Lithium as fuel

I wonder why it is not in more common use.

It is liquid at a low temp (I think around 200 C) and gives the
electron off more easily than H. It should also have good bulk
density. The molecular weight is pretty low.

Zoltan

In article ,
Zoltan Szakaly wrote:
It is liquid at a low temp (I think around 200 C) and gives the
electron off more easily than H. It should also have good bulk
density. The molecular weight is pretty low.

It's intensely corrosive. Its very high surface tension complicates
injector design badly. And LOX is not a good oxidizer for it; what you
really want is fluorine, which adds its own nasty complications. The
performance has never been worth the trouble.
--
MOST launched 1015 EDT 30 June, separated 1046, | Henry Spencer
first ground-station pass 1651, all nominal! |

Henry Spencer wrote:

It is liquid at a low temp (I think around 200 C) and gives the
electron off more easily than H. It should also have good bulk
density. The molecular weight is pretty low.

It's intensely corrosive. Its very high surface tension complicates
injector design badly. And LOX is not a good oxidizer for it; what you
really want is fluorine, which adds its own nasty complications. The
performance has never been worth the trouble.

It's really expensive, too.

Interesting fact: lithium dissolves in ammonia, and at the right ratio
the solution has a melting point below the boiling point of liquid oxygen.

Paul