lithium,military uses 2

Hi,
I only know the use of Lithium with aluminium as alloy, i.e. Al-li alloy, which about 10 % lighter and about 10 % stiffer then conventional aluminium alloy. The slats or leading edge of Eurofighter wing should be made from this alloy, I didn't sure if it comes true, since it was about six year ago as I made practical work there. I only know that teh great barrier for using Al-li alloys is their susceptibility to so called "inter-cristalline corrosion" and poor "impact behaviour".

regards

This info is available at
"Many uses have been found for lithium and its compounds. Lithium has the highest specific heat of any solid element and is used in heat transfer applications. It is used to make special glasses and ceramics, including the Mount Palomar telescope's 200 inch mirror. Lithium is the lightest known metal and can be alloyed with aluminium, copper, manganese, and cadmium to make strong, lightweight metals for aircraft. Lithium hydroxide (LiOH) is used to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere of spacecraft. Lithium stearate (LiC18H35O2) is used as a general purpose and high temperature lubricant. Lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) is used as a drug to treat manic depression disorder."

Fuel for a hydrogen thermonuclear warhead. When lithium absorbs nuetrons, it can be coaxed into forming tritium, which is what is the fuel for the fusion reaction.

LiOH is also promoted by MBB as CO2 scrubber aboard submarines