What is lithium fluoride?

What is lithium fluoride?

Lithium fluoride is a kind of inorganic salt, chemical formula LiF, molecular weight 25.94. It is an alkali metal halide, white crystal at room temperature, slightly soluble in water. Used for nuclear industry, enamel industry, optical glass manufacturing, desiccant, flux and so on. It can be prepared by crystallization of lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide with hydrofluoric acid in a lead or platinum dish.

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Appearance and properties: white powder or cubic crystal.

Melting point (℃) : 848℃

Relative density (water =1) : 2.6350

Boiling point (℃) : 1681℃ (volatile at 1100-1200℃)

Water solubility: 0.27g/100g water

Saturated vapor pressure (kPa) : 0.133/1047℃

Solubility: slightly soluble in water, insoluble in alcohol, soluble in acid. [1]

Soluble in acid, poorly soluble in alcohol and other organic solvents. Lithium fluoride is readily soluble in acid at room temperature.

In the ceramic industry, it is used to reduce the temperature of kiln and improve the resistance to heat shock, abrasion and acid corrosion. As a flux for metal welding with other fluorides, chlorides and borates. It is the basic component of electrolytes in fluorine electrolyzer. The molten state is used as an electrolyte component in high temperature batteries. Used as a carrier in a breeder reactor. A lot of flux and brazing agent used in aluminum and magnesium alloy are also used as additive to improve electric efficiency in electrolytic aluminum industry. Used as neutron shielding material in atomic energy industry, as solvent in molten salt reactor; Transparent Windows used as uv rays in optical materials (77-88% transmittance).