Abstract: Ambient hydrolysis products in moist air and
hydrolysis kinetics in argon with humidity of RH1.5% for
polycrystalline LiH powders and sintered bulks were investigated by
X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and gravimetry. The results
showed that the hydrolysis products made up a layered structure of
LiOH•H2O/LiOH/Li2O from surface of the sample to inside. In low
humid argon atmosphere, the primary hydrolysis product was Li2O
rather than LiOH. The hydrolysis kinetic curves of LiH bulks present a
paralinear shape, which could be explained by the “Layer Diffusion
Control" model. While a three-stage hydrolysis kinetic profile was
observed for LiH powders under the same experimental conditions.
The first two sections were similar to that of the bulk samples, and the
third section also presents a linear reaction kinetics but with a smaller
reaction rate compared to the second section because of a larger
exothermic effect for the hydrolysis reaction of LiH powder.
Abstract: The hydrolysis kinetics of polycrystalline lithium hydride (LiH) in argon at various low humidities was measured by gravimetry and Raman spectroscopy with ambient water concentration ranging from 200 to 1200 ppm. The results showed that LiH hydrolysis curve revealed a paralinear shape, which was attributed to two different reaction stages that forming different products as explained by the 'Layer Diffusion Control' model. Based on the model, a novel two-stage rate equation for LiH hydrolysis reactions was developed and used to fit the experimental data for determination of Li2O steady thickness Hs and the ultimate hydrolysis rate vs. The fitted data presented a rise of Hs as ambient water concentration cw increased. However, in spite of the negative effect imposed by Hs increasing, the upward trend of vs remained, which implied that water concentration, rather than Li2O thickness, played a predominant role in LiH hydrolysis kinetics. In addition, the proportional relationship between vsHs and cw predicted by rate equation and confirmed by gravimetric data validated the model in such conditions.