I found some interesting materials at a local fleamarket (http://www.electronicsfleamarket.com/): a canister of lithium sheet metal, and a bottle of fine zirconium powder (325 mesh). The zirconium is stored under water since the dry power can self-ignite, or may be ignited by static electricity or shock. Confusingly, the MSDS sheets say that dry zirconium powder must not be allowed near water, but http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifif it is to be stored, it must be completely submerged in water. I carefully dried a very small amount, and sprinkled it over a flame.
If you know of something interesting to do with these chemicals, please let me know.
Seeing how great you are at making replicas of fairly complex production methods, maybe cubic circonia would be a challenge? :)
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubic_zirconia
As I recall a certain type of torpedo is powered by lithium and sulfur hexafluoride. It would be cool to see a comparison of energy density between that and a home made lithium battery.
ReplyDeleteAlso I don't know if this works for that much lithium but when I worked in a lab we would store lithium under mineral oil.
Zirconium was used in flashbulbs for cameras, in a fine wool form in a glass tube with high oxygen content.
ReplyDeleteCubic zirconia won't be possible, you need a crucible capable of some 2800*C, good luck there :)
And I also recommend storing that lithium under oil. It goes bad in air quite readily.
Off topic. Heard a great discussion on NPR today about the ineffectiveness of traditional lecture-style learning. Ben, you've commented that you don't really learn electronics in school via lecture, but in the workplace or by hands on. I thought you'd like to hear this program.
ReplyDeletesee this website: americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/tomorrows-college/lectures/
Just found your blog from you tube. I think it would be cool if you made fluorine salt with the Lithium. Just finished a paper on LFTR reactors and the main solvent used is nicknamed FLiBe. Meaning LiF and Beryllium Fluoride salts. Read some where that a weak acid contains fluorine and eats away at glass. Anyways thought that would be an easy wal-mart source.
ReplyDeletewm.jesse.miller@gmail.com
USU Engineering Student
@William- I dont think there are ANY easy sources for flourine based chemicals- Not to mention flourine is horrifically toxic and dangerous.
ReplyDeleteWow, hard to believe they clad nuclear fuel in anything related to that stuff... zirconium that is.
ReplyDelete"Let's try a bigger piece."
ReplyDeleteYou could try to make your own liquid metal (Apple) using the zirconium; it is a key metal for the alloy. Add some Titanium and SS, forge and cool rapidly.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.liquidmetal.com/technology/
TG
Be really cool to see if you could do your own lithium battery of some variety. Maybe even then take a look with the SEM :).
ReplyDeletemaybe try an oxygen generator? Different higher oxides of lithium are great for that. Or hydrogen storage--lithium borohydride or aluminum hydride. Of course it will work with other alkalis, but lithium is the lightest.
ReplyDelete