Lithium, in its pure form, is a reactive, light-silver colored, alkali metal. It is the lightest metal with the lowest density, having half the density of water. Metallic lithium can easily float. However, lithium also readily reacts with water. This has to do with lithium’s low ionization energy, meaning that it is easy to remove electrons from the outer shell of the lithium atom making it chemically reactive. If enough lithium metal is added to water too quickly it can be flammable or potentially explosive. Because of its reactivity, lithium is never found as a pure metal in nature, it’s typically found as different salts like lithium chloride or lithium carbonate.
Due to some of these unique properties of lithium, it has found popular use in battery technologies. Lithium batteries are some of the most commonly encountered batteries in everyday electronic devices.
Lithium Batteries Have High Energy Density
As a battery electrode, lithium provides high energy density. Compared to other technologies, lithium can hold more electrons in a smaller space. For a simple comparison, lead-acid batteries were one of the first battery technologies discovered. Due to their simplicity and reliability, lead-acid batteries are still the main battery used for gasoline powered automobiles.
For each type of battery, energy density is determined by the energy output over the weight and volume of the battery. Lead acid batteries average around 35 watt·hours per kilogram and 70 watt·hours per liter (Cowie 2014). By comparison, lithium ion batteries used in electric cars yield around 205 watt·hours per kilogram and 580 watt·hours per liter (CLE 2000). That equates to roughly seven times better performance. Electric cars were virtually impossible until battery technology improved to allow for an energy density high enough to provide the vehicle with an adequate driving range.
Because of the high energy density in lithium batteries they have become a mainstay of our modern digital life. Cell phones, laptop computers, and numerous other portable electronics all rely on lithium-ion battery technology.
Safety Issues
Due to the reactivity of the metal, lithium batteries use lithium salts as electrodes for increased safety and performance. Yet even with lithium salts, there are still major safety concerns with lithium-ion battery technology.
Thermal Runaway: An Explosive Problem
While lithium-ion batteries have some distinct advantages, they also come with some significant safety issues. In larger batteries, there are more than one cell. The battery is made up of multiple smaller batteries to increase voltage or current. If an overcharge, short circuit or puncture happens to an individual cell, the power can be released rapidly, building up excessive heat. In larger batteries with multiple cells, this “thermal runaway” can spread to other cells causing a sudden release of large quantities of stored energy resulting in a battery fire or explosion (Carlos 2015).
In an electric vehicle, the energy contained in the lithium-ion batteries is equivalent to 4.3 kilograms of TNT or 18 sticks of dynamite. If the automobile battery has a catastrophic failure, a large percentage of this energy can be released quickly, and in some cases, completely destroy the automobile. This presents an obvious safety risk. And the problem isn’t hypothetical (Valdes-Dapena 2020). The same problem with thermal runaway was causing fires on the Boeing Dreamliner, an airplane that contained lithium-ion batteries as a part of its onboard electronics (Hradecky 2013).
Smaller fires and explosions have also been associated with cell phone and laptop batteries, in some cases necessitating costly recalls and battery replacements (USCPSC 2019). And while not as well known, the battery electrolyte used in most lithium-ion batteries releases a toxic gas that can cause irreversible nerve damage. At concentrations of 83 mg per cubic meter, the gas can even be fatal. Lithium ion battery fires are dangerous and exposure to fumes from battery fires should be minimized during an event. Concerns for firefighters and first responders to car accidents with electric vehicles have recently been raised (BH 2021).
The Future of Lithium Batteries
With their advantages and shortcomings, most people still see a future that includes lithium-ion batteries. They have potential applications in storing solar and wind power to stabilize the more intermittent availability of these resources on a green, electric power grid. With improvements in charging time, electric cars may soon become even more mainstream, eliminating “range anxiety.” Drones will also rely on the high power density of lithium-ion batteries as they become more common for industrial uses and deliveries. Pushing the limits of the technology, plans are already moving forward to create flying vehicles that run on lithium-ion batteries, potentially helping reduce fossil fuel usage in the airline industry (Puiu 2021).
White Lithium Grease
When most people think of lithium, grease probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. And yet, lithium grease is regarded as one of the most important industrial lubricants.
History of Grease
The ancient invention of the wheel and axle necessitated the invention of grease. It is widely believed that in Egyptian and Roman times grease was prepared from olive oil or animal fat and lime (calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide). The mixture would form an oil-soap combination that worked as an effective lubricant (Piet 2016).
It wasn’t until the middle of the 1800s that sodium based grease was officially invented in the United Kingdom. Lithium grease was an even more modern development, discovered in the first half of the 20th century and patented in the United States in 1950 (Farrington 1950).
The Chemistry of Lithium Grease
At its core white lithium grease has a lot in common with household soap. Most basic soaps are made from the chemical reaction between fat combined with sodium or potassium hydroxide. For hard or bar soap, sodium hydroxide is the saponification agent. For liquid or soft soap, potassium hydroxide is used. As an alkali metal, lithium is in the same family as sodium and potassium. To make lithium grease, lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate is used to saponify fat resulting in lithium soap.
Chemically, soaps are the salts of fatty acids. When lithium hydroxide or carbonate is added to a triglyceride (fat), the strong lithium base cleaves the ester triglyceride bond, releasing the fatty acids and glycerol. The fatty acids form ionic bonds with lithium ions and lithium soap is formed.
Properties of Lithium Grease
Lithium soap has unique properties that, when combined with oil, make it a versatile and effective lubricating agent. Lithium soap combined with oil, makes lithium grease. Lithium grease has a high melting, or dropping point between 370 and 430 degrees fahrenheit. It also adheres well to metal, an important feature for long-lasting lubrication and protection. Grease, in general, has a high viscosity, meaning it is a solid that stays in place, until the application of shear. When a shearing force is applied to grease the viscosity rapidly drops and it effectively lubricates, reducing friction.
Lithium grease resists dispersal due to water and stays well mixed. And while lithium functions well at higher temperatures it also retains a soft enough state at lower temperature for pumpability. In addition, lithium grease resists oxidation, which long-term, can damage the grease, reducing its functional properties. Lithium compounds also help protect metal, resisting corrosion and extending the lifespan of equipment.
Current Applications of Lithium Grease
Due to its superior characteristics, lithium grease has broad usage throughout most industries. Estimates suggest that lithium grease is used for approximately 75% of all applications that require a general lubricant.
Lithium grease is broadly used in the automotive industry for bearings, door hinges and locks, gears, cams and seat tracks. It’s also used for general machinery, including:
- Bearings
- Pistons
- Camshafts
- Pulleys
- Door hinges and rollers
- Winches
- Conveyors
In reality, in most situations where you have two objects sliding across each other, lithium grease could be a reasonable choice to support the motion, reduce friction and prevent parts from binding.
In 2011, 12% of all lithium produced was used for lithium grease. Due to skyrocketing demand for lithium batteries, as of 2019, 5% of lithium production is used in grease and lubricant products (USGS 2020).
Conclusion
While lithium-ion batteries provide the power for the majority of portable electronics, they come with both distinct advantages and challenges. While they allow for smaller and lighter equipment, the battery technology also carries the risk of thermal runaway, a rapid and sometimes explosive release of energy. In addition, fumes from lithium-ion battery fires are highly toxic. Understanding the best use of lithium-ion batteries and continuing to refine battery design to minimize the dangers can help minimize risks as we continue to explore and expand the use of portable electronics and electric vehicles with lithium-ion battery technology.
Lithium is a metal with many uses. Because of the unique properties of lithium soap, lithium grease is one of the most important lubricating compounds used throughout industry. In addition, research is ongoing for finding additives to lithium grease to continue to improve and refine its performance. It’s likely that white lithium grease will be a popular industrial product for many years to come.
References
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Carlos F. Lopez et al 2015 J. Electrochem. Soc. 162 A1905
Valdes-Dapena P. Business PV-D CNN. Electric car batteries are catching fire and that could be a big turnoff to buyers. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/10/success/electric-car-vehicle-battery-fires/index.html
Hradecky S. Accident: ANA B788 near Takamatsu on Jan 16th 2013, battery problem and burning smell on board (including JAL Boston, Ethiopian London and JAL Tokyo events). avherald.com. Accessed January 14, 2021. http://avherald.com/h?article=45c377c5&opt=0
HP Expands Recall of Batteries for Notebook Computers and Mobile Workstations Due to Fire and Burn Hazards. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Published March 12, 2019. Accessed January 14, 2021. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2019/hp-expands-recall-of-batteries-for-notebook-computers-and-mobile-workstations-due-to
NTSB says battery fires in electric vehicles a risk to 1st responders. Boston Herald. Published January 13, 2021. Accessed January 14, 2021. https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/01/13/ntsb-says-battery-fires-in-electric-vehicles-a-risk-to-1st-responders/
Puiu T. The Future is Bright for Lithium-Ion Batteries. The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. Accessed January 15, 2021. https://www.lindau-nobel.org/blog-the-future-is-bright-for-lithium-ion-batteries/
Piet M. Lugt. Modern advancements in lubricating grease technology. Tribology International.
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Bruce B Farrington, Frank A Leyda. California Research LLC. Lithium Grease. No. US2504672A. April 18th, 1950.
Lithium Statistics and Information. Usgs.gov. Published 2020. https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nmic/lithium-statistics-and-information
