main lithium minerals in nature are pyroxene, lepidolite, lithium feldspar and phosphate aluminum. The reason why lithium element is called “the new element star of the 21st century” is mainly because lithium element is now widely used in many manufacturing industries. At present, our life is inseparable from the addition of lithium element.
Table of Contents
With the continuous development of electronic products such as computers, digital cameras, mobile phones, and mobile power tools, lithium-ion batteries and lithium-polymer batteries, both of which are widely used battery types in electronic equipment. The battery industry has become the largest consumption area of lithium element. Battery grade lithium carbonate is one of the cathode materials of LiFePO4 motorcycle battery.
In addition, lithium carbonate is one of the effective ways to reduce energy consumption and protect the environment in the ceramic industry, and the demand for lithium element will also increase.
At the same time, various new functions of lithium element in glass are constantly being discovered, and the demand for lithium element in the glass industry will continue to grow. Thus, the glass and ceramic industry has become the second largest consumption area of lithium element.
The first application field of lithium element – battery industry
Because the atomic weight of lithium element is very small, batteries using lithium element as lithium ion battery anode have high energy density. In addition, lithium element batteries also have the advantages of light weight, small size, long life, good performance, and no pollution, so they are very popular.
In recent years, the application of lithium element in the battery field has grown the fastest, rising from 7% in 1997 to 35% in 2013. The battery field has become the largest lithium consumption field in the world.
Now, 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 will also be widely used in the automotive industry, such as two wheeler electric bike.
The second application field of lithium element – glass industry
Lithium concentrate or lithium compound has a greater fluxing effect in the manufacture of glass. Adding it to the glass batching can reduce the temperature of glass melting and the viscosity of the melt. Simplify the production process, reduce energy consumption, extend furnace life, increase output, 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-alkali glass is a glass with high transparency and high refractive index, and is often loved by people for its brightness and color. Now glass containing lithium element is widely used in chemistry, electronics, optics and modern science and technology departments, even in daily necessities.
The third application field of lithium element – metallurgical industry
As a component of light alloys, ultra-light alloys, wear-resistant alloys and other non-ferrous alloys, lithium element can greatly improve the properties of alloys. For example, lithium-magnesium alloys are high-strength, lightweight alloys that not only have good thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and ductility, but also have the characteristics of corrosion resistance, wear resistance, impact resistance, and high-speed particle penetration resistance.
Known as “tomorrow’s aerospace alloy”, it is widely used in aerospace, national defense and military industries to produce aerospace materials with high strength and low density. 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 element to beryllium, zinc, copper, silver, cadmium, and boron, among others, makes 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 element is also an effective degassing agent. Because of the strong chemical activity of lithium element, when lithium element is added to molten metal or alloy, lithium element will react with gases such as hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, etc. in the metal or alloy to form a compound with low density and low melting point.
It can not only remove these gases and make the metal denser, but 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.
The fourth application field of lithium element – ceramic industry
Adding a small amount of spodumene to the ceramic can reduce the sintering temperature, shorten the sintering time, improve the fluidity and adhesion of the ceramic, and increase the strength and refractive index of the ceramic. Enhance the heat resistance, acid resistance, alkali resistance, wear resistance and thermal shock resistance of ceramics.
Now, spodumene-based 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 blades, spark plugs, low thermal expansion coefficient foam ceramics and lightweight ceramics, etc.
The fifth application field of lithium element – lubricating grease Industry
Compared with potassium, sodium, and calcium-based lubricating greases, lithium-based lubricating 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.
The viscosity of the lubricating grease hardly changes at -60°C~300°C, and it can still maintain good stability even when the amount of water is small, so it is applied to airplanes, tanks, trains, automobiles, metallurgy, petrochemicals, radios detection equipment.
Other application fields of lithium element
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 element 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.
The lithium element can also make “lithium salt fertilizer” to control 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.
In addition, lithium element is also used in the field of medicine for the manufacture of antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs.
Environmentally friendly recycling of batteries
In short, lithium element plays an extremely important role in today’s world. Our daily life and daily necessities are inseparable from lithium element. Energy is necessary for life, so resources should be saved.
Of course, we all know that waste batteries will cause certain harm to our lives and the environment. Lithium-ion batteries, which are classified as batteries, are no exception. Therefore, the importance of recycle lithium batteries cannot be ignored by us. Let us have a deep understand and pay attention to the importance of this element from the perspective of eco-environmental protection and energy conservation.
I hope that everyone can start from the small things around us, save lithium element together, and protect the ecological environment together.
Lucky
Hi, I am Lucky, graduated from a well-known university in China, now mainly engaged in article editing on lithium motorcycle batteries, and the battery swapping station, I am committed to offering services and solutions about battery swap station for various industries.
Five major application fields of lithium element
In this era of rapid development, the speed of technological evolution is getting faster and faster, and the birth of some new products is always coveted, and the invention and composition of these products are inseparable from the application of various elements. Among them, lithium element has attracted much attention, and because of its uniqueness and wide range of uses, it has become a “new element star in the 21st century”.
Lithium element was first discovered in 1817 by the Swedish scientist Afwecong when analyzing lithium feldspar ore. The main lithium minerals in nature are pyroxene, lepidolite, lithium feldspar and phosphate aluminum. The reason why lithium element is called “the new element star of the 21st century” is mainly because lithium element is now widely used in many manufacturing industries. At present, our life is inseparable from the addition of lithium element.
With the continuous development of electronic products such as computers, digital cameras, mobile phones, and mobile power tools, lithium-ion batteries and lithium-polymer batteries, both of which are widely used battery types in electronic equipment. The battery industry has become the largest consumption area of lithium element. Battery grade lithium carbonate is one of the cathode materials of LiFePO4 motorcycle battery.
In addition, lithium carbonate is one of the effective ways to reduce energy consumption and protect the environment in the ceramic industry, and the demand for lithium element will also increase.
At the same time, various new functions of lithium element in glass are constantly being discovered, and the demand for lithium element in the glass industry will continue to grow. Thus, the glass and ceramic industry has become the second largest consumption area of lithium element.
The first application field of lithium element – battery industry
Because the atomic weight of lithium element is very small, batteries using lithium element as lithium ion battery anode have high energy density. In addition, lithium element batteries also have the advantages of light weight, small size, long life, good performance, and no pollution, so they are very popular.
In recent years, the application of lithium element in the battery field has grown the fastest, rising from 7% in 1997 to 35% in 2013. The battery field has become the largest lithium consumption field in the world.
Now, 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 will also be widely used in the automotive industry, such as two wheeler electric bike.
The second application field of lithium element – glass industry
Lithium concentrate or lithium compound has a greater fluxing effect in the manufacture of glass. Adding it to the glass batching can reduce the temperature of glass melting and the viscosity of the melt. Simplify the production process, reduce energy consumption, extend furnace life, increase output, 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-alkali glass is a glass with high transparency and high refractive index, and is often loved by people for its brightness and color. Now glass containing lithium element is widely used in chemistry, electronics, optics and modern science and technology departments, even in daily necessities.
The third application field of lithium element – metallurgical industry
As a component of light alloys, ultra-light alloys, wear-resistant alloys and other non-ferrous alloys, lithium element can greatly improve the properties of alloys. For example, lithium-magnesium alloys are high-strength, lightweight alloys that not only have good thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and ductility, but also have the characteristics of corrosion resistance, wear resistance, impact resistance, and high-speed particle penetration resistance.
Known as “tomorrow’s aerospace alloy”, it is widely used in aerospace, national defense and military industries to produce aerospace materials with high strength and low density. 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 element to beryllium, zinc, copper, silver, cadmium, and boron, among others, makes 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 element is also an effective degassing agent. Because of the strong chemical activity of lithium element, when lithium element is added to molten metal or alloy, lithium element will react with gases such as hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, etc. in the metal or alloy to form a compound with low density and low melting point.
It can not only remove these gases and make the metal denser, but 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.
The fourth application field of lithium element – ceramic industry
Adding a small amount of spodumene to the ceramic can reduce the sintering temperature, shorten the sintering time, improve the fluidity and adhesion of the ceramic, and increase the strength and refractive index of the ceramic. Enhance the heat resistance, acid resistance, alkali resistance, wear resistance and thermal shock resistance of ceramics.
Now, spodumene-based 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 blades, spark plugs, low thermal expansion coefficient foam ceramics and lightweight ceramics, etc.
The fifth application field of lithium element – lubricating grease Industry
Compared with potassium, sodium, and calcium-based lubricating greases, lithium-based lubricating 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.
The viscosity of the lubricating grease hardly changes at -60°C~300°C, and it can still maintain good stability even when the amount of water is small, so it is applied to airplanes, tanks, trains, automobiles, metallurgy, petrochemicals, radios detection equipment.
Other application fields of lithium element
Environmentally friendly recycling of batteries
In short, lithium element plays an extremely important role in today’s world. Our daily life and daily necessities are inseparable from lithium element. Energy is necessary for life, so resources should be saved.
Of course, we all know that waste batteries will cause certain harm to our lives and the environment. Lithium-ion batteries, which are classified as batteries, are no exception. Therefore, the importance of recycle lithium batteries cannot be ignored by us. Let us have a deep understand and pay attention to the importance of this element from the perspective of eco-environmental protection and energy conservation.
I hope that everyone can start from the small things around us, save lithium element together, and protect the ecological environment together.