CHAPTER XXXIII METALLURGY OF LITHIUM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00039R000100230048-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 10, 2012
• Sequence Number: 48
• Publication Date: March 14, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

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N TALLURGY OF LITHIUM
Source: Metallurgiya. legkikh Metallov, Metallurgizdat,
pp. SL2- 2i3, (Ch. XXXiIi).
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O (;.)
CHAPTER XXXIII
METALLURGY OF LITHIUM
117. Properties and Uses of Lithium
Lithium is the lightest of all raetals; its specific gravity is 0.534, Y~..
only a little over half that of water. Therefore lithium floats in gasoline.
In table 87 are given some of lithium' s properties.
Table 87
PROPERTIES OF LITHIUM
PROPERTY VALUE
Atomic weight 5.940
Valence 1
Specific gravity at 20 degrees 0.534
Melting Runt (degrees) 180
Boiling Point (degrees) 1330
Electrode potential relative to the hydrogen electrode 3.09
Electrochemical equivalent, grams per ampere-hour 0;257
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Lithium is slightly harder than sodium, but not so easily sliced as
the latter. At high temperatures, lithiurry like magnesium, ignites with a
bright flash and releases considerable heat. Metallic lithium forms one
component in the light alloy, Scleron W a substitute for brass. Scleron is
composed of the following; 12 percent Zn; 3 percent Cu; 0.6 percent Mn; 0.5
percent Si; 0.4 percent Fe and 0.1 percent Li. the balance is aluminum.
Recently lithium has been also used as a deoxidizing (reducing) agent of
copper and as such has the valuable property of increasing electrical con-
ductivity of the latter.
118. Preparation
of Metallic Lithium
Metallic lithium is obtained by e]ectrolyzng melted lithium chloride
or a `mixture of LCI+KC1. Lithium was first obtadned through electrolysis of
LiC1 in 1854 by Bunsen and Mattisen.
The preparation of anhydrous lithium presents certain difficulties.
V.
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tracted lithium rises to the
As source materials the following lithium-bearing minerals are used:
Spodumene LiAL (Si03)2, or lepidolite KLiF2 A1203 ' 3SiO2 which
contains..half as m.uch lithium as the spodurnene,.but is easier to re-
process in LICI.
Li2CO3 is first prepared from the above ores and then .dissolved
in pure hydrochloric acid. The resulting lithium chloride is then
thoroughly purified and crystallized as LiCI 3H2O. The dehydration of
this salt is attended by the same difficulties encountered during de-
hydration of the hexahydrate of magnesium chloride and requires approxi-
mately the same conditions. The electrolysis of lithium chloride can
be accomplished in tubs used for the preparation of magnesium or sodium
and the separated lithium can be extracted from the tub in melted con-
dition without appreciable losses due to oxidation by the air. Accord-
ing to the Gintsvetmet method (Nonferrous Metals, No 4, 1932, 636; Rare
Mew, No 3, 1934, 40), for example, the tub represented in Figure 216
(Electrolyzer for Preparing Metallic Lithium) serves as an eleotrolyzer.
The latter consists of an iron housing lined with talc stone (schist)
roasted at about 900 degrees Centigrad7. The cathodic and anodic areas
are separated by an alundum partition not quite reaching to the bottom.
An iron cathode runs along the floor of the tub. a carbon bar dipping into
the electrolyte from above serves as the anode.
For an electrolyte is used a mixture of equal parts by weight of LICI
and KC1 which have a rnelting temperature of about 350 degrees. The ex-
surface
of the electrolyte and gathers under.
the lid covering the cathodic area. Into the anodic area additional de-
hydrated lithium chloride is periodically introduced. The lithium from the
cathodic area is scooped out with iron spoons and poured into pigs. The
metal thus obtained - in order to be freed from accidental occlusions is
remelted in vaseline oil at 200 degrees, and is preserved in jars with
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kerosene or petroleum ether. In a 400 volt electrolyzer the yield of
lithium is about 75 percent of that expected from the current. Under
a potential of 13 volts in the bath, the power consumption is 66 kilo-
watt hours to 1 kilogram of lithium. The purity of the metal obtained
is up to 99 percents The principle secondary components are Potassium
magne slum.
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