Lithium substitutes
Lithium metallurgy

Substitutes for lithium compounds are found in glass, ceramics, greases and batteries. . Thus, alkali metals such as sodium and potassium form compounds that are fluxes (feldspars) in the manufacture of glass and ceramics, and calcium- and aluminum-based soaps can replace special lithium-based greases. However, when calcium, mercury, magnesium and zinc are used to replace lithium in batteries, a reduction in quality is systematically observed compared with lithium batteries. On the other hand, in metallurgy, lithium carbonate is no longer considered an essential ingredient in aluminum refining, and Al-Li alloys can be replaced by boron-, glass- or polymer-fiber-based...