Abstract: | The paper deals with the causes of the yellow colouring of LiF crystals. In accordance with some other writers the authors arrived at the conclusion that colouring is caused by impurities. Selective absorption in the infra-red region at 2·8 is independent of this colouring. Analytical data were supplemented by crystal growing experiments in which defined admixtures of heavy metals, such as Co, Mn, Fe, Cr, Ni, Pt, Cu, were added to the melt. It is shown that, of the admixtures used, the most intense colouring is produced by manganese. Experiments on the effect of Cu and Pt were not entirely conclusive. In vacuum colour-producing impurities evaporate quite easily from the melt until their concentration drops below the critical limit required for colouring; in air this happens only if the charge is left in the melted state for a longer period (in our case a 1 kg charge was kept at 100°C above melting point for 36 hours). Results are improved if a dried gas, for instance nitrogen, is bubbled through the meit. A colourless crystal can be obtained in this manner even without using a vacuum; the starting material, however, must be sufficiently pure. A new method was worked out for preparing the salt by direct precipitation of LiCl and HF. Heavy metals are removed from the lithium component by means of cupral and dithizone. The construction of the apparatus used for the crystal growing experients in vacuum differs from that described in the appropriate literature.
LiF LiF. , . 2,8 . . , , , Mn, Fe, Cr, Ni, Pt, Cu. , . , . Pt . , , , ( : 1 kg-36 100° ). , , , . , , . LiCl HF. . , . |