The topic of my research is in the field of zinc-based alloys. I am facing problems in melting magnesium and lithium and my question to you is to guide me under what conditions I can melt magnesium and lithium. The second point is that lithium is stored under the oil, and to melt the lithium, it is necessary to clean the lithium part, or does it evaporate in the melt and does not cause any problems in the process of making the alloy?
Hi Mohammad hossein Bagheri
1. I'm not sure about the oil used to preserve your lithium, but it's probably not volatile enough to remove by evaporation. You can remove it by rinsing - under inert gas! - with a low molecular weight hydrocarbon such as hexane or heptane, then evaporate any residues of that.
2. About the melting: Since both Mg and Li can react with nitrogen on heating, you should melt them under a noble gas, preferably argon. Obviously you need a well-managed glove box. Not sure what the best crucible or boat would be - sintered alumina may be good enough but sintered magnesia (periclase) should be better if you can get it.
I am not a Mg expert, but I have some familiarity with the process of melting Mg. You need to shield the Mg from both O2 and H20 to prevent it from igniting - the "combustion" temp is lower than the melting temp. I understand that Mg die casting uses a mix of Sulfur Hexaflouride (SF6) with Nitrogen on an open top crucible to protect the exposed surface of the melt.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Phytochemistry
- Extracts