Pure lithium and its use in liquid form for heat transfer, alloys manufacture

The thermal conductivity of liquid lithium (0.38 joule/s/cm/0C) is particularly attractive for using lithium as a heat transfer medium. However, handling lithium in the liquid state presents a number of inconveniences such as corrosion, fire risk and pipe blockage. Process lines for treating lithium therefore require very careful design. In this report, we present an overview of lithium metal production starting from the raw materials, factors determining plant lay-out and problems encountered in handling liquid lithium. We then discuss principal impurities and their influence on the various applications of lithium. Finally, we describe a method of producing lithium lead alloys